Wilmington journal., 1872-01-05

wv c''' Ul4c ulbu9llJ Oh having to SDeud
my evening at the Brandeburger iIof. lwhi'a
it would be So pleasant to STAY here and
keep you company" ''
" And why must you go to that tayerns.,
You forget, my dear. that INV oil
chunis Welsh and Buggler, offer me n,,nnI,
TO night, which must ne drunk i'm bonor 81
my promotion"
Cant go with you ?"
No, answered the Major" Who couId
nOt-sIppreSs smile at the idea Of seeinr
his Bertha visit tavern.
$50 they don't admit women into vo,,,.
dreadful places ?'
themselves refuse TO 80 there at least II
used to be SD when l was a Lieutenant
Since then, Bertha, L have been SO busy
near you, that L really don't know whether
the rule has been changed
" GO then quickly, and come back as soon
as possible" said the young woman. Major
fIasSner, who was about thirty-four. was
one Of the most promising officers of the
Prlssian army. lie was Of mild. even
temper; his features were manly and reru
lar, and had an expression of sadness. lie
put his great coat on, slowly. buttoned il.
looked again through the window. then
walked back and sat opposite his mother.
Bertha was working at Il small lace collar
OF which Miss Charlotte, fond Of dress as
all children are, was perhaps dreaming at
u same moment.
81 wish you would leave that chair and
go" said Bertha, seizing one of his hands
and trying to take him out Of his chair
She was rewarded by IA kiss for her ell
deayols, and the Major, after having walk
ed again five or six times around the cozy
room, as if rcgrctting to have to leave it,
heaycd a deep sigh, wished his mother GOOD
mi iuI Nyn IA a 81 I,c,,
to the regular breathing Of the sleeping
child, and walked out.
y chilly rain, mixed with SNOW. was fall
ing. The walk TO the Brandcburger IIof
was Il long one.
. Heaven bless Buggler and Welsh for
taking me out OH such night muttcred
the OlIicer, as a gust Of wind and rain blew
rudcly III his face. Then tIrlsting his
hands into the pockets of his great coat he
hurried through the narrow and i'll lighted
streets of the old capital of the department
du Mont Tonnene.
. French weather. thought he, as he &c
called the long and weary hours passed i'll
the biyouac5 of that country, when he was
still wearing his LieutcnaLts straps. He
cared but little for rain then. and did not
mind staying late at the tavern. But at
that tim" his mother was FAR from Him. and
Bertha Wds not tllcn his wife.
The Major was llte; his coming was re-
ceivcd with respectful salutations by his
subordinatcs, and with warm hand-shakin"
by his friends. The veteran Bu.gier, who
had already arrived, had taken possession
Of The largest table in Tie Hall He raise,
Il tremendous ''hurrah - when he at last,
saw IIassucr, who had served under him.
and OF whose promotion he felt no jealousy
As to Welsh, he rose, his broad mouth
made Il broader grin, while his huge china
pipe oSclllatcd for Il minute between his
tcCth,-a post it never left unless it needed
replenshing.
Though Mayer lad in 1922 federal
garrison, the Brandeburgcr TIof was visited
only by prIssian officers. The caiety of
Captain Welsh, Bu"elcrs heavy attempt at
Wit, and the hearty welcome of all his COM
panonS-l-al1ns, very soon madc the Major
forget his ill-lumOr. They had been to-
geLhcr Oh the battlefield; they recalled the
rcmcmbranccs of the past, while IA punch
wisely cOncOcled by a captain, who had
made himself a name in that Jnc. vas
blazing in u silver bowl.
The door Of the lall suddenly opened is
if by Il gust Of wind; a puff of damp air
stirred the thick clouds GfSmoke. and made
the 1lanlcS OF the lamps flare UP towards tl"
ceIlulS. young man wrapped in IL cloak
entered the room. lie had Dm his head one.
OF the narrOW-brimmed hats then ~ flsI,-
IOn. \ look from his dark grey eyes quick
ly surveyed the room. lie seemed to hest
tate as TO the choice OF "a seat he walked
first towards two old grey mIstachcs play
ing chess in Il corner. then, suddenly
changing his resolution, sat by a small ta-
bic, at which Major Ilassncr, now leaning
against the wall, had been sitting Il moment
b6 ore.
Civilians, unless invited by an officer.
seldom invaded the sacred precinct of thr
Brandcburgcr Hof Everybody looked un
i'll silent mnazement TO examine the intrli-
der. lie took of his hat and threw aside
his damp cloak Pale, with light chestnut
hair slight Gown shaded his upper lip:
he briefly answered the waiter who cnulir-
ed what he desired:
brandy, beer, anything ypu like. Con-
vers .lion, Interrupted an instant, was re
s,nncd, and the waiter set a pewter pot be-
fore a." Stranger.
''Gcitlcm"u,' said the latter, rising SLOWLY
from his a"ai, ''does any one here speak
Funch?"
II ala Eighty acquainted with That Ian
guas",' answered the Major, r.sjng, also.
lin what manner may | be of use to yotl."'
HE young man looked for All instant
IL the calm FACE of his iutcllocutor; he then
cl"ahd his eyes, and pressed his hands over
his breast, as if suffering great pain.
81 beg your pardon again, continued he.
i'll deeply moved voice ..,ut these iIlsiu-
mas, arc they not those Of a Captain IN
the PruSsian amy
IIasner had hardly time to answer in the
Affirmative, before hc icii !hc hand of the
Young man in his face
All the officers started ui,,, surrounding
yhc FrenchmaII, who 5tDDd with his back
all
lassn"r large and powerful enough TO
rush his antagonist, had darted toward
iIin' brt, kept back by Welsh and Bugclcr.
re wa striving to control his temper. \
Iecantcr, aimed at the young foreigner
vent crushing against the wall. a few inches
vcr his head.
"::2top,, cried the Major. ait is nobody S
usincss but mincr'
lie was standing before his insultcr. as if
fraid he Wo id endcavor to escape,
81 am ready togive you satisfaction. Sir"
ud Tie JWiuS man TO the Major; sherc is
~ name
J j." MAYOR took 4e card the stranger
cld Out to him.
- donL know you,'' said he. crItmplpc
le c,ud after having read il.
DIX years ago, pursued the Young man.
que oI your couiltlymen, Il Captain like
ou, struck Inc in the Lace, in the public
i'a'e of my natiY town. | wanted to
'hc revenge for that insult. and was
rocked down and wounded by his sol
lelS; That blow, sir, was still burning Oh
y ciieck moment ago. | waited till my
III mother was dead to ask satisfaction
rived tonight i'll your city, and less COW
ruy lllan your countrymen, | came to YOU
l,a -, Is, 10 man, and not to Il child
threatening voices ovcrp0wcrcd tlp
ST part OF the young mans speech: but