Year: 1871

as suddenly as II thunderDOlt had falleI


amongst them. 1t was a shot coming


from the direction in which the Prussian:


lay, and followed in quick succession by


one or two more, as if from the discharge


of revolver. There was CONSERVATION


on every face as the sound died away, and


for few minutes no one spoke; and then


one OF the women hszarded, in q trem


bling voice, the remark, that perhaps ono


of the D1dHdits PFussiSzs" had killed


some of their people; and while the Other


women cried out in horror at the idea


Lepelletier shook his head and answered


gloomily:


"If only it be nothing worse than what


you fear. But doubt there is that IN the


sound we have heard which may cause


our whole village to be burnt over ouI


heads. StopI' he exclaimed, as Jules and


one or two others sprang to the door with


the intention of ascertaining what had


happened" Stay where you are, one and


all l charge you. Let not a man from


Va1x Vilaine be seen near the spot where


that shotwas fired, if you would have any


of US left alive by this time tomorrow


Suppressed shrieks from the women fol-


lowed these words as the young men


drew back from the door, Veyette threw


herself into Marters arms, and Leonie


lifted up her blue eyes swimming In tears


to Evariste, and became suddenly awed


and tranquilized by the peculiar express


sion of his face; his soft, blue eyes, wide


open, appeared to be looking far awayinto
scenes uuperceived by others, and his lips


were parted with a calm, sweet smile,


which seemed full of hidden meaning. All
agitation, she felt, was misplaced in pres
ence of such a look as Evariste wore, yet
Leonie trembled with some dark, myste-
rious forboding, even as she gazed, and
wished with all her heart that he would
look less beautiful and noble, and more
like the joyous, light-hearted fancee with
whom she hoped to pass all the years of
her earthly life.


For an hour or so the persons assembled
at Farmer Lepelletier's remained talking
together, the women in tears, the men
sullen and disquieted; and then in groups
of two or three they crept away silently to
their homes.


Before the day broke over Vaux Vilaine
next morning it was known throughout
the village-none could have told how
that the Prussian Colonel had been shot
dead by an unseen foe as he rode round
the outposts the evening before, and it was
whispered cautiously that two of the hot
test spirits among the young men of Vaux
Vilaine were missing from their homes.


From the moment this was known, but
one thought filled the anxious minds of
every ,inhabitant of that once happy vii
lage-what vengeance in blood or fire
would the Prussians require for this ill-ad-
vised and cruel deed? They were not
long left in suspense.


A beautiful sunrise it was which
brought the light of day to Vaux Vilaine
on that fair autumn morning. The heavy
dews which had fallen the night before
glistened like scattered gems in the early
sunshine, and the air was sweet with the
breath of flowers, yielding up their per-
fume to the soft, warm breeze. The bleat-
ing sheep and cattle, lowing in the fields,
seemed to call the people to their usual
peaceful occupations, and the little church
bell, with its silvery tone, gave notice that
the cure meant to celebrate an early mass
on behalf of their dear p0tyie, so sadly in
need of aid from heaven. All things were
as they had been many and many morn
ing before, when the people of Vaux Vii
aine rose to carry on the gentle, peaceful
life, which made so sweet an existence for
them, and nature still was doing her part
in beauty and benefcence. The skies
failed not to shed on all their brightest
smile, but there were human passions at
war upon earth; and, truly, the records of
this tremendous struggle might well lead
one to believe, that if all the demons of
h were let loose, they could hardly have
made a more terrible havoc in Gods fair
world.


While yet the peaceful church-bell rang,
and the sunbeams streaming through the
lattice windows of the cottages woke the
children in their cradles, there was heard
coming, ever nearer and nearer, the heavy
tramp of large body of mounted Uhlans,
galloping down upon the village. In a
more they were swarming, a
fierce and merciless crowd, in the main
street, and in every lane and alley in the
place. A certain number were told of,
who dismounted, and, entering into all the
houses from end to end of the village,
they dragged out every man they could
find, and drove them in a mass into the
church, where very different scene was
10 be enacted from the quiet holy service
Lhe good cure had intended to hold.


The women, who would have followed
their husbands and brothers, were driven
back with blows and curses by the Uhlans,
and the church doors were shut upon the
whole male inhabitants of the village.
What could be done to them there. The
poor women shrieked and wept, as they
asked themselves that question.


Leonie and Vevette, united by the an
guish of their common suspense and
error, crept, hand in hand, nearer to the
church than any of the others dared to go,
md hid themselves behind the very tree
0eneath whose branches the three young
men had held their conversation on that
bright, peaceful evening, before the shadow
If war had cast its gloom upon the earth,
md when they were looking forward SO
,aily to the fulfilment of their various
plans of happiness.


place in the church. The cure, already
,obed for mass, was thrust rudely aside by
he Uhlans, and knelt down in a corner,
praying fervently, while the commanding
1ficer of the troop of avengers went and
'tood on the steps of the altar. There, in
! loud ringing voice which was heard over
he whole church, he announced the
.ribute of blood which the clemencY, as he
it, of his superiors would alone
,xact for the murder of the Colonel They
would not burn down the village, as would
nave been but just, nor would they put
.he inhabitants to the sword, richly as
hey deserved it, but they would be salts
led with the lives of three men out Of
hose now assembled in the church, who
must be executed instantly before the
.roops resumed their conquering march
through France-not an hours delay could
De accorded. The officer added that the
choice of victims might be made by lot,
themselves, but it must be done
hen and there, without loss of time. As
ne concluded, he held up his watch before
hem


In ten minutes" he said, "your choice
must be made; if you delay longer than
hat, l choose for myself, and I shall take
he first three on whom l happen to lay
ny hands, and have them shot at once"


1t was but too plain that there was no
appeal, and that it would only be wasting
she precious moments to attempt it.
with some of the elder men,
began in silence, and with trembling hands,
% prepare the lots with the fatal numbers,
which should be drawn by the men on
whom the doom of death should fall.


But, suddenly, there was a movement in
'he crowd, and young man came forward
with light, active step, and, laying his
hand on Lepelletier's arm, to prevent his