The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-05-02

They could hear nothing but the W h1stl1ng
of bullets, or their dull thud as they hattened
themselves on the rough-cast wall, scattering
the plaster in showers, as they hurled the
tiles from the roof. In front, not three hun
dred PAGES distant, they saw line of white
Uniforms, lighted mp by their own fire in the
black darkness. These the mountainous on
the other side of the rsvine Of Minieres were
assailiug in flank.
Hullin turned the corner of the house
there all was darkness, and they could scarcely
distinguish Doctor Lorquin on horseback, be-
fore a sledge, swinging long cavalry sabre in
his hand and bearing two horse pistols in his
belt, and Frantz Materne, with dozen men,
the but of his rife resting On his foot and his
lips foaming with rage. Huflin seated Cathe-
rine in the sIedge and Louise by her side.
Here at 1ast!7 cried the doctor, "God be
thaukedv
And Frantz Materne added:
'If it were not for you, Mother Lefevre. you
may be sure that not one of us would quit the
plateau tonight; but for you-"
At this moment q tall gaunt fellow passed at
fall speed, shrieking as he ran:
"They are upon Us I! Every one for himselfw
Hullin grew pale.
Z Is the miller OF darOeTR, ne muCCereQ,
grinding his teeth. "Traitorw
Frantz said nothing, but brought his rife to
his shoulder, aimed and fired.
Louise saw the coward fling his arms in the
air and fall face downward on the snow.
Frantz, with strange smile, reloaded his
piece.
Comrades !" said Huiiin; "here is your
mother; she who gave you powder and food
that You might defend your homes; and here
is my child. Save them"
And all answered:
1--WE will save them OF die with them.n
"And remember to warn Dives to remain at
Falkenstein until further orders"
1--WE shall net fail"
'"Then forward, doctor, forward" cried the
brave old man.
"And you, Hullin Z" asked Catherine.
"My place is here. Our position must be
defended to the DEATH"
Father Jean-Claudei" cried Louise, stretch
ing her arms toward him.
But he had already turned the corner; the
| doctor whipped mp his horse; the sledge
crunched the snow, and behind it Frantz Ma
terne and his men, their rifles on the shoulders,
strobe on, while the roll and clatter Of the mus
| kerry continued. The old mistress Of BEDSIDE
Chenes, remembering her dream, was silent.
Louise dried her tears and threw a last long
gaze on the plateau, which was lighted up as
if by a FIRE. The horse galloped beneath the
blows of the doctor, 30 that the nlountaineers
of the escort could scarcely keep up with it ;
but it was long ere the tumult, the shouts oil
battle, the clatter and crash of the shots, and
the whistling of the balls, cutting through the
S,rar or 81, \
more indistinct, were heard no more; then all
seemed vanished like dream.
The sledge had reached the other slope o.
! the mountain and darted like an arrow throu Oh
| the darkness. The tramp of the horses boots
the hard-drawn breath of the escort and from
time to time the call of the doctor, "Ho
Bruno, old fellow" alone broke the deer
| stiffness.
a rush of ice-cold air, rolling up from The
valley of the Sarre, bore from afar, like a Sigh
the never-ending plant of the torrents and
wood. The moon broke through clcud ant
looked down on the dark forests of Blaprn
with their tall, snow-laden frs.
A few moments after the sledge reached {
corner of the woods, aud Doctor Lorquin, turn
ing in bis saddle, cried:
Now, Frantz, what are we to dot The patti
turns TO the hills of Saint uirin, and here i.
another going down to Blanru. Which shall
we take ~
Frantz aud the men of the escort drew near
AS they were then on the western side of tn,
Demon, they began to catch glimpses one,
more of the German fusilade and OCCASIONAL,
they heard the crash of a cannon-shot echo
through the abysses.
The path to the hills of Safnt-Quiriu.n re
piled Frantz, Is is shorter if we wish to stop a,
BEDSIDE Chenes; we shall gain at least three
quarters of hour by it,"
Yes" said the doctor, but we risk being
taken by the Kaiserliks who now hold the
} dehie of the Sarre. They are already masters
OF the heights, and they have doubtless sen,
detachments to the Sarre-Ridge in order to
turn Donou"
Let MS take the Blanru path then" an.
s"ered Frantz; it is longer, but safer"
The sledge descended the mountain side to
the left, along the skirts of the wood. The
Gs