The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-02-10
NUMBER L.
THE BLOCKADE
AN EPISODE OF THE
END OF THE EMPIRE.
(Contiuued.)

Fl Contiuued.)
"A VII.
81 You see, Fritz. what the common people had
Z to endure in those days. All, well Just 90 wo
$were performing ext ia service, while Mon borne
WAS commanding me at the drilling, while Scr
geant Trubert was down upon me, while wo
#were hearing of domioiiiary visits of inspec-
dtion TO ascertain what provisions the citizens
had-in the midst of all this, my dozen pipes
of spirits of wine were being slowly wheeled
Hover the road.
8 How repented Of having ordered them I
! How often i could have torn my hair ss
thonght that half my thirty years. gains were
ct the mercy of circumstsnoesi How prayed
for the Emperorl How 1 ran every morning
Z to the oofee-houses and ale-houses to learn tho
news, and how trembied as readi
Nobody knew what suffered, not even Sorle,
Afor kept it all from her. She was too keen-
sighted not to perceive my anxiety, and some-
courage! All will come right-pstienoe little
lopger!"
But the rumors which came from Alsaoe, and
German r. Lorraine. and Hundsruok, quite upset
TO comel We are ready for theml They will
take us by snrprisei Peace is going to be
lmadei They will pass by to-morrowI We
shall have 10 fighting this winter 4 They oan
walt no longer! The Emperor is still in Paris
Marshal Victor is at Huninguenl They are
Expressing the custom-ho officers, the foress
keepers and the gendarmery Some Spaniah
1dragoons went down by Saverne yesterdsy9
The mountaineers to defend the Vosges
There will be fighting in AlsRcel - etc., eta.
Your head would have been turned, Fritz. In
tine morning the wind would blow one way
and put you in good spirits; at night it would
blow another -Wsy and 5ea ~eaia be -ntser=
able.
And my spirits of wine were coming nearer
and nearer, and at last arrived, in the midst of
this conflict of news which mi snt any day turn
into n conflict of bullets and smells. If it had
not been for my other troubles should have
been beside myself Fortunately, my indigna-
lion against Mon borne and the other Villains
diverted my mind.
We heard nothing more of Sergeant Trubert
after the great dinner for the remainder of
that day aud the night following, as he wac
on guard; bat the next morning, as / WAS
his musket on his shoulder he opened the door
and began to laugh, with his moustaches all
white with frost. j had just put on my panta-
looms, and looked at him in astonishment. Ny
wife wSs still in her room.
He hel Father Moses" said he, in o good
netured voice, ct has been D dreadful cold
night" He did not look or speak like the came
person.
Yes, sereeant,"I replied, at is December,
and that is what We must expect"
What We must expect" he repeated ;-"all
the more reason for taking drop. Let as see,
o there any more Of that old cherry brandyT
He looked, as he spoke, as il he could SEQ
through me. got up at once from my arm
'hAir, and ran to fetch the bottle: Yes. yes,
exclaimed, there is more, drink
md epjI it.H
As i said this, his face, still little hard,
n a corner, and, standing mp, handed me the
lass, saying, 4" Pour out, Father Noses, pour
'utP'
filed it brimfulI. As did 30, he lauR Rhed
Iuietly. His yellow face puckered up In hun
reds of wrinkles at the corners of bic eyeg
nd around his cheeks and moustaches aud
hin. He did not laugh SO as to be heard, but
lis eyes showed his good humor.
Famous cherry brandy this, in truth,
'atber Hoses !" he said he drank it. "a
,sdy knows who has drank it In the Black
'orest, where it costs nothiBgI Aren't you
ding TO drink with mef'
" With pleasure" answered, and We drank
ogether. He looked at me all the time. Sod
enly no said, with mischieVOus look, d" Hey,
'Sther. Noses, say, you were afraid Of me yes
eIday| ~ He smiled ss he spoke.
"Oh-SergeRnt-"
Come, come said he, laying his hand upon
~ shoulder, " confess that / frightened you"
He smiled so pleasAr tly that could not help
aying: Well, yes, a littlep
" He he he! knew it very WELL" said be.
You had heard them say, Sergeant Trubert
q tough onev You were afraid, aud you
ave me a dinner fit for o prince 70 coax moi"
He laughed aloud, and ended by laughing
DO. Sorle had heard all, in tho next room,
nd now came to the door and said, GOOD
forming, Mr. Sergeant"
He exclsimed, Father Moses, here is what
lBy be called woman! You can boast of
aving q spirited woman, Sly woman. slyer
lan you arc, Father MoAes; hel he! bei That
as it should be-that is es 1t should bew
snrle was delighted.
".ohI Mr. Sergeant" said she, "can you
,alIy think sol"
Bab bahw he exclaimed. You are
sme, aud said to myself, Take heed, Tru-
srt! They make a fair pretense; IL is
Iatsgem to send you to the hstsl TO sleep.
70 will let the enemy unmAsk bis battsriesP
sYe me . dinner ht for a MarshAl Of the EI.sI