uncle came, in charge of two
soldiers. Then the examination began. Not one bit of information would
the girl give. At last the commanding officer turned to the Padre.

"'It is my belief that you are responsible for this spying. It is not
my wish to shoot a Padre, but you shall be taken out and shot
immediately!'

"'No, no, no!' cried Marie, now thoroughly aroused. 'He knows nothing
of what has been done. I swear it, monsieur! It is Marie who has
informed the French of what the hated Prussians were doing. I--'

"'Ah! You admit it! It is well. Take her away. Take the Padre away
also, but keep them separated.'

"Marie left the commander with head erect and eyes flashing. Her only
concern was for her uncle, whom she feared would be shot. She had no
doubts about herself Of course, they would shoot her and she gloried
in the thought that she was to die for France.

"After her departure the Prussian general devoted several minutes to
deep thought.

"'Of course, Herr General, she will be shot,' said the major who had
made the capture.

"'No!' answered the commander, with emphasis.

"'Not shot?' questioned the officer in amazement.

"'No. She shall be sent to the camp at Metz and imprisoned for the
duration of the war. The Padre also shall be sent to the rear and held
during the rest of the war.'

"'Herr General, may I ask why, when both should be executed without
delay?'

"'Because, major, I dislike to put a Padre to death, and further, I
am satisfied that the girl told the truth when she said that he knew
nothing of this affair. He is a simple-minded man. But the girl!' The
general shrugged his shoulders like a Frenchman. 'She is keen as a new
saber.'

"'And knowing well what she was doing she should be shot,' insisted
the major.

"'I have a daughter of her age,' replied the general, slowly. 'This
child is so like her that I should feel like murdering my own were I
to order her shot. Major, I cannot do it. See that my orders are
carried out. I shall explain my action in this matter to my superiors
for their approval.'

"That ended it. It was an unusual thing for a Prussian to do and
perhaps the only instance in the war where so much human sympathy was
shown to a spy. Marie was taken to the prison at Metz, where she was
kept from that time on. She suffered great hardships. There was little
food and her treatment was harsh, so that her days were a misery and
her nights a nightmare.

"A long time elapsed er