The Holly chieftain., 1902-07-04

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b heard far down the stairs a. sAs b.
rated him. for not taking drastic meas
ures to accomplish their desired enc
in spite Of the commandant and his
passports.
Already Beatrix was clasped in her
lovers arms, aud the sight must have
inspired Paul. for he Immediately
strobe over to where the blushinE
nurse stood.
"Hildesarde. once I told you that :
Rhinelander never loved twice.
failed then to explain my meaAing-.l
kept back by . dreadful fear Of fam
ily secret. have found mother and
sister. and you must hear the sad
story connected with the past Of this
parent 1t is now my duty to love and
chertsh. After that. II you do not look
down ON me because OF the shame upon
my name, want to tell you Of my love
for you. which will live to the end Of
my life, whether win your consent to
be my wife or not
And Hildegarde put her hand In hin,
like the noble. true-hearted girl sAs
was, saying:
NY heart has been yours this long
time, Herr Paul-take my hand and
ali / have with It l do not wish to
hear the story now-at some other
time, perhaps. Stop, do not insist I
may have an idea as to the truth, but
It Is enough for me to know you are
innocent. / 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 1t.
The sturdy Briton appeared to be
especially tickled over the fact that
Karl had seen his lead and gone him
one better in the way of legerdemain.
"You came very near ending our
friend for good. / declare, the major
was so staggered his life hung by
thread" he laughed.
Perhaps there was a 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 I
thought It my duty to allow even Paul
here to believe 1t for q 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 bs
some allowance made for their emil
grafton to Algiers. which the Crown
Prince declined, and matters have be-
come 30 bad that the French COM
mander has agreed to an unconditional
surrender. At midnight shall 60 out
OF Metz bearing his acceptance. and
after that time. when this document is
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 m end.
THANK God!" he said, feverently.
then peace will foley when Paris
also falls"
Yes. we have much to be thankful
for" said Paul, glancing toward Hill
degarle.
As for the doctor, spying ! bottle Of
wine with three glasses upon . 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 1t
Aimee's, shrine added the Rhine
lander, earnestly.
And 30 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 II she lived through the dreadful
shock It would be as helpless wreck
Of her past beautiful self. ~
The Judgment had come at last, and
in this hour her myriad victims were
avenged.
What more need be said!
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