Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1904-11-24
THE SONG AND THE SINGER.
By w. Newman Flower.


otfer me his fortune, because"
The girl paused. She stood with
enc hand resting on the corner of the
table, and looking steadfasr1v into
the wood fire before her. Her faith
er, man of co, whose face bore tes-
tlmony to the passage of years, gazed
lnquiringly at her. He was not 4
man to be thwarted.
"Well?" he said. Go on wo
come to the point. There is a rea.
sen. Another lover, perhaps?,
The man I love-" the girl correc--
&c, is Rouget de Lisle."
"Ah!"
Augustln Dietrich, honorable cit;-
zen and mayor of Strasburg in the
year of grace 1892, walked slowly
across to the window and looked out
Inc snow swirling down the street
clung to the doorsteps and caves. and
found a havenage On the window sin
A bad night he said, with an ef-
fort to turn his thoughts. "Ana
heaven help all who haven't a roof
10 shelter them, for they won't help
themselves. Fools! What thew
could do if they only chose. But no;
they will let Louis drive them to the
devil and perish at the palace gates
eXtolling his good deeds"
He returned to his daughters side
and put his hand on her shoulder.
'Violette-my little Violette. You
are the prettiest girl in the city.
nave watched you grow up, little one,
and am proud of YOU Now you have
lthe power to stir these dolts into ac
ton See how they suffer; but once
provide the money and you give them
power. Today they work and toll
for pauper's pittance; tomorrow JUS
tice shall usurp tyranny"
He paused as the tears started to
her eyes.
'Rouget de Lisle," he muttered,
more to himself than to her. CAR
tilleryman and pauper. Drowned in
debts, and music his sole asset. Roug-
CT de Lisle-dreamer: and you love
Tim! So his visits here have been
made with purpose. Is that not SOP
mo, no." the girl cried. He does
rot know; he must never know. l
only tell you the truth to avoid the
h'nocrisy Of pretending to love an
ether"
"Yet I like the lad" continued
nietrick. "He is strange mixture
oi enthusiastically an icicle, in
wardly raging volcano. If he would
only break out and rouse these 200
Ile I'd give him my little Violette in
month";
The words had scarcely "a sed his
Tins before two heavy raps came upon
the door without. Violetto. runnine
into the PASSAGE, turned the lock. and
man. tall and slim. wearing a heavy
military overcoat, stenred silently in
Then, without speaking. he shook
the lumns of snow that chung to him
TO the brick floor and proceeded with
the same strangeness of manner. and
without even a greeting, to remove
lis coat
Dietrich came forward, holding a
lamp well above rs head. 50 that the
Pickering jets of light fell on the
young mans pale face.
de Lisle, on my SOUL" he said.
De Isle nodded and followed his
host into the sitting room, and Vic
lette slipped away to her little
boudoir upstairs and left tnem alone.
as she invariably did.
"You see," Dietrich said, pointing
to the remains of the frugal supper
that lay on the table. PLENTY does
rot reign here, bue bread-warranted
not more than two days baked-is
yours if you wish. Still, what mat
tiers it if we have fire in our hearts
life, hope, to spur us forward to a
bright tomorrow"
"Bravely said" answered De Lisle.
leaning forward in his chair and rest
ing his head on his hands. Dietrich,
sitting opposite him, noticed that his
face was pinched and worn. There
were dark rings round the eyes, his
hdlT u0k6mpI, CluSleGeu JHlChly over
his forehead. Presently Dietrich
drew louis from his pocket and held
II out.
"See that?' he asked. "Stava-
TONS on the other side of it, Verify,
Strasburg's mayor will come to beg
his daily bread at the cathedral door,
unless"
'Yes?"
Unless something happens. De
Lisle. have you ever thought of mar
ryinr?"
MANY times. If there were no
such thing as marriage I should not
nc here tonight. I have come 10 ask
vour consent to my speaking to
violette."
Dietrich started slightly; then rose.
and eoinq to the cupboard. produced
. fagon of wine.
Il have two fiagons left" he said
Tonight we will break one" Then.
ss he proceeded to pour the crimson
wine into the Guns, he added: "You
1ox-oe