El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-02-01
A Secret Idyll
(By Per HaIIstrOem.)

TN THE fall of 1898 there lived in
the little town of Blu Mans "a
- magistrates clerk, Jean Tfmoleon
Goubin His salary was 600 francs
year. He had no worries, but neither
had he anything to make him happy.
Once a day he had a meal with meat
in a restaurant; otherwise his fare was
dry bread.
Sitting at his desk in the office he
wrote in a neat handwriting without
any sign of character endless. tiresome
entries. Often his fingers were numb
with cold for the French republic had
no money to pay foC heating pubic
Offices.
One evening he came home later
than usual, after a day of particularly
troublesome work. Like a wounded
beast at bay the army of Wendell had
been driven back towards lie Mans ana
outside its walls its fate was sealed.
Crushed after a fierce struggle 1t had
been scattered like chaf before the
wind.
The streets had lost their usual calm
aspect Everywhere refugees ana
wounSed were seeking shelter, law
full prey for anyone who cared to XIII
them. The air resounjed with the
groans and cries of the dying anc &C
casional volley Of shots.
Goubin cautiously kept in the mfddle
of the street. AS he reached the door
of his house, he saw human being
silent. motionless, crouching near the
wall. He bent down and saw 1t was
woman
"a refuge" he thought sooner or
later she will be discovered and then
# is sure death to her. He was about
to leave her to her fate when his pity
overcame his usual indifference and ne
babe her follow him.
She obeyed him silently and stood
up. She was young and frail. Her
clothes were soaked with rain and
shattered with mud, but 1t was evi-
dent that she was no child Of the
FOLLOW me. but do not speak," whis-
pered Goubin.
She stepped out of the darkness and
followed him like shadow NOISE
lessly he opened the door OF his room
and babe her enter. She fnstinctively
turned from the light so he could not
. see her face.
He placed the candlestick on the
table and began to walk up and down
the room trying to think what ne
should do.
What he had done was treason, and
by doing so he risked his life But OF
what value was his life to him?
He looked at her. How young she
wasl And what strange eyesi He IN
derstood how she must suffer alone In
the night and at the mercy Of an un-
known.
s.Madammoiselle," he said in voice
which he tried to name natural, Dut
which sounded strangely unfamiliar to
himself, you have run away i sup
poser"
She seemed to think the question was
prompted by desire to mock her Her
ewes sparkled with indignation for a
moment, then her eyelids lowered TO
hide the tears He looked at her ana
his heart went out to this child leIt
TO face a fate that might be worse
than death If she were found
Pardon Mademoiselle- have panied
YOU" he said softly. Il am almost
stranger here myself and know no
Mace of safety.-if there indeed be
anv such place in France. What you
see here Is all that I can offer you.
You must share this room with me-
must go on living as if nothing had
happened so as not to arouse suspA-
cion. You take the bed, l Will sleep
in this chair"
She consented without saying a
word but the eyes which met his
plainly showed her feeling-an I'M
mense relief and gratitude, humble
apology for the discomfort she caused
him and the questions: who are you.
Do you understand my language and
do you sympathize with my lost
cause?"
Goubin Immediately answered these
silent questions: 81 am not one OF
YOURS mademoiselle, and as for your
cause. I hate it. I am very poor and
have very little to offer you. You are
surely hungry and I have nothing but
bread and little milk"
She shook her head and sat down
on the edge of the bed as if to show
that she accepted his hospitality in
the spirit it was offered. The bed
was hard,f the cover patched and worn.