questioning gaze; for there were father, brother, lover, hourly exposed
to all the dangers of war.

"Magdalen noted the look, and softly murmured, 'God, even the God of our
fathers, cover their heads in the day of battle!'

"'He will, I know He will,' said Lucia, turning to her friend with a
bright, sweet smile.

"'You bring me tidings, my child,' said Magdalen, taking the maiden's
hand in hers, 'good tidings, for your face is full of gladness!'

"'Yes, dear friend, your son is well,' Lucia answered with a modest,
ingenuous blush; 'my father also, and Pierre; we had word from them only
yesternight. But ah me!' she added with a sigh, 'what fearful scenes of
blood and carnage are yet enacted in Paris, the gay French capital! for
from thence also, the courier brought news. Blood, he says, flows like
water, and not content with having taken the life of their king, they
force the queen and the rest of the royal family to languish in prison;
and the guillotine is constantly at work dispatching its wretched
victims, whose only crime, in many instances, is that of wealth and
noble birth.'

"'Alas, poor wretches! alas poor king and queen!' cried Magdalen; 'and,
for ourselves, what danger, should such bloodthirsty ruffians force an
entrance into our valleys! The passes had needs be well guarded!'

"Lucia lingered not long with her friend, for home duties claimed her
attention.

"Magdalen went with them to the brow of the hill, and again embracing
Lucia, said in tender, joyous accents, 'Though we must now bid adieu,
dear child, when the war is over you will come to brighten Rudolph's
home and mine with your constant presence.'

"'Yes; such was the pledge he won from me ere we parted,' the maiden
answered with modest sincerity, a tender smile hovering about the full
red lips and a vivid color suffusing for an instant the delicately
rounded cheek.

"Then with an affectionate good-by, she tripped away down the rocky
path, Henri following.

"A glad flush still lingered on the sweet, girlish face, a dewy light
shone in the soft eyes. Her thoughts were full of Magdalen's parting
words and the picture they had called up of the happy married life
awaiting Rudolph and herself when he should return to the pursuits of
peace.

"And he at his post in those more distant mountains, thought of her and
his mother; safe, as he fondly trusted, in the homes his strong arm was
helping to defend against a foreign foe. The Vaudois, judgin