The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-08-02

W.
,,arns. hotties. when the Parisinns entered
fhe room a hurrah OF Joy greeted toeh.
They gave up their newspapers: anu Ins
nfI,csrs rave them something to drink ana
made them talk. They oil had prouu,
hard look, but the large boy amused lne.h
with his Partisan gaiety and his gamHl
ching. They laughed and repeated MS
words after him, and seemed 10 "alioW
with delight In the Partisan mud ne bFouShs
Little stenne, too, would have liked to
have talked and to prove that he was not
stunId. Int something. embarrassed MIN.
Onnosite to him, sitting apart, was rus
GAR. older and more serious than the others,
who was reading, or rather seemed 70 reao'
sor he never took his eyes off little stenne,
and there was In his glance botn tenderness
and .reproach. as though this, man misnt
have had child OF little stennes age ~
nome. and rs II be were saying 10 nlmseh,
nI would rather die than see my son ooins
snch n thing"; and as "he looked at littie
Stenne the boy felt as II hand were ciutcn-
ing at his heart and keeping IL from peat.
ing. To escape the anguish ne 1esan W
drink, and soon everything turned around
his comrade making fun OF the Natlonai
GnardI. OF their way OF going through
their,drill. He initiated an assault OF arms
in ihe Marais, and a surprise at night on
the ramparts. Then the large boy lowered
his voice, the officers approached nearer TO
him. and their faces grew more solemn.
The miserable fellow was telling them
about that nights premcditated attack: OF
which the sharpshooters bad spoken. Iben
little Stenne rose, furious and completely
sobered: "Don't tell that fellow, wont
have you." But the other only laughed
and continued; but before he had finished
the officers were all on their feet. ana one
OF them, showing the door TO the children,
told them to Begone! and they began 10
fax burriedly together in German. Inc
large bow left the room as proud as doge.
clinking his money. Little Ste1ne followed
him. holding down his head; and as ne was
passing the Prussian whose look had so
disturbed him he heard voice saying 10
him: mot nice that, not NICE" ana Inc
tears came to his eyes. once more IN Tue
plain the children began to run, and re-
turned toward Paris quickly. Their sacks
were filed with potatoes. which the Prus-
slams had given them, and with these they
passed the sharpshooters' encampment
without any trouble. They were preparing
for the night attack. Troops were arriving
silently, and were 'massed behind the wall:
The old sergeant was there, busily engaged
arranging his men with such a happy look.
When the children passed near him be re-
cognized them and smiled kindly at them.
Oh! how badly that smile made little
Stenne feel. For moment he felt as il he
should burst out crying and say to them:
"Don't go there. We have betrayed you"
But the other boy told him that il he spoke
a word they would lie shot, and so fear kept
him silent.
at Courneuve they entered an abandoned
house to divide their money. Truth COM
pels me to say the division was honestly
made, and when he heard the fine crowns
sounding under his blouse, and thought OF
his future games OF ealoche, little Stenne
felt his crime was not so dreadful after all.
But when he was alone the unhappy
child when at the gates OF the city the
large boy left him, then his pockets grew
heavy and The hand that bad been graSplng
his heart held it tighter still. Paris seemed
no longer the same to him the paSscrs-by
regarded him severely, as il they knew from
whence he had come, and he heard the
"spy" in all the sounds OF the street and
in fhe beating Of the drums along the canal
where the troops were exercising. At last
he reached bis home, and, glad to find that
his father had not yet come in, he hurried
to bis room and hid the crowns that were
weighing so heavily under his pillow.
Never had Father Stenne been so good
humorcd and joyous as he was that
night on coming home. Good news
had been received from the pro-
vinces the country's affairs were
going better. Whilst he was eating, the old
soldier looked at his gun hung on the wall,
and he said to the boy, with hearty laugh:
"Hey! my son, how you would go after the
Prussians il you were old enough " About
O'Clock they heard the sound OF cannon.
lit is at Aubcryilliers; they are fighting at
Bourget!" said the old man, who knew
where all the forts were situated. Little
Stenne grew pale, and, feigning great IA
tigue, went to bed, but not to sleep. The
cannon were laundering continuously. He
pictured to himself the sharpshooters going
at night to surprise the PrussianS, and fall
ing INTO an ambuscade themselves. He re-
called the sergeant who had smiled at him,
and saw him stretched out there in the
snow, and 80 many others with him.
The price Of all that blood was hidden
there under his pillow, and it was he, the
son OF Mr.. Stenne-of soldier. His
tears choked him. In the adjoining room
he heard his father walking TO and fro and
then open q window. Down in the street
the rappel was sounded; battalion OF mo-
biles were getting ready to start. Then
there was no doubt about there being real
battle going on. The UNHAPPY boy couia
not keep back his Sobs.
"What is the matter with your" askeu
his father, entering his room. Inc Gnu
could bear it no longer; he jumped ilo,i
his bed and threw himself at Ills laluTi
feet. In so doing the silver crowns io''e"
down on the floor. ,o, s.oo,-
"Wbat is this! Have you Deen steai-
ipe?" asked the old man, Deslnn'h 49,, ~
tremble. Then, all in one oIeatu' nt!ie
Stenne told him that he naa oeen w ,ne
Prussians. ard all that he had done' ana Us
he was speaking he felt MS hearG gro"
LIGHTER: it comforted him 10 make Tue CON
fcssion. His father listened 10 nun win
terrible look on his face, ana Wnen the story
was told be buried bis. face IN Dis hands ana
wept. ,, 40 Tho .h;,d tr;aa -
s.v bnt the old man pushed him off with
out replying to him, and picked up the
money.
made a sign that it was then the old man
took down bis gun and cartridges, and,
putting the money in his pocket, said:
~ am going to return it to tbem,' said
he: and without another word-without
even turning his head-he went down into
the street, and joined themobileS, who were
starting of in the night. He was never
seen again
SNAIX.-We tell our snake story for the
benefit OF the Richmond Dispatch. The
writer remembers when n snhoo(-hoy see