The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1914-02-13

them" she replied, with an emphasis
that pleased me and startled Buck
hurst
Buckhurst began to speak, but |
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
| saw her lip begin to culver.
Wherein does love fer France con-
fict with our creed. madame?" asked
Buckhurst, gently. 1T is only hate
that We abjure."
She turned her gray eyes or him.
/ 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 countryi-as / had never loved in
all my life. And / hated. tool
| hated the men who butchered them
-more!-I hated the country where
the men came from; l hated race and
country and the blows they dealt, and
the evil they wrought on France-my
France! That is the truth; and real
ize it,
After silence Buckhurst said: "An
| that may be, madame, yet not impair
your creed.
What" she said. does not hatred
of the stranger impair my creed?"
1T viii die out and give place to
/ reason"
when? When l attain the lofty,
dispassionate level 1 have never at
talred That will not be while this
war endures.' .
who knows?" said Buckhurst,
gently.
l said, abruptly: $50 you are not go
ing to denounce me to the Prussian
provost?"
He lifted his wellshaped head and
gaZed at the Countess with an ad-
mirable pathos which seemed a mute
appeal for protection from brutality.
That question is needless one"
said the Countess, quietly. 1T was a
cruel one, also, Monsieur Scarlet"
II did not mean it as an offensive
question" said |. Il was merely recit~
! ing a fact, most creditable to Mr.
Buckhurst. And ii It be true that Mon
sieur Buckhurst desires to atone for
for what has happened, then 1t is per
fectly proper for me, even as pris-
oner myself, to speak plainly. Is it
not my duty, as guardian of national
interests. to point out to Mr.. Buck.
hurst his honest errors? Certainly it
is, madame. and this is the prope:
time"
Turning pompously to Buckhurst, |
fancied I could almost detect a sheer
On that inexpensive mask he woFs-at
least hoped I could, and | said, heav-
lily:
Monsieur. for 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 Z name 20 them;
they were born there; they live there,
they derive their nourishment from
her without gratitude. But France
, is nothing to them; their mother-land
Ills the lnternationale!
/ I was certain now that the shadow
of sheer had settled in the corners
of Buckhurst's thin lips.
Believe me, madame, the time is
coming when the whole world Will rise
to combat this Internationale: and
when the mask is dragged from its
benignant visage, there, grinning be
hind, will appear the same old Spec
In, in
the other, squatting behind oarri'
cade of paving-blocks."
| wagged my head dolefully.
81 could not have rested had | not
warned Mr. Buckhurst OF this" said.
sentimentally.
Which was fairly well done con.
sidering that was fguratively lament
ing over the innocence of the most
accomplished scoundrel that ever SAT
in the supreme council Of the Inter
rationale.
Buckhurst looked thoughtfully ut
/ the floor
Your earnestness almost converts
me- he said, lifting his stealthy eyes.
The Countess appeared weary and
perpiexed.
AT all events" she said. 1--WE must
90 nothing to embarrass France now:
we must do nothing until this fright
full war is ended"
After { silence Buckhufst said, But
you will so TO Paradise. Inadame?
Yes, replied the Countess, list
lessly.
Now. what in Heavens name at
tracted that rogue to Paradise?
GO BE CONTINUED