The Leon reporter., 1902-07-03

Oh nave VIII IL. 90 not Wish TO
heas the story now-at some other
time, perhaps. Stop. do not insist.
may have an idea as to the truth, but
it is enough for me to know you are
innocent. l am only too happy to
trust my whole future in your hands,,
What could he say?
He sealed the compact as any bold
lover would have done, and the bar
gain made while German shells still
exploded in the streets of Metz was
founded upon such mutual respect and
perfect faith that neither could ever
regret it.
The sturdy Briton appeared to be
especially tickled over the fact that
Karl had seen his lead AID gone him
one better in the way Of legerdemain.
You came very near ending our
friend for good. l declare, the major
was SO staggered his life hung by a
thread" be laughed.
Perhaps there was tinge of curios-
ity in his tone.
You heard enough to give you an
inkling of the truth, gentlemen, and
now | feel in duty bound to tell all. I
am not in Metz as spy, though ]
thought it my duty to allow even Paul
here to believe it for time as my
mission was supposed to be a dead
secret. On the contrary, have come
here at the written solicitation of Mar
shall Bazaine, who desires to discover
the best terms he could secure for his
brave army of the Rhine.
AT first he demanded that there be
some allowance made for their emil
grafton to Algiers, which the Crown
Prince declined, and matters have be-
come so bad that the French COM
mander has agreed to an unconditional
surrender. At midnight l shall go out
of Metz bearing his acceptance, and
after that time, when this document ia
in the hands of the Crown Prince, not
another bomb will fall within these
walls, for Metz will have fallen"
Paul looked delighted, and even the
non-partisan Briton seemed pleased to
know the era of bloodshed in this par
| ticular region was at an end.
Thank God!" he said, reverently,
then peace will follow when Paris
also falls"
Yes, we have much to be thankful
for,' said Paul, glancing toward Hill
degarde.
AS for the doctor, spying bottle OF
wine with three glasses upon a side
board, he poured some into the crystal
receptacles.
Gentlemen, join with me in this
toast-here's to the gallant major!"
"And may he escape the almost uni
versal fate of those who worship at
Aimee's shrine," added the Rhine
lander, earnestly.
And so they drank it down.
Little did they guess that at the
very moment Countess Aimee was be-
ing carried into the hospital, victim
of an exploding Prussian shell, and
that if she lived through the dreadful
shock it would be as helpless wreck
Of her past beautiful self.
4 The judgment had come at last, ant
/ in this hour her myriad victims were
avenged.
| What more need be said?
Paul and Karl served until Paris fell
and peace came upon the stricken fields
of France.
There is no necessity to tell how
they marie \. and what joys or sor-
rows came their way, for this world
holds its share Of both for all who
love and who are chosen.
Paul tenderly cared for his mother
the rest of her years, and at her re-
quest finally laid her away in the
| American cemetery, where rested the
husband who had been so fearfully
wronged, yet who, with his last dying
breath. had pardoned all in the great
ness of his love, believing that to those
who have sinned much, il they truly
repent, everything shall be forgiven.
THE END.