The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1878-03-15

dows, and beheid, with amazement,
the disorder that reigoed every
where. The door opened suddenly,
and an adjutant, painting for breath,
cried:
war is declared. The seniors
are made second lieutenants by an
imperial decree of July l4th.'
Never was such g sight seen be-
fore. All the sick, without excep-
ton, were cured 1nstan ly, the gray
robes and cotton caps were thrown
to the astounded sisters, and arm in
arm, yalling, singing, leaping, all
the sick rushed headlong down to
join the rest. Lieutenant Pechard
alone remained, frowDing; his ven
gence was escaping him.
So said Maxine to him, I'VE will
not be shaved, my dear comrade.'
WELL said the Lieutenant, Eyou
may thank your stars, for l would
not have spared yOu,' and they
shook hands.
Maxine packed in a hurry, glanc-
ed once more over the guard room
and infirmary, In which he had
spent so many dull days, and start
ed for the railway, rejoicing in his
freedom, in his Lieutenancy, and
having one great joy above all his
comrades he had his hair:
Two days later, in Lille, he pre-
scented himself to TournecOunt, Co
lionel of the Thirtieth Dragons,
who received him most cordially /;
he was favorably impressed by
Maxime's frank, open face.
well, young man. said he, you
are Just in time; You will soon
smell gunpowder. We leave for
the frontier I'm q few days. You
had better make all your pFeParS-
tons at once They went to Metz,
and the regiment encamped before
the Porte MazelIe.
At table his curly head was an
evesore for his shaven comrades.
You will see,' said they, after you
have worn your helmet for q week.
Your hair will come out by the
handful, then the laugh will be on
the other side
A week passed, week under the
old-time helmet, covered with fur,
and Maxime's hair instead of thin
ming, seemed thicker than ever.
AT Gravelotte, at about p. m,
the Thirtieth Dragons were ranged
by squadrons in front of Mars la
Tour. Maxime's squadron occupied
the right wing. Suddenly, 300 pa
ces ahead, rushed the Second Hus-
sars (Fronch), pursued by the Prus-
sian dragons, with pointed helmets
and sky-blue tunics.
First squadron to the front /
H4I@aI ~
Maxine lived over all his life in
that one short instant; his father,
the General, his idolized mother,
his cousin Yolande, all those he
loved murmuring short prayer,
he stesdied himself in his stirrups,
aud charged at gallOp.
The Prussians recoiled, and the
| Colonel ordered the vOlIey, but
Maxine, possessed by the desire to
make q prisoner, has been separS
ted from his men. His chin-strap
having been severed, he lost his
helmet, and four horsemen were
pursuing him. He brought down
two with his revolver, aud was
about to escape, when third sue
ceeded in catching him by the hair.
and struck at him with his sabre,
which, fortunately, turned. He re-
ceived but a fat blow, andwss only
stunned. Maxime's horse, beside
himself with fright, bounded wild
ly backward, and brought his rider
back to his platoon, helmetless,
bleeding. bruised, but alive.
Any one else, after such an adyen-
ture, would have Immediately gone
to the BARRIERS, but such q bad be-
ginning did not seem to impress
Maxine at all, and it certainly in
creased the respect with which his
comrades regarded him; he KEEP
his curls.
He thought, however, that he
could not set at naught widespread
military habit, and that he must do
something to have his singularity
overlooked. He behaved gallsntly
during the siege; with his reddist
beard and shock of hair, reminding
one of an Indian Bscchus, he earn.
ed a terrible reputation in the army
and was Dicknamed the Hairy Ora
goon." His bravery in the field
was proverbial, and he was threG
times reported for promotion.
With bitterness Maxine saw ap
preaching the last days of the siege
and capitulation seemed the only
thing left to be done. Would they
surrender, and go passiYely into
Germany, while there was SO muct
fighting 10 be done in France ?-not
IL he could help himself. He elm.
! mated his project most carefully
and finally, after he had with {
heavy heart surrendered the mer
who remained of his platoon to &
Prussian officers, who counted
them all after having shaken
hands with his men. for the last
time and returned towards Metz, be
hesitated no longer. He went to
General c., confided to him his
project of attempting to cross the
lines, and received from him a let.
ter for General d. AureIles de PaIa.
dimes. Then be went to the inn OF
the Golden Pheasant, disguised
himself with blouse and broad
straw hat, and with g basket OF
eggs on his arm, went quietly to-
wards the Prnssian lines. Ser
tainlY,' said he to himself, 4 run the
risk of being shot, but better die
that way than rot in q German pris-
en- He did not go far; the account
he gave of himself to the first Ger
man outpost was not satisfactory
and he was taken before the Colo
nel of the regiment. The Colonel
was surrounded by his officers the
latter, stiff and naughty, were seated
around q table, and seem ed any.
thing but well disposed towards the
pseuClo Deasant.
Where do you come from /?
frowningly asked the Colonel.
From Lqdonchemps, and l am
going to Grigy to sell my eggs
you know that this is no time tC
wander about the country
you cannot always choose your
| time answered Maxine.
The officers consulted one anoth.
er; the hands were very white fol
peasant, the shoulders well
thrown back, and there was about
him an air of esse that was difficult
to associate with the man bending
over the earth he titled.
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