Little Falls transcript., 1880-01-30
A BATTLE STORY.

salu the young GERMAN, as nc turned the
precious railway pass over in his hand.
The American Minister is a splendid
fellow, and your acquaintance with him
has been worth something. Now I shall
escape this horrible seigc. Hurrah for
the Rhine! How l wish you and Louis
were going with me-"
"Not we, Becker, my friend: our place
is here. l care very little for that, since
Lauri and Mathilde and the cid people
ure safe south Of the Loize.
"Give my love to Katrina, and tell her
that shall fight as hard as can against
her darling king and these swarms of her
destroying countrymen.'
''She will love you none the less for
that, 1 Think" said Carl ''Good-bye."
The two strong right hands were
wrung hard for a moment, but no othel
word was spoken.
The Dc Kosats, though patriotic, had
been wise, and they had left in Paris
only those of the family who were able
to fight the Germans US we'll as help con-
sum-, the stores Of provisions-the only
reliable garrison of the beautiful city.
Carl was safe, thanks to the American
Minister, but the bitter seige 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
The famine was likely to prove strong
er than King William.
Henri De Rosat had seen little of his
brother Louis since the scige began, for
Nf ho
his duty had kept him on the outer lines,
but oLe frosty morning they met in the
Place Vendome.
The brothers had really too much to
say to talk u great deal, but each, as he
looked in the others eyes, could discern
that deep and mournful shadow of the
siege which will never be forgotten by
any Of those whose lives were Iarkened
under it.
"You keep your flesh marvelously,
Louis" said Henri. 81 am daily grow
ing thin, both in soul and body"
Because you are penned in the city,"
said Louis, "while every day I can see
beyond the siege from the Notifications. ="
"But the Germans, Louis, you see them
ALSO" -'~-
eyes, but am mining nowadays, and
Imake myself merry by thinking that.
perhaps, shall dig my way under them,
and come out into the bright world be-
yond. I believe l could do that or any
thing else to escape the siege. How 1
envy those balloon men. They get out"
"We, too, may get out" SAID Henri.
"My gay hussars and are to have our
chance tomorrow IN the sortie."
"Your gay hussars?"
"Yes, indeed. We have eaten our
horses, but we shall charge in our hussar
uniform. Perhaps we shall capture a
mount. could charge milliard of
Uhlans if saw any hope of cutting
through
"You will not. We shall none of us
get out. The city is doomed
The last words came in deep, solemn,
sepulchral voice, and the brothers. turned
quickly as they recognized it.
A tall, broad, blue-eyed man, in. a
dark blouse, stood near them.
CDR. Spielburg?" exclaimed Louis,
"why man alive, thought you had been
killedW
"Thcy will not give me a chance.
look too much like German, and SO, be-
cause I am a physician as we'll, I am
forced to do hospital duty instead Of
lighting these vandals that have burned
my home iu Alsace.''s II
''This is good duty for you, too,"
said Henri, "the best of duties
"But I learn things there, and I have
learned that Paris must fall.''
The brothers looked at their stern, sad
faced friend, and at each other; and as
the shadow of the siege settled more and
more heavily over them, they muttered
only few more sentences, and then sepa-
rated to their duties. ~
That was long day to Henri dc Ros-
at, but it would have been longer had it
not been spent in preparations for the
grand sortie on the morrow.
He worked like all the rest, with a
fierce and ,feverish impatience, which
found reliet in repeating over and over
the most trivial duty. 49,
Then came the long hungry sleepless
night; but, that, too, passed, and the
sharp, clear, frosty morning found the
young officer leading his dismounted hus-
sars rapidly across the frozen mud.
Hours went by, for the struggle was
extended over a wide area, and there
were many fierce fluctuations Of SUCCESS
and failure, but as yet Henri and his hus-
sars were compelled to fight on foot.
Long hours they were, and all the
while Henri could hear OF feel nothing
but the urging instinct within him, that
seemed to be continually Forward, /,
Then came a maddening turn of the
battle, 9 whirl of doubt and disorder,