The Republican journal., 1872-12-26
inn on the market-place.

rode in advance, dismounted with aston
ishing ease for one of his appearance,
threw the reins OF his horse to a soldier
who hurried forward to take them, and
said in a rough tone:
Here | will breakfast. Send the garri-
son officer OF the day, that he may take
my orders We go on in an hour; by
midday Anklam must be in flames. To-
morrow we shall be back here to send
this quiet nest to the devil with the
others"
Having delivered himself Of this brutal
speech, he entered the public room Of the
inn. the door of which the landlord OBJ
sequiously held open for him.
The officer tossed his hat and long rid
ing gloves on one Of the tables, threw
himself into u chair, and bringing his fist
down heavily on table near him. cried
out:
''Wine here, old fellow; your bpst-do
you hear ?-if you know what's good for
vou; and breakfast tor. Colonel Staff.
Quick, too. if the cauaille don't want to
see their nest in flames before sunset"
The landlord disappeared. bowing
hnmbly in order TO escape rough treat
ment from the harhar0us Russian, WitD
was well known to h;9...
Over Grefswald also hung the dread
tnl sentence, and here too. was Staff to
| act as eNecutloner The work Of deStruc-
ton had begun with Wolgast and was to
md with Carr
The landlord FASTENED to call all his
people in order to supply. rs quickly as
possible the wants Of the officers and his
soldiers, who filled his house and appr0-
priated whatever they saw that they
wanted. But the landlord seemed to take
no notice Of their vandalism ''The more
they eat and destroy to oday," he said in
despair, ''the less they will have to plum
der tomorrow
The fate of Wolgast convinced him that
Griefswald would not be spared; his
only hope was to escape ill-treament.
and if he must 90 out into the world. with
his family, as beggar, to 90 at least with
whole limbs.
The landlord soon returned with u large
mug of wine, which the officer, who had
announced himself as Colonel Staff. found
so much to his taste, that he said, by way
of commendation, in Il more friendly
tone:
Il see, landlord, that You are a man of
sense Look to it that the breakfast is as
good as your wine
81 hope you will be satisfied. Colonel"
replied the landlord humbly, and again
disappeared from the room
There was but one other guest in these
troublesome times at the inn-a Young
Danish officer, who sat quietly i'll one
corner OF the room, unnOticed by the bar
barOus Russian. He was about TO rise
and speak to the colonel, as it seemed,
when the door again opened, and the gar
rison officer Of the day entered.
SIS the commandant of the town to be
seen ?" asked Staff abruptly.
'Not at the moment, Colonel. He has
ridden out and may not return for an
hour OF two"
"Can't wait. In an hour we must be
on the road to Anklam. VIII leave the
orders for him that must be executed by
the time ! return. Sit down, comrade.
Landlord, another MUG of wine"
The officer obeyed, and the mug of wine
was soon placed before him by the atten-
tive landlord.
Staff took several official documents out
of his breast-pocket, and said: Il am
Colonel Staff, and have been commits
stoned by Prince Menzikow with the exc
cution Of the commands Of His majesty,
our great Gar, concerning the four cities
of the enemy, Wolgast, Gricfswald, Anll-
lam, and Carr. You see here the Princes
order containing the sentence OF (trieis-
Wald, and further his order commanding
me to see the sentence carried into eXecu-
ton. These documents remain here, and
YOU will hand them 10 the commandant
as soon as he returns. He will find that
he is therein enoined to aid and assist me
in executing the iust though severe decree
Of our great CZar, whom may Heaven pro-
tect ~
The officer, a young man. ran his eyes
hastily over the two documents and bowed,
maintaining silence. Staff folded up one
of the papers and returned if TO his pocket;
the other he laid before the officer conlinu-
ing:
Il came this morning from WoIoast or
rather from what was Wolgast Yestcr-
day my soldiers sacked the city, drove the
inhabitants outside the gates, and during
the night a sea Of flame told for miles
around how the Gar avenges himself and
his allies on their enemies. To-day Ank-
lam. tomorrow Griofswald. will share the
fate OF W0lgast These are the orders OF
His MaieStv-you can see for v0urselt"
"And what would yon have me say to
tiIt tpilltliIltliill tShttl lIlt tIlltti tOtU-
ly.
''All / have lust said to you. Here is
the order giving me authority in the mat
ter. He will announce the decree of His
Majesty 10 the citizens today, and make
all necessary arrangements 10 cvacuate
the town tomorrow. The rest | will see
done in person"
II shall deliver your orders, Colonel."
The officer rose and turned to GO
''Holl Don't be in such haste, COM
rade Drink before you go!" cried Staff.
reaching tor his mug.
Pardon me. Colonel; the service is
exacting," replied the young officer cold
ly, and he saluted Staff and withdrew,
leaving the wine untouched
At this moment the landlord apr cared
with the Colonel's breakfast, which quick
ly consoled him for the hasty retreat of
the young officer
The Danish officer, who had been u
silent spectator of all that had passed.
now came forward to present himself to
his Russian colleague.
81 was about to make myself known to
you sooner, Colonel" said he politely,
''but at that moment the officer who had
Just left entered"
Nlitu 10 know NON, c0mrade. Sald
Staff, preparing to attack the breakfast be-
fore him
Il am Captain Carlsen, Of the Danish
army, Colonel. heard you speak Of An
order you have to execute, which will make
IL necessary for me to quit GriefsWald
sooner than intended"
If you don't want to lodge in a heap Of
ruins, | advise you to make your stay
short" replied Staff, with coarse laugh
''ls, then, this terrible decree to be exc
cuted so soon ?"
To-day Anklam. Tomorrow Griefs-
wald, than Carr. Quick and mighty as
the hurricane is the revenge of the Czarm
"The days for the execution OF this ter-
rible edict are, doubtless, fixed in your
orders, colonel ?''
"Ay, terrible-that is the right word.
comrade. Look at the place where Vol
CAST once stood, and you will see to-day |
nothing but mass Of smoking ruins, ami
mated by no living thing But the days
are not fixed in my orders. I am allow