The Argosy, January 1906 — page 80: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

262 ness the death struggles of the poor wretches who had been lined up against the garden wall. When he drew the shade and looked out, he saw that it was all over. Two of the Uhlans were shoveling dirt into a grim hole several hundred feet from the chateau; the excavation contained the riddled bodies of the men whoa had been captured the night before. Bosworth dressed slowly, and opened the door. He had taken scarcely a dozen steps in the passage when he heard. the rustle of skirts behind him, and, turning, confronted Mademoiselle de Luynes. It was plain the girl had not slept, but her face showed no signs of weakness or the strain which she had so lately under- gone. For the first time, Bosworth noted the delicacy of her features and the expression in the dark blue eyes. The wish flashed through his mind that Le Béte had been among those who had a few minutes before stood with their backs to the wall. “Monsieur,” said she _ suddenly, “they are using firearms—in _ the park?” “Tt is nothing that need trouble you, mademoiselle, believe me,’ Bosworth answered. “It was the Prussians?” she asked. “Yes,” replied Bosworth briefly, “only the Prussians firing in the park.” For a moment she remained silent. Then: “Do not think that I am afraid to know the truth, or that I will forget what J owe to these men from beyond the Rhine. Yesterday the thought that they had shot down in cold blood some of my countrymen would have filled me with loathing and hatred, but now— now I have no country, monsieur.” Bosworth made a little movement, then checked himself. ) “You must not say that, mademoi- selle; you are unnerved by what you ~ have passed through. Remember that those who came here last night were not “the soldiers of France, that France would disown them. [I'rance is the same to-day as yesterday, believe me,” said he kindly. A cold look came into the blue eyes. “You were in the library. You saw THE ARGOSY. them shoot down an old man who has served France for sixty years. You heard what he said to me—before he died,” she answered. “But if you will think— gan. “Do you then imagine I have not thought—while others slept—do you know what I thought a few minutes ago, when I saw from the window those wretches stood against a wall and the flash of the Prussian guns which killed them?” “And you saw that?” faltered Bos- worth. eS “Yes, monsieur,” answered the girl dispassionately, “and I saw that one wore the uniform of a soldier of the line—the uniform of France, mon- sieur.”’ Bosworth felt himself at a loss. The argument was carrying him into deep water. | And why should he care whether or not this girl remained loyal to the em- pire—he, whose sympathies were with the Germans? He changed the subject abruptly. “And what do you intend doing, mademoiselle? You will not remain here?” he asked. <— “To-morrow I shall leave the cha- teau; my brother is in Sedan,” she re- plied. “And you will go to Sedan? ” “To see him, yes; after that I do not know.” . There came the clatter of a steel scabbard at the further end of the pas- sage. The tall form of Lieutenant von Werner advanced a few paces, then stopped abruptly, and the little shining cap was lifted from his head. ““ Ah, pardon me, but I had come to inform Herr Bosworth that breakfast is ready,” said he politely. “And mademoiselle? ” worth. “Something will be sent to her in her apartment if she so chooses,” an- swered the Uhlan. He looked at Bosworth, then at the girl’s pretty face. He remembered the Bosworth of Heidelberg, and he added abruptly : “Tt may be possible that breakfast efor two might be served eg ” he be- asked Bos- com (@) boo (E(@)