The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1914-02-27

them" she replied, with an emphasis
that pleased me AMI startled Buck
hurst
Buckhurst began to speak. but
cut him short
Then, madame, II your heart went
out to the soldiers OF France, IL went
out to France. tool"
"Yes-to France" she repeated. and
| saw her lip begin to quiyer.
Wherein does love for France con
hict with our creed, msdame?' asked
Buckhurst, gently. II is only hate
that we abiure"
She turned her gray eyes on him.
Il will tell you: In that dreadful mo-
ment when the cavalry Of France
| cheered Death IN his own awful pres
ence, loved them and their country
my country!-as had never loved in
all my life. And hated. too!
| hated the men who butchered them
-more!-I hated the country where
the men came from; | hated race and
country and the blows they dealt, and
the evil they wrought on France-my
France! That is the truth; and l real.
ize it,"
After a silence Buckhurst said: "All
that may be, madame, yet not Impair
your creed
What" she said. does not hatred
Of the stranger impair my creed?"
1T will die out and give place to
reason"
when? When / attain the lofty,
dispassionate level have never at.
tanned. That will not be while this
war endures."
who knows?" said Buckhurst
gently.
said, abruptly: so you are not g-
ing to denounce me to the Prussiah
provost?"
He lifted his well-shaped head and
gazed at the Countess with an ad
mirable pathos which seemed a mute
appeal for protection from brutality.
That question is a needless one"
said the Countess, quietly. 1T was a
cruel one, also, Monsieur Scarlet"
Il did not mean it as an offensive
question" said l. Il wei merely recit-
ing a fact, most creep able to Mr..
Buckhurst. And if it be ifue that Mon
sieur Buckhurst desires 70 atone for
for what has happened, then it is per
fectly proper for me, even as a pris-
oner myself, to speak plainly. Is It
not my duty, as a guardian of national
interests, to point out to Mr.. Buck.
hurst his honest errors? Certainly Il
is, madame, and this is the proper
time"
Turning pompously to Buckhurst,
fancied l could almost detect a sneeI
on that inexpensive magk he wore-at
least l hoped l could, anti | said, heaV-
lily:
Monsieur, for a number Of years
there has passed under our eyes here |
in France certain strange phenomena.
Thousands Of Frenchmen have, so to
speak, separated themselves from the
rest OF the nation.
France is only name to them; |
they were born there, taey live there,
they derive their nourishment from
her without gratitude. But France
is nothing to them; their mother-land
is the Internationale!"
was certain now that the shadow
Of sneer had settled in the corners
Of Buckhurst's thin lips.
Believe me, madame, the time 10
coming when the whole world will risR
to combat this Internationale; and
when the mask is dragged from its
benignant visage, there, grinning be-
hind, will appear the same old Spec.
ter Rouge torch in one hand, gun in
the other, squatting behind a barri,
cade Of paving-blocks."
l wagged my head dolefully
81 could not have rested had l not
warned Mr.. Buckhurst Of this" said,
;entimentaIly.
Which was fairly we'll done, con.
Iidering that was figuratively lament.
ng over the innocence Of the most
scoundrel that ever sat
n the supreme council Of the Inter.
rationale.
Buckhurst looked thoughtfully at
he floor
"Your earnestness almost converts
me-" he said, lifting his stealthy eyes.
The Countess appeared weary and
"At all events" she said, 1--WE must
10 nothing to embarrass France now;
We must do nothing until this fright.
ul war is ended"
After a silence Buckburst said, But
ou will go to Paradise, madame?"
Yes" replied the Countess, list.
essly.
Now, what in Heavens name at.
racted that rogue to Paradise?
m TO BE CONTTNUEDJ
cot "'T really hona that bavap'4