Year: 1879

Sell SWdIlOWeu glass 0I tne compound, ana made wry face over it, proceeded with his story refreshed.

 ''Some one had been waiting for us at the Villa Pottier, for when we, reached the side door-the great dot r mad been abandonedto the use Of the Prussian inmates-it was opened quickly and neiselessly. received soft warm i. pressure of the hand-not intended for me, alas!-a pressure that made me for the moment feel envious of my younger brother even in his present plight. Therese had been waiting at the door, listening for Ernest's footsteps for the younger servants could not be alto gether trusted, and the old housekeeper, who was known to be faithful, was watching over my poor Susette, whose loyalty was also sus- pected, though, as it proved, uniustly.

 My pieus fraud was almost justified by l facts The excellent Madame Pottier was 1 actually i'll in bed, overcome by the troubles and ;nxieties of this dreadful time The suite of rooms occupied by her and her daughter were the only parts of the house absolutely secure against interruption, and at Madame ] Pottier's bedside we held our family council Gathered about her coach, in low, sad tones, We consulted as to Ernest, who now in his own i proper garb stood beside Therese, holding her hand in his. Should we let him go-him upon whom depended the happiness of twofamiies, the very existence of his own

 '' Ernest, began Madame Pottier in low, broken voice, my child may soon lose the pro- lection of her mother. Remain here and guard her in the troubles and perils that may | beset her. Here we are all assembled; your brother will draw out the contract of marriage on the spot it shall be signed tonight, and to morrow my Therese will have protector | < Tomorrow, murmured Earnest to marry Iherese tomorrow 7; oh, my dear belle mere you tempt me- sorely. But my con- rades who wait in the forest 9

 l '' own that 1 forgot for moment the claims of honor and patriotism. l thought only of the dead mother deceased, recalled only her dying words confiding the much loved 1 son to my charge

 Remain here, Earnest l cried remain here and live for our sakes. In the name of our dead parents bid you remain your cem- rades shall be warned

 -'' But am their leader, he said; without me they are lost. Tell me, my friends, can any asylum be found for them in this placer we looked at each other, but felt that it was impossible to rescue them. With every house occupied by soldiers, and strict watch kept upon all, to attempt to harbor this little band would be only to lead them to destruction and useless to bring seventies upon the peace able inhabitants of the town. Ernest we could save, but the rest must save themselves. He saw the answer in our faces.

 Then 1 must go,' he cried

 Speak to him, Therese,' I said to the young girl; remind him of the rights that you have over him. Forbid him for your sake to throw away his lite.

 ''I watched her face anxiously, the ingenu- ous face of a maiden who had hardly left her mothers side since infancy. who had known no world except that of the affections, and whose softly dawning passion had been en- grossed by one alone. He was all the future to her now, this bright young lover, as her parents had been all her past Surely, the mothers voice would find an echo in her. She too, would bid him to stay. How could he resist her voice, the gentle appeal of her tears? for tears ran unheaded down her cheeks, while her soft, swimming eyes were fixed upon him. sob quivered in her slender throat, and her lip trembled like that of child in deep tribu. lation. But her voice was clear and firm as she clasped her hands on his shoulder and said leaning against his breast

 '' You must go, dear Ernest. If have the right over you, as they say, still must bid you go; it is better to die with honor than live dis graced'

 We all wept like children, for we felt that the the, girl girl was right, and yet it seemed to b0==

 'sThe merry music from below now broke out in wild mocking strains, and the house shook as the waltzers whirled swiftly round. An, how our enemies rejoiced, while we gath cred stealthily together and in silence and grief devoted our youngest and best to death and sorrowful separation!

 ''That night lay in bed, but not asleep with my clothes on, indeed, and cloak be- side me, ready to throw over my shoulder. It was a cruel night-real wolf-cold and l thought bitterly of poor Earnest in his miser- able bivouac awaiting the approach of the hour that would bring release or death. At three o'clock the tide would be at the lowest, and that was the hour fixed for the attempt to steal through the Prussian lines. As the clock struck three l rose and went to my window, an upper window which commanded the river. The fog had cleared away and the stars were shining brightly. The frost had congealed the vapor, and everything was covered with a white shroud. By the soft diffused light the landscape was visible in faint tilmy way, but strained my eyes in vain to make out the point where knew the lighthouse to be. l could see nothing distinctly, although the fros zen pat of the river showed all ghastly white with dark channel of deep water winding through it.

 'sThen I heard shot-a second followed a moment afterward, and then a ratt!ing fusil- Jade all along the line fearfully distinct in the still night, and rolling back from the hills in thunderous echoes. A trumpet rang out call to arms. My inmates were at once on the move, and in few moments were off at the double to the place of assembly. The town was now astir, every house gave forth it's com pement of soldiers, and the peaceful inhabi- tants aroused from their slumbers, peered cautiously out from behind shutters and blinds at the gathering troops Something had hap pened, and hope whispered fondly, something wrong for the Prussians an evacuation, per haps, following some crushing disaster. We dreamed of such things then-of armies break ing through our iron bonds. of victorious leg ions. issuing forth from Paris we dreamed of such things, to awake to realities of fresh woe and disaster.

 After awhile the excitement subsded, the troops retursed to quarters. Also came back my two inmates They did not go to their room. They stopped at my door and knocked gently. With swift presentiment of msfor- tune opened to them. What is the matter?' l asked. ..

 '' Nothing. we hope. A small band of your countrymen tried to break through our lines and cross the river One was shot by man of our company, who, hastily searching him, found this map

 '"The chart was there before me-the chart that had given my brother the night before ! H was all to clear. The poor boy had fallen. turned away that our enemies might not see my grief. stamped on one corner. YOulent it to friend perhaps"

 '' TO my brother-my only brother-whom you have killed

 ''rhe two murmured some sympathetic sen- tences, with looks that seemed to say, Do not think us to blanle. Then the older went on to say The map we must deliver up to our superiors but the name upon it. leading to the inference that it had been lent by the owner to one of these irregular soldiers would it not be an act of common prudence to cut it off? See here is knife; we will turn away

 ''No, would not avail myself of the chance. It was not for me to disown my brother in his hour of death. Let them do what they liked with me. Still. 1 was touched with the good feeling of these two young fellows. who per haps rsked a good deal to serve me. We even l shook hands, thing had never thought to do. They were brave fellows, they whispered whatever happens, do not blame us. Let us part friends.