The Portland daily press., 1875-04-12

Pierre, brought me an order from Inspector
Laroche to come to him without delay.
Marie Rose had come down. I took time
to break crust, and then went away, my
gun in my belt. At seven O'Clock 1 was at
the door of Mr.. Laroche, and went in. The
Inspector sat at his desk writing.
"Ah is that you Frederic said he, laying
down his pen, "Sit down. We have bad
news, enough of it. You know that our little
corps detached for observation, has sustained
a defeat near Wissembourg?'
Eyes Monsieur Inspector
They were surprised" said he, ''but that
is nothing. 1t will not happen again."
He seemed tranquil as usual, and said that
in all wars there were victories and defeats !;
that first unfortunate engagement did not
signify any thing; but it was always well to
take precautions in case of events more grave
and impossible to forsee that he thought best
to warn all the men of my brigade, and those
whom we employed in the forest roads to be
ready to march with their pick axes, sfovels
and axes at the first notice, because it might
be necessary to blast the rocks, and cut off
the roads by means of trenches and breast
works.
"You understand" said he, seeing me a
little troubled, you understand, father Fred
eric, that these are simple precautionary
measures. Nothing threatens us. Marshal
MacMahon has concentrated his forces near
Haguenau. We have nothing immediate to
fear, but the principal thing is to be ready in
case of need. When all is ready, we can
act rapidly and effectively. may receive
an order from Gen. Failly to cut the roads
and in such a case the order must be exc
cuted in a few hours.'
''That will not be long, Monsieur Inspector.
The rocks hanging over our paths in falling
would send all OF them to the bottom of the
valley"
Precisely" said he, ''but first we must
warn our men. The powder in the magazine
is not wanting, if the order comes; all my
colleagues having taken the same precautions
it will not be a days work from Bitche to
Dabo. Not cannon, not a powder wagon
shall pass from Alsace to Lorraine" He
said this as he parted with me at the door
giving me warm clasp of the hand.
AS went sadly away perceived on the
heights of Altenburg some soldiers in the
act of planting palisades all along the side.
The greatest anxiety reigned in the outskirts.
The men ran from one house to another to
hear the news. Two or three companies of
infantry were encamped in field of potatoes.
All this day and the rest did nothing but
muhle, Echbourg, Hangever, Graufthal and
Netting, warning each one what he must do,
the places where they were to meet, the rocks
they were TO dislodge.
At last the second day returned so weary
that it was impossible to eat or sleep for some
hours. Nevertheless towards morning had
fallen into a profound sleep, when Marie
Rose entering into my room awoke me in
opening the windows on the side of Dossen-
helm.
''Listen, Father" she said in trembling
voice, 'slisten to all this noise. What is it
We can hear nothing in the whole valley but
that!'
| listened. 1t was an unceasing hum,
which filed the mountain, aud from time to
time rose above the murmur of the woods.
1t was long time before 1 could under
stand what it meant, and answered,
sit is the noise of cannon. They are
fighting seven or eight leagues from here,
near Woerlh. There is great battlep'
nj,
dressed myself and followed her into the
room below, where we found also the grand
mother, whose chin trembled and who
watched me with anxious eyes.
cit is nothing" 1 said to her, edo not fear.
Whatever may happen, the Germans will new
er come up here. We have too many good
places where we can defend our passes"
But was far from feeling confident myself.
The noise of the cannon redoubled, some
times like the far off rumbling of storm.
Then it subsidized, and one heard nothing but
the murmur of the leaves, the yelping of Ra-
got before the door, the cry of duck in the
willows by the river. These voices of the
solitude, when we were thinking of what was
seemed almost supernatural.
would have climbed over the rocks, to see
at least, what was passing on the other side.
in the plain, but the order to begin the barri-
cade might come at any moment and was
forced to remain.
1t continued until nearly three O'Clock in
the afternoon. This day, the 9th of August,
was very long but the most terrible moment
was the one, when all at once the heavy fir
ing ceased, and listening at the garden wiH-
dow, we could hear only the sounds rising
from the valley below. After a moment 1
said,
'It is finished. The battle is ended. At this
hour some are flying, and others pursuing.
God will that we have gained"
And unit! evening not soul was to be
seen in all the neighborhood. After supper
we went to bed in great anxiety,
The next day brought no relief. The sky
was cloudy, and rain soon began to fall-after
two months of drought. The hours passed
slowly, but the order to begin the barricades
did not arrive and 1 said to myself.
cit is a good sign! So much the better! If
we had lost the order would have arrived ear
ly this morning."
But we had no news, and at three O'Clock,
unable to retain my impotence l said to Ma
RE Rose and Grandmother:
"ListeD, I can wait no longer. 1 must 60
to Petite Pierre to see what is going on I
put on my oil cloth coat and went out brav-
ing the storm which was increasing every mo-
ment. Towards six O'Clock arrived at Pc
tite Pierre where everybody was shut up in
their little houses. At the old fort senti-
mel was watching in the rain, outside his
sentry DO A few moments after went in
to the Office OF the Inspector. He was there
alone, walking back and forth with bowed
head and an anxious expression, and as I
raised my hood he stopped saying
SIS that you, Father Frederic? Do you
come for the news and to receive orders"
eyes, Monsieur Inspector"
'Ah well, the news is bad, the battle is
lost. We are repulsed from Alsace. One
hundred and fifty thousand Germans are
towards Lorraine"
A cold SILVER passed over me and as be
was silent 1 murmured.