Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-02-06

them" she replied, with an emphasis
that pleased me and startled Buck
hurst
Buckhurst began to speak, but l
cut him short.
Then, madame, if your heart went
out to the soldiers of France. it went
out to France, tool"
"Yes-to France" she repeated, and
l saw her lip begin to quiver.
wherein does love for France con-
flict with our creed, msdame?" asked
Buckhurst, gently. "a is only hate
that we abjure."
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, l loved them and their country
my country!-as l 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 I real
ize it,"
After silence Buckhurst said: Cali
that may be, madame, yet not impair
your creed.
What" she said, docs not hatred
of the stranger impair my creed?"
1T will die out and give place to
reason"
when? When I attain the lofty,
dispassionate level l have never at
tanned. That will not be while this
war endures"
"Who knows?" said Buckhurst,
gently.
| said, abruptly: $50 you are not gs~
| ing to denounce me to the Prussian
provost?"
He lifted his wellshaped head and
gazed at the Countess with an ad
mfrable pathos which seemed mute
appeal for protection from brutality. !,
THAT question is needless one,
said the Countess, quietly. 1T was 6
cruel one, also, Monsieur Scarlett."
'I did not mean it as an offensive
question" said l. Il wsy1 merely recit
ing a fact, most credR able to Mr.
Buekhurst. And if it be true that Mon
sieur Buekhurst desires to atone for
for what has happened. then it is per
fectly proper for me, even as pris
oner myself, to speak plainly. Is |
not my duty, as a guardian of nationa
interests, to point out to Mr. Buck
hurst his honest errors? Certainly
is, madame. and this Is the prope
THE"
! Turning pompously to Bucknurst,.
fancied 1 could almost detect snee
on that inexpensive mask he wore-a
least hoped l could, aisl l said, heay
lily:
Monsieur, for a number of year
there has passed under our eyes her
in France certain strange phenomena
Thousands of Frenchmen have, so t
| speak, separated themselves from tn
rest of the nation.
| france is only a name to them
they were born there, taey live there
they derive their nourishment fror
her without gratitude. But Franc
is nothing to them; their mother-lan
is the Internationale!"
l was certain now that the shade,
of sneer had settled in the corner
Of Buckhurst's thin lips.
Believe me, madame, the time
coming when the whole world will ris
to combat this Internationale; an
when the mask is dragged from it
benignant visage, there, grinning bt
hind, will appear the same old 'Spe,
ter Rouge torch in one hand, gun
the other, squatting behind a barr
cade of paving-blocks."
: 1 wagged my head dolefully.
81 could not have rested had I nc
warned Mr. Buckhurst of this" sail
sentimentally.
Which was fairly we'll done, col
sidering that was figuratively lamen
ing over the innocence of the mos
accomplished scoundrel that ever So
in the supreme council of the Inte
rationale.
Buckhurst looked thoughtfully 6
the floor.
"Your earnestness almost convert
me-" he said, lifting his stealthy eye
The Countess appeared weary an
perplexed.
"At all events" she said, eve mus
do nothing to embarrass France now
we must do nothing until this frigh
! full war is ended"
After a silence Buckhurst said, "Bl
, you will go to Paradise, madame?"
YES" replied the Countess, lis
lessly.
Now, what In Heavens name q
tracted that rogue to Paradise?
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