, 1881-07-29
THE SIEGE OF BERLIN.

SISScu, Nueu Just bSlOIS ItASLIAS INC
triumphal arch the Doctor stopped, and
pointing to one of those stately corner
houses so grandly grouped around the
square, he said to me:
DO you see those four windows with
the blinds closed, on that balcony up
there In the first days of August last,
that terrible month of August, full of
storms and disasters, was called there
for case of apoplexy. They were the
rooms of Colonel Jouve, a cuirassier of
the first Empire, stubborn on the sub
jects of glory and patriotism, who, as
soon as the war broke ont, moved to the
Champs Elysees, into an apartment with
"A balcony-guess what for? To be able
10 witness the triumphant return of our
troops. Poor old mani The news of
Wissemberg reached him as he was leav-
ing the dinner table, and when he read
the name of Napoleon at the foot of the
bulletin of defeat, the apOplectic stroke
fell upon him like thunderbolt.
II found the old cuirassier stretched
on the carpet with blood upon his face,
and motionless, as if he had received
blow from d heavy club upon his head.
Standing erect he must have been very
tall; lying there, he seemed OF immense
size. With his handsome features, his
beautiful teeth, and his curly, snow.
white hair, his so years seemed scarcely
Co -Kneeling at his side, and weeping
bitterly, was his granddaughter. She
looked like him, and the two heads there,
close together, seemed like two fine
Greek medals, struck from the same die,
the one little worn and effaced, the
other, clear and bright, with all the
blush of its fresh imprint upon it.
THE grief of the girl touched me
deeply; daughter and granddaughter of
soldiers, her father was away serving on
MacMahon's staff, and the tall form of
the venerable man lying before her was
calling up in her mind another picture
not less terrible. I did my best to re-
assure her, although I had little hope,
for ut 50 years one hardly RECEIVERS from
such things. For three days my patient
remained in the same motionIess and
comatose state, and thereupon came the
news of Reisehoffen. You remember
how strangely it came. Until evening
We all thought a great victory had been
achieved. 20, 600 Prussians killed, the
Prince royal taken prisoner. I cannot
Say by what miracle, by what magnetic
current, sort of echo of the national
Joy reached the poor sufferer through
the torpor of his paralysis. But that
evening as / drew near his bedside I
found him another man; his eyes were
almost bright, his speech almost clear;
he smiled twice and stammered:
'sVictoryr'
Yes, Colonel, a great victory and
as gave him the details of MacMahon's
splendid success could see his features
relax and his eyes light up. AS went
ont 1 found the young girl standing
across the door, pale as death, and Sob
bing.
'ssBut he is savedr 1 exclaimed,
taking her hands.
''The poor child had scarcely strength
enough to reply. The true history of
Reischoffen had Just been posted; Mac
Mahon retreating, the entire army crush
ed. We looked at one another in despair.
She was thinking of her father, and I
trembled for the poor old man I had Just
left. He could not resist this second
shock-and yet what could be done?
Leave him his joy. and the illusions
which had brought him back to life?
But for this the truth must not be told.
'''I viii not tell the truth then?' said
the heroic girl simply, as she rapidly
wiped away her tears. and then with q
smile upon her face she silently re-
tnIcfCu nCT > room.
1T was hard task she undertook,
poor child At first it worked pretty
well. The old gentleman's head was
weak, and he could be deceived like q
child. But as his health improved his
ideas became clearer. We had to keep
him posted on tine movements of the
army, and compose military bulletins. 1t
was q pitiful sight to see that lovely girl
bending day and night over the map of
Germany, sticking in little flags, and try
ing to plan out q glorious campaign.
Bazaine marching on Berlin, FToissart in
Bavaria, MaeMahon on the Baltic She
would ask my advice and I helped her
as best ] could, but the grandfather
aided us most of all in this imaginary in
Yasion. He had conquered Germany SO
many times under the first empirel He
knew every movement in advance. They
viii go there now; this will be done next
and his prophecies always came true,
and he was very proud of them.
Unfortunately, rapidly as we gained
battles and captured cities, we never
went fast enough for him. The old man
was insatiable! Each day, when / ar
rived, learned of some new feat of
arms.
doctor we have taken Mayence, the
poor girl would hurriedly say to me with
g piteous smile, and through the half
open door I could hear a joyous voice
call out:
'''It is all right; all right! in a week
We win enter Berlinr
"'Just then the Prussians were but a
weeks march away from Paris We
thought of taking him into the country;
but the condition of France would at
once have revealed all. and knew him
to be too weak and too benumbed by the
recent shock TO bear the truth. So we
decided to remain.
The first day of the inyestment-how
well it comes back TO mel went to
their rooms. was moved-as we all
were then-with heart pain which came
from the thought that the gates of Paris
were closed, that the battle was under |
our walls, and that our suburbs had be- |
come our frontiers. / found the old |
man seated on his bed, jubilant and |
proud
.''Well, he exclaimed, it has begun
at last-that seige'
81 looked at him in surprise.
"'How, Colonel, do you know?'
''The young girl turned toward me:
"'Oh, yes, doctor-great Dews-the
siege of Berlin has commenced.'
AS she spoke she drew her needle
through the stuff so calmly so nuiaflvf |