The Children of France

dren had gathered on the lawn to listen to another story. "Of course, I know h

u a bab

se I'm

f the corner of one eye when I finished

ht, sir. Please tell u

age as Remi, very diffident, like yourself." Joe blushed and hung his head. "She was as timid as she was d

re, all the others being at the front fighting the Germans. Quite near the village was an important fort,

tom of the soldiers there to spend a good part of their days in the village, never dream

it that not a person left his home on pain of instant death. The mayor refused to betray his people or the soldiers on the hill. The aide shot him then and there. That was nothing new for a German officer to

he peril that awaited them, for it was plain that the Germans were planning to la

one soldier to each house, in which he took his s

e, fled to the kitchen, where she stood listening and watching. She nearly cried out when the soldier thrust t

ave them,'

ut. How she should be able to get over the wall without discovery she did not know. A heavy black cloud at this moment drifted across the sky, hiding the face of the moon for a few moments, and when the cloud had passed Mathilde was no longer on the

distance. Once a Uhlan's horse jumped clear over her and kicked viciously at her after it had landed on its feet. You see, the grass i

run; she fairly flew up the hill, stopping only when

ith your captain,

entry

all night that he may receive call

are even now in the houses that they may come out and

ck to your sleep. It is a nightmare you a

ild grew angry. She stamped and raged. Then she adopted a new plan. Throwi

wake the garriso

ed louder than ever, and the sentry turned out the corporal's guard. The

der in the valley,' exclaimed the

ght glistening on something, I sh

onsieur Corporal. What you see is the moonlight reflected on the

tain,' command

. He questioned the child and ere he had

d the messenger. 'They hide in the houses and th

!' commanded the captain. 'Yo

the village fired a volley into the air. As they expected, the Prussians guarding the houses rushed out and began shooting, but coming from the lighted houses into the darkness of the early morning, their eyes were not keen and only one volley from the Fr

e was made up, every one giving of his little savings. This purse was presented to th

of money in her arms for a moment, then, kiss

he needs it more than does the Little Mathilde, and with it Math