The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-03

THE BROTHERS.

hand.
This American minister is splendid
fellow, and your acquaintance with him
has been worth something. Now l shall
escape this horrible siege. Hurrah for the
Rhine How l wish you and Louis were
going with me-"
"Not we, Becker my friend; our place
is here. care very little for that, since
Laura and Mathide and the old people
are safe south of the Loire.
"Give my love to Katarina, and tell
her that shall fight as hard as ever l can
against her darling king and these
swarms of her destroying countrymen."
''She will love you none the less for
that, l think" said Carl. "Good-by."
The two strong right hands were wrung
hard for moment, but no other words
were spoken.
The De Rosats, though patriotic, had
been wise, and they had left in Paris only
those Of the family who were able to
fight the Germans as we'll as help con-
sumo the stores of provisions-the only
reliable garrison of the beautiful city.
Carl was safe, thanks to the American
minister, but the bitter siege dragged on
through week after week of the terrible
winter, until the enemy within began
slowly to wax even more menacing, in its
deadly silence, than the laundering foe
without.
Thefamine was likely toprove stronger
than King William.
Henri De Rosat had seen little of his
brother Louis since the siege began, for
Louis was an officer of the engineers, and
mis- duty had kept him on the outer lines,
but one frosty morning they met in the
Place Vendome.
The brothers had really too much to
say to talk great deal, but each, as he
looked in the others eyes, could discern
hat deep and mournful shadow of the
aiege which will never be forgotten by
any of those whose lives We're darkencd
under it.
"You keep your flesh marvelously
Louis said Henri. II am daily grow
ing thin, both in soul and body"
Because you are penned in the city" /"
aid Louis, "while every day | can see
beyond the siege from the for ifications.
But the Germans, Louis; you see them
Also"
Eyes, but I am mining nowadays, and
make myself merry by thinking that,
perhaps shall dig my way under them,
and come out into the bright world be-
yond. | believe could do that or any
thing else to. escape the siege. How envy
hose balloon men. They get out"
"We, too, may getout,' said Henri.
My gay hussars and | are to have our
chance tomorrow in the sortie.'
''Your gay hussars%'
eyes, indeed. We have eaten our
horses, but we shall charge tomorrow in
our hussar uniform. Perhaps we shall
capture mount. | could charge a mil
lard of Uhlans if l saw any hope of cut
ting through"
"You will not. We shall none of us
get out The city is doomed"
These last words came in a deep,
solemn, almost sepulchral voice, and tie
brothers turned quickly as they recog-
nized it.
A tall, broad, blue-eyed man, in dark
blouse, stood near them.
"Dr. Spi lburg" exclaimed Louis.
why, man alive, l thought you had
been killed"
"They will not give me a chance. I
.ook too much like a German, and so, be-
rause | am a physician as well, l am
lorced to do hospital duty instead of
lighting these Vandals that have burned
my home in Alsace."
"That is good duty for you, too," said
Henri; "the best of duty"
'But | learn things there, and l have
learned that Paris must fall"
The brothers looked at their stern, sad
faced friend, and at each other; and as
he shadow of the siege settled more and
more heavily over them, they muttered
,nly a few more sentences, and separated
to their duties.
That was a long day to Henri de Rosat,
ont it would have been longer had it not
been spent in preparations for the grand
4ortie on the morrow.
He worked, like all the rest, with a
fierce and feverish impatience, which
found relief in repeating over and over
the most trivial duty.
Then came the long, sleepless, hungry
night; but that, too, passed, and the
Sharp, clear, frosty morning found the
young officer leading his dismounted
hussars rapidly across the frozen mud.
Hours went by, for the struggle was
extended over wide area, and there
we're many fierce fluctuations Of success
md failure, but as yet Henri and his hus.
.ars we're compelled to fight on foot.
Long hours they were, and all the
while Henri could hear or feel nothing
out the urging instinct within him that
seemed to be continually shouting, "For-
wardI'
Then came maddening turn of the
battle, a whirl of doubt and disorder. and
With it cloud of charging Uhlans that
seemed to be sweeping all before them.
But Just then flash of lightning
seemed to come down through the smoke
md out of the reverberating thunder Of
he guns, and Henri felt himself 81
dazzled and blinded by its sudden blaze
that for few moments he lost the recOrt
If events.
He felt his horse give way under him