Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-01-31
voted our youngest and best to death and sor-

with my clothes on, indeed, and cloak beside
me- ready to throw over my shoulders. 1t was
a cruel night-real wolf-cold, and thought bi =
terly of POOR Ernest in his miserable biyouac
awaiting the approach OF the hour that was to
bring release or death. At three O'Clock the
hour xed for the to steal throSn he
Prussian lines. AS the clock struck three rose
and went to my window, an upper window
which commanded the river. The fog had
cleared away and the stars were shining
brightly. The frost had CONCEALED the vapor,
and everything was covered with white
shroud. By the soft diffused light the land
scape was visible in a faint filmy way, but
strained my eyes in vain to make out the point
where knew the lighthouse to be- could seq
nothing distinctly. although the frozen part of
the river showed all CHASTITY white with dark
channel of deep water winding through it.
"Then heard a shot-a second followed
moment afterward and then rafting fusfliade
night, and rolling back from the hills In thur
derous echoes. A trumpet rang out a call to
arms My inmates were at once on the move,
the place of assembly. The town was now aStir,
every house gave forth its complement OF SOL
dters, and the peaceful Inhabitants aroused
behind shutters and blinds at the gathering
troops. Something had happened, and hope
whispered fondly, something wrong for the
Prussians-an evacuation. perhaps, folio wing
some crushing disaster. We dreamed of sucn
things then-of armies breaking through our
iron bonds, OF victorious leglOnS issuing firth
y,
awake to realities of fresh woe and disaster.
After awhile the excitement subsidized the
troops returned to quarters. Also came back
my two inmates. They did not go to their room.
They stopped at my door and knocked gen ly.
With a swift preSentiment OF misfortune
opened to them: What Is the matter?' asked
cOuntrymen tried to break through our lin
and cross the river. One was shot by man Of
our company, who hastily searching him, found
".The chart was there before me.the chart
that l had given my brother the night before
1t was all too clear. The poor boy had fallen.
l turned away that our enemies might not see
asa moment, we notice that your name is
stamped on one corner. You lent it to friend
perhaps?'
"To my brother-my only brother-whom
you have killed.
1.-THE two murmured some sympathetic SEN
think us to blame Then the older went On to
say: The map we must deliver up to our supe-
rfors; but the name upon 1t, leading to the in
one of these irregular soldiers-would it not be
an act Of common prudence to cut it off? See,
here is a knife; we will turn away
"No, would not avail myself OF the chance.
1t was not for me to disown my brother in his
hour OF death. Let them do what they liked
with me. still, l was touched with the good
haps risked good deal to Serve me. We even
shook hands, thing had never thought 10 do.
They were brave fellows they whispered;
whatever happens, 90 not blame us. Let us
part friends
Il slept after this, quite worn out, heavy
undressing siumber, broken just at daybraak
tachment Of Prussians was h1rrying past, and
in the midst a stretcher borne upon mems
shoulders, the burden hastily covered with a
soldiers great-coat, but showing the rigid lines
of corpse. Was it Ernest? hastily prepared
to go out and see.
'sJust as l was going out there was a loud
knocking at the. great door. I opened and
a h wifi rnts1n Of col
diers. They hurried me away with scant cere-
mony, and in spite of my protests at thus being
made victim of barbarous force. People who
were going TO work looked back at the process
sion and murmured 'Ah. there goes poor NJ.
Brunei. May the bon Dieu be merciful to
him. hin T. Just as If it were my funeral And this
8" was marched into the large hall Of the
Marie, and there / found the Marie, dragged
from a sick-ped; also the worthy POTTER, and
the rest OF the Municipal Council, each under an
we waited in silence and suspense our fate, that
intruoted to my brave friend the secret Of the
Soon after a fierce white-headed General APP
peared, and snapped out rude address in his
native tongue; rude and malevOlent we felt it to
be, and even when softened by translation into
our own language it appeared sufficiently trucu-
lent. Last night, or early this morning rather,
it seemed that sentry had been killed at his
post. The culprit must be found, and han1ed
over to the military authorities with sufficient
evidence to justify his being shot. 'Dlsper5e,
and use every effort to discover the doer OF this
d eadful crime, and meet me here at LOON with
the culprlt, or by Him in heaven one Of you
Shall die for it-Settle among you which,.
This was the conclusion of tle address, and
we looked at each other in wonder and diSmay.
Then we were marched cut into the ante-room
to view the body OF the dead sentry. There he
lay, stiff and stark, fae tall Solder Killed by
a knife driven into his heart. The knife lay by
his Slde-one OF tbs. pieces OF eViden"c-and [
recognized it in moment as my oTn-the sill
Ver-mounted dagoe: that Ernest Lad appro-
priated.
"Man Of peace as I am. q haok-a orm to
JOY as sal' this PROT or my ,.osIer'5 prowess.
He had not tilej altogether ~ ya!n. and 1t was
now for me to Justify the deed, aad take The
burden OF il.
"'Tell your Gcn5r,l'! said, turning to the
officer who had Ms in charge, .thlt l know the
man who did the deed; he was my brother b 1t
1t was no assassination. but fair blow Strack
for the lives of five good Frenchnen. The knife
that did the deed is mine, and if another victim
No. cried the brave POTTER, he was mine,
my son; 1t Is my right to suffer for him.
Settle 1t among you, cried the officer,
roughly.
orders to come back at noon precisely. Potter
walked back with me to my house. ThereIe
saw two female figures, In deep mourning, and
closely yelled, waiting for us in the passage
Madame POTTER had risen from bed OF sick
hess TO bring her daughter down TO visit the
BODY OF her fianc6. Which, owing to the kindness
VI my lldu Dccu 10 my
house.
"'You will be glad to hear, dear brother
whispered ThercSe, who bore UP with a fortt-
tude quite marvellous in one SO young, that
poor Ernest did not Sacrifice himself In vain.
The live others got safely across the river, and
were seen to plunge into the forest beyond
They had disposed the glorious tri-color
about the body, and some one had laid sprig
of laurel across the breast. went reyerently
to uncover the face OF the corpse. it was NOT
ErneStS-the face OF brave man Sternly COM
pressed, and yet composed, in death, but not
ErneSt'S.
81 turned to Thtrcse. who had followed me
into the darkened room. 1t Is not he, He
lives; he has eScapedn
''Therese fell fain!ing into my arms ] gave
her TO her mothers care anu left the house. NJ
task seemed easy now; | could picture to nySe!t
the future. Ernest and his WHETHER chlllfea
clustered about them, as he tells them the story
OF the good Old uncle Who was killed by the
PrusSianS. The sacrifice was not so hard after
all, but thought little respectfully OF the IN
finished monograph-hoW It would be- one day
swept up among the rubbish OF my library and
consigned to perdition. And wondered ont 10
my favorite spot just below the villa POTTER
where sweet panorama Of hills and broad
plains and winding river CLEANED softly und n
ray OF winter sunshine. Farewell to all this?
"At noon l presented myself at the Marie
passed through a file OF soldiers to the grand
salon, and found that my colleagues of the mu-
nicpal council-all except POttier-were al
ready assembled Ny resolution to Offer my
self as victim. IL one were demanded, was
generally onp1audnd and resolution