New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-06-13

"
sat down opposite his mother and beside his |
wife. Martha had in her hand one of Mile. |
Charlotte's little ribbons, which that young |
lady was probably dreaming of that very mo-
ment.
eCome, go on, now, and let me have this
sofa all alone," said his wife, who saw his
hesitation and wished to help him out of it.
She received another kiss, and the major,
after having traversed the room three or four
times with measured tread, bade his mother
Z" good night 20 with a sigh, stopped mo-
ment before the door of the bed-chamber to
hear the regular breathing of his child, and
then went away.
There was still fine and DRILLING rain
outside. 1t was quite distance between
the majors house and the cafe Aux Ames
de Brandenburgh, which was situated near
the cathedral.
'sDevil take Buggler and Weisch for break
ing in upon my habits such weather as this"
muttered the officer. as he felt the rain in his
face.
There was time when the rain would
not have made much difference to him; and
then he would be equally indifferent how late
he remained at the tavern. But that was
when he was a lieutenant, when he was in
France, when his mother was far away, and
before he knew Martha.
pearence was received with the most respect
ful salutatiOn from his subordinates and
hearty shake of the hand from his friends.
The veteran Buggler, who had been the
first to arrive, had taken the largest table in
the room. He broke out into hurrahs when
he saw his companion enter the room. Has
ner had served under his command, and he
was delighted at his promotion. AS to
Weisch, he arose, spread out his mouth, and
his great porcelain pipe vibrated i'm the air as
it hung for a moment between his teeth, a
post it never left except to be filled again.
w.
Though Mayence in 1922 contained fedc-
raj garrison, the cafe Aux Armes dc Bran
denburgh was frequented only by Prussian
officers. The jokes of his two friends and
the congratulations of everybody soon drove
away the majors bad humor. They all went
back to the battlefield. The recollections
of the past were revived while the punch was
brewing under the personal superintendent
of captain who had very willingly taken
charge Of this feature of the evenings enter
.inment.
Suddenly the door opened as if it had been
burst in by the wind, and gush of damp air
agitated the dense clouds of smoke from the
pipes and made the lamps flicker. A young
man, wrapped in cloak, entered the room.
His eyes, of a sober gray, took rapid sweep
of all around him. He seemed to hesitate as
to where he should sit dOwn-first went to-
ward two old mustaches that were engaged
in a game of chess, then by a sudden change
of resolution took his place at the table where
Major Hasner was.
The citizens of Mayence very rarely visited
the cafe Aux Armes de Brandenburgh unless
accompanied by an officer. There was a ST.
Of ell %a1l g.. 4 H. oPs,
speeding the new conner, who threw back the
wet collar of his cloak and let it fall upon the
chair. Light-complexioned, pale, and with
newborn moustache covering his upper lip,
he said CURLY to the waiter who asked him
what he would have,
Brandy, beer, anything you like"
The conversation, thus interrupted for
moment, was taken up again, and the waiter
placed a glass before the Stranger.
Gentlemen" said the latter, as he turned
to the officers who we're watching the progress
OF the punch, which one of you speaks
Frepeh?'
81 know something of the language" an
swered Major Hasner, as he arose, Sin what
way can be of service to you?"
The young man looked into the calm face
before him for moment, then shut his eyes
and pressed one of his hands to his breast, as
if he were in pain.
81 beg your PARDON" he added, in
trembling voice, a moment after, but are
not these"--and he pointed to the epauletts
on the maidos shoulder" are not these the
insignia of a captain in the Prussian army ?"
Hasner had scarcely answered in the az
firmativc, when, without having noticed the
rapid movement of the young mans arm, he
felt blow in the face.
All the officers jumped up Immediately and
surrounded the Frcnchman, who held himself
at bay against the wall. Hasner was about
to fall upon him when his friends Weisch and
Buggler seized him and held him off. Then
a bottle was hurled at the head of the stranger
by one of the officers and broke into crash
against the wall.
Hold, gentlemen" cried Hasner, "this
affair is mine."
He then stepped i'm front of the man who
had insulted him, as if he feared that the lat
ter was going to run away.
g do not know YOU" he said, after look
ing at the Frenchman moment.
Eight years ago." replied the other, zone
Of your countrymen, a captain like you, slap
ped my face on the public square Of my ma
tive town. l tried to avenge myself, and l
was thrown to the ground, beaten, and
wounded by his soldiers. 1 always felt that
blow till a moment ago, and only waited the
death OF my mother to demand satisfaction
for it. arrived in this town this evening,
and, less cowardly than your compatriot, 1
addressed myself to you--that is, to man
and not child"
A murmur arose among the officers, but
the major suppressed it.
II am innocent of the outrage that was
committed upon you, monsieur" he said on
raising his head, sadly: 81 would not have
struck child any more than you, believe me.
You have no mother-so much the better,
for you have placed me under the necessity
Of killing you. My friends" added the
major, turning to Weisch and Buggler, 81
leave the arrangement of everything to YOU"
The next day, about eight o'clock in the
morning, post-chase carried M. Jean Ber-
nard on his way back to France. At the
same hour Weisch and Buggler carried to
Martha the inanimate corpse of her hus-
band-killed without having had the time
ever to put on his majors uniform.
my UNCLE" continued the young man
who told me this sad story, "whose good
heart and fair dealing you know as well as
any one, learned only too late that he whom
he had insulted had mother, a wife, child,
and was no longer a captain. He has never
ceased to think of the orphan. And now you
know why he never laughs"