The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-05-16
.sv-9,ng STAR ano Catholic "essenger.
.~~--~~---~-~------- - - -, AZ, 49,,
saw ORLEANS SUNDAY. MAY IL
CHATTER XIII.

On the rock of Falkenstein, hiBn III '
air rises a round tower, the base OF "nI'" 80
broken and sunken. This tower. co'ereu "isu
bramble hawthorn, aud myrtie' see"n ~ -
tho mountain itself: it has -snrSlSself ren.n'
German aud Swedes. Its stones ana ''oA '
pAavs become Solid zsass. If ont wh'eh IL al
most impossible to break the sma'ies' '"S
mept, and the whole structure wears g.oo"'
air Of mystery which bears back, the nina 10
a., ages long past-ages when nave -" pa
the memories of man.. Here was Marc-D Dives
wont TO lie in ambush when the fwHd geese
Jew south-if haS had nothing better to do; and
/, here sometimes at night taAi' wnsh .ne'f no
,nierced tho foRs and swept round IN, broad
.,oisce before, going to rest, Wouia no o,iDs
!. down two o, three. of their number-a fes'
which Eejoiced the heart OF Hs1ebsa1ei' "no
wasted no time in preparing them fes the spit
Here. too. in autumn, did Marc often set snares
among the bushes, where the thrushes iovedt 10
march and 70 crown all, the old tower served
him AZ a storehouse for his winters stook OF
wood. How often was Hexe-Baizel, when the
.r.-tberp gales blew ieroe, and the crashing OF
. .hranobes and groans of the neighboring for
.sts rose like the dashing of a tempest-tost
.,oean--how often then wac Hexe-Baizel almost
torn from that old tower and hurled 70 the OPP
,osita Kilberil But her long fngsrs held 'sst
to the vines, and the wind only happeo hei
coarse hair about her head.
Dives, peIceivinE that his WOOD co'efeu
with snow and vet with every rain, gave more
smoke than fame, made roof of planks ior
his storehouse and the smuggler relates that
while having the rafters, he found screech-
oul white ms snow, blind and feeble, but pro-
vided with field mice and bats in abundance.
For this reason he called IL the "Grandmother
of the country supposing that all the other
birds fed 1t on account of its extreme old age.
Toward evening the partisans-placed on
the lookout on every terrace of the rock-sa"
white uniforms appear in the surroundine
eorses. Masses Of men debouched from Tue
d6snSbs ON al sides dc once, showing an inten
tion 10 blockade Falkenstein. Marc7DVes
'seeine this, became thoughtful. If they sur
round as" said he mnsingly, we cannot pro
cure provisions We must surrender or die O
hunger" s.-,.u.'
The enemys staff were plainly seen on horse
back around the spring Of the, village O
Charmes. There a stout officer observing
the rock through "a long tield-glassi behin
him was Yecof, to whom he turned from tim
to time to question. Tho women and chiidre
of the village look ed on at some distance away
sacks caracoled about. The smuggler coui
bear no more; he took Hullin aside.
"Look," said he, at that long line {
rsbakos eiistening along the sarre, and neare
those others running like hares through tn
valley. They are Kaiserliks, are they not
Well, what are they going to do. Jean Claude
"They are going to surround the mountain
THAT is clear. How many men do u
h., l
"From three to four thousand"
..Without counting those in the open countr
Well, what would you have PiVrette do wi
his three hundred against the mass
vagabondsH 1 put the question frankly, HI
limp
"He can do nothing" replied brave Jea
Claude simply. "The Germans know that @
munitions are at Falkenstein; they fear
risiug after they enter Lorraine, and wish
secure their rear. Tho enemy's general 81
that he cannot overcome us by force; he
decided to reduce by famine. All til
Marc, is surely true but we are men we
do our duty; We will die here"
There was q moments silence Maro-Di
knit bis brcws, bat seemed not at all @
WINGED. .H.. .'..
I've will die 7" he repeated. g do
see why we should die that idea did not
ter our beads there are too many people '
2euld be glad of it IL We did" l..,
" What would you do ~ asked Hnllin sh
ly;" do you want TO 'surrendeC "
, Surrender ~ cried the Smuggler : !" do
take me for n coward ~ a-., D. O" ''
Then explain" .... "..,. s.''
This, evening staEt tor Phalsbourg
risk my neck passing through the ener
l,ue but would rather do that than fnld
arms and die Of hunger. Twill eater the
the first sortie that Is mads when l will
and reach gate. The commandsnty Menr
knows me; L have sold him tobacco for
last three years. He, like you, served in l
and Egypt. ! will show him the state OF
fairs. will zee Gaspard Lefevre. i will
meters go that they will probably give l
company. If we only get uniform, we
saved-do you see, Jean ClaudeH All of
brave people who are left will join Pivr
and, in any case, they can deliver us. Th'
-hok do ~