The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1872-12-06

drove away the Majors bad humor.
They all went back to the battle
field. The recollections of the past
were revived while the pinch was
brewing under the personal super
intendence of the Captain, who had
very willingly taken charge of this
feature of the evenings entertain.
ment. -
Suddenly the door opened, as if it
had been burst by the wind, and a
gust 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 a. rapid sweep of all
around him. He seemed to hesitate
as to where he should sit down
first went toward two old moustaches
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 silence
at all the tables for the purpose of
inspecting the newcomer, who
threw back the wet collar of his
cloak, and let it fall upon the chair.
Light complexioned, pale, and with
a newborn moustache covering his
upper lip, he said eurtly to the
waiter who asked him what he
would have:
Brandy, beer, anything you
ikel"
The conversation, thus interrupt
ed for a moment, was taken up again
and the waiter placed glass before
the stranger.
Gentlemen" said the latter, as
he turned to the officers, who were
watching the progress of the punch,
(which of you speak French p
"I know something of the Ian
guage," answered Major Hasner, as
he arose, Gin what way can be OF
service to you p
The young man looked into tht
calm face before him for a momene
then shut his eyes, and pressed one
of his hands to his breast, as if he
were in pain.
ct beg your pardon" he added
in trembling voice, moment af-
ter, ' but are not these (and he
pointed to the epaulettes on the ma
ior's shoulder'sE the insignia of a
captian In the Prussian army ?''
Hasner had scarcely answered in
the affirmative, when, without hav-
ing noticed the rapid movement Of
the young mans arm, he felt blow
in the face.
All the officers jumped up imme.
diately and surrounded the French
man, who held himself at bay
against the wall
Hasner was about TO fall upon him
when his friends Weisch and Bug
gIer seized him and held him off
Then a bottle was hurled at the
head of the stranger by one of the
officers and broke with a crash
against the wall.
"Hold, gentlemeni' - cried Hasner,
this affair is mine
He then stepped in front of the
man who had insulted him, as if he
feared that the latter was going to
run away.
"I do not know you,'' he said, af-
ter looking at the Frenchman a mo-
ment.
"Six years ago." replied the other,
''one of your countrymen, captain
like you, slapped my face on the
public square of my native town. I
tried to ayenge myself, and I was
thrown to the ground, beaten and
wounded by his soldiers I always
felt that blow till a moment ago,
and only awaited the death of my
mother to demand satisfaction for it.
[ arrived in this town this evening,
and, less cowardiy than your compa
triot, I addressed myself to you
that is, to man and not to little
child"
4 murmur arose among the off
GERS, but the major suppressed it.
''I am innocent of the outrage
that was committed upon you, mon
sieur," he said, on raising his heaG
sadly; &C. would not have struck ,
child any more than you, believe me
You have no longer a mothers
much the better, for you have PLACED
me under the necessity of killinl
you. " My friends" added the ma
ior turning to Weisch and Buggler
" 1 leave the arrangement of every
thing to you"
The next day, about 8 o'clock il
morning, a post-chaise carried M
Jean Bernard on his way back t
France. At the same hour Weiscl
and Buggler carried to Martha tn
inanimate corpse of her husband
killed without having had time eve
to put on his majors uniform.
g My uncle" continued the youn
man who told me this story, "whos
good heart and fair dealing 20
know as well as any one, learne
only too late that he whom he ha
insulted had a mother, a wife,
child, and was no longer a captain
He has never ceased to think Of tn
orphan. And now you know VIII
he never laughs"
"
Wasted Wealth.
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