The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-08-06

!nS AoVicu I'LL over the province as pun
ishment tor the murder of Prussian
soldier the day before. Then he turned
quickly on his heel and commanded:
Out with your cartridges!s. If this
battalion charges, it charges with loaded
Breech-plugs snapped back and cart,
ridges dropped in all along the line.
.Order arnls!" and he coolly lit cigar.
'Fhere was one moment of breathless
amazement on the part of the Frenchmen,
then they broke into groups and held
whispered converse. Every here and
there party would grow very violent,
but the curate would step between them
imperatively quoll the excitement. At.
length ne turned to the officer It was
found best for the comprehensibility OF
both parties that German should be spo-
ken, although the peasants understood
not q word Of our mother tongue. 4@5
"Slr" said the curate, sin the very best
OF times this village could barely raise
the sum of your demand, now it is sim
ply impossible to get a tenth of it. Every
centime we can possibly raise will only
amount to five hundred francs.'' o&l1jf'a
"Ah!" aaid Wendt, very much pro-
voked, "that is indeed a difference. / de-
mand nine thousand and you offer five
! hundred francss What do you mean,
sir2" the hot blood mounting to his fore
head. Y. tftss 9st 2ag aa uag0 p
Sergeant Bernhard" he turned to an
officer standing near, "take the section
on the left and drive all the cattle YOU
can find in the village to this place."
The sergeant marched off and the result
OF his work was very soon apparent. A
great number of, fine oxen, cows and
sheep rushed hither and yon through the
streets The curate, with a shrug Of the
shoulders, turned to the bailiffe The ell
ders OF the village spoke in low tones,
but their jesticulations were most violent
The action Of the soldiers out on duty
evidently tried their endurance to, the
utmost. AS they comprehended the de
sign in driving out their cattle their in
dignation reached its height, and the
bailiff, with subdued rage, turned to the
| officer.
'7ou will take our cattle away from
us, monsieur?" l}.."sat gl....4 ,af|E.. ..
The distress and indignation of the
peasants deeply touched the sympathies
of the apparently unmoved farmer in
uniform, but yesterdays assassination
and the endless bandit outrages called
for vengence and suppression. Wendt
frowned darkly. at. n- g .fe *
!s"Certainly, monsieur" he replied,
shortly. Ey,f .-1..1&t. .ral,. IF %ssr'
! "Then for Heavens sake tell u.s." said
the bailiff, resolutely, taking new step,
''what is the lowest sum you will let us
off wlth?'' 4g4 .#rH%'s .at.fs y .,fI
"Monsieur," replied the lieutenant,
quietly and slowly intonating every word,
''this is the last I will say on the subject.
Consult again with the elders and then
tell me what this fine appearing village
is in position to raise If it suffices me
will accept it, ifnot, I will unrelentless-
ly drive before me the collected cattle of
the town. Now consider this, all, before
you speak. But spare me from further
intercourse with the curate. / will have
nothing to do with him" and he contempt
uously knocked the ashes from his cigar.
But he started the next moment as q
snrill cry from woman's voice fell up
on his ear. He turned toward the village
street and saw a young girl Of remark
able beauty rushing out Of a house from
whence soldier had just driven a COW.
She burst into tears as she turned appeal
ingly to the sergeant, and then as he ans
wered with a shrug Of the shoulders, and
an II cannot understand you'' in bad
French came directly to the lieutenant
"Now what's to pay?" thought Wendt
in dismay, which rather deepened as he
saw the bailiff approach him at the same
moment " *5.tl''Ej O a'i# 1
"Monsieun said the latter, eve will en-.
deavor to raise two thousand francs '''3'
Il suppose that will do,' replied
Wendt, happy to have concluded SO dis
agreeable a duty, 'but hasten about it.
please!'' He turned, very much relieved
at heart, toward the maiden, whose tear
full eyes we've fixed wistfully on him
"What can l do for you, mademoiselle? e.
he asked in a gentle tone, very much
touched by her grief and beauty. ,j@'
"Oh, monsieur" she cried, her lips
trembling and tears rising anew in he1
great brown eyes, Isthey have taken away
the only COW my poor sick aunt had-it
was all she had. We will die of starva-
ton now.'' 17' a. ~ -. =" ~ .L',', &l'sl. :
Wendt cleared his throat. ~ He despised
this moment from the bottom of his heart
and abhorred the order, that made him
appear an unfeeling monster to this poor
girl, for the impression made upon him
BY these brown eyes was a strange mix
ture Of pity and pain. I=r. .'' aS,SD.5 ...r,
"Calm yourself, mademoiselle," said
he,l kindly, .'yours aunt, will soon have
possession of her cow again; only have a
few moments patience and all will be
right zauaa.t-4 ,o2n3f5. sflr f,g,ly,.+aa
She breathed a long breath of relief. ID
"Oh, thank you, slr!' she cried, with a
sparkle in her eyes that lit up her face
like flash of sunshine. .vIi1e9nf.7na
| As she turned and was about to enter
her house, one of the elders stopped her
and said something. She drew back in
dismay and shook her head sorrowfully.
Only the word ''impossiblep' could the
lieutenant understand. fg,;,1g as,as! qh y.
''That's no matter, " the peasant called
out after her, S'every one must do what
they cant" fsji#H Elp aal
In the meantime the scene around had
greatly changed. The quiet square was
filled with cattle, some jumping about
WI 161v con, a jlou,;,, ~ ou1 Iool1:,,S