The Arkansaw traveler., 1882-06-25

not check them They walked apaYs with bowed heads as If ashamed to look their men in the face. IL was. indeed. infa- nous. They had just read to hundred and tif,y thousand soldiers. armed. stili sturdy. the order of the marshal which surrendered them to the enemy wi,heu; striking a blow.
 And the standards:'' asked Homus. turning pale. The standards were gwen up with the rest. with the muskc,s with what remained with the equipments. ev- crthlng.
 "Th-ih- thunder of heaven :" siaIn- mered the poor man. They shall never have mine And he started for ;he city m run.
 There. also. great animation reigncd National guards. ci,izens. gardes mobiles were shouting and agitating themselves. Deputa,lons passed. trembling. gong ,o the marshal's quarters. Hornus saw nothing. heard nothing. He spoke ,o himself as he lscended the Rue du iau- bours:
 l ake my flag from me God above : is II possible: Has he the right: Lei him sIye to the prus>ians wha; is his own his gildcd coaches and his beautiful silver plate broush; from MeNieo' Ba, the standard. that mine. It's nl honor, No one shall touch IL
 All these bils ~t phrases were tom as his speed and hls siimmcring speech bu, m his brain the old man had hls idea l; was | clear. hrmly fixed idea 10 seifc the >taHdaT5 bear l; away lat,a;he miGs; oi the regiment and pass oXer the bodies oi the Prdssians with all those who would follow him.
 When he reached his destination he was not even allowed 10 enter. The colo ncl who also was furious. declined te sec any one. but Hornus was not to be pu, of thus.
 He swore. hurled himself upon the guard and shouted: ~ My flag Nan, my flag \, las, a window opened
 Is II you. Hornus
 "NeS. colonel. l-'
 All the standards are III the arsenal l.; yeu have bu, ,o go there and get receipt for VOLTS.
 \ receipt: What good will that do me =
 Such IS the marshal's order.
 But colonel-
 Be quiet. will you." and the window closed again.
 old Hornus staggered like a drunken man.
 \ rceeipt-a receipt. repeated he. mechanically. Al length he walked away. camprehendlng but one thing. tha, the flag was III the arsenal and he must gc; H. no matter what the cost.
 All tht. ,ia8fs ut the arsenal were wide open ta admit the frussidn army wagons. which were waiting drawn up in the court 1ard Hemus trembled as hc entered. All the other standard bearers were there. nifty er siNtN oifccrS. mournihl. sl- tent and these wagons. sombrc beneath the rain. those men grouped behind them. with bare heads: ii looked like 4 funeral.
 In corner all the standards ef Ba- zainc's army were heaped. mixed together upon the muddy pavement. Nothing could be more sorro~ful than th9se rags of gaudv silk. those wrecks of gold irinse and oi carved staiis-sil those glorious objects hurled to the ground. soiled by the 7 rain and the mud. An officer of the com missarlat took them up snc by one and a, hs regimen, was called out each standard bearer advanced to procure a receipt s;itf impossible two frusslan officers >u- pcrin,endcd the loading of the wagons.
 .tnd YOU were to depart thus. ah holy yio.,oss, tattcrs displaying your wounds : sadly sweeping the pavement like bird, with broken wings You were to dcpar' with the shame of beautiful things III dis grace. and each one ot you would hcal AWAY Il litlc ot France. The sunlI gh' of long marches would rem4in among youI faded folds. In the marks ot balt' you would keep the remembrance of th, unknown dead kllled by chance shot, beneath ,he banner aImed at "
 " Hornus. II is you tune. Aou are oails6 <, ;.a;i gc: ,nnr reecsp
 \ recelp;. indeed
 The flag was there before hm. |; w-l' truiy his the most beautiful. the mos mu,latcd oi all and. on behoIdins ,, one, nitrre he ,-,hoaehi himself aga,n ups.f, tii. slope of the railroad. He heard the ball. whistle. the clai;eing mes>-plaies and ,ht voice of the G0ionci stIuu-r-r-, r-,:-'-i-.-'ite flag. my children Then he saw h, twenty two fallen comrades. and himsel inc twen:y-,hlrd. leapins torw ard II tur to lift and support the poor standard which was reeling for want of arms. Ah tha, day he had sworn to defend H. ' keep !, unill death And now
 It these thoughts ail hs hear; !, blood mounted ,e hl9 head Drunken. bcsld, himself. he sprans upon the Prussian ui- hccr tore from hin his beloved standard winch he grasped Wirh all hls strength then he started to False i asaiu. hlZh oyehead. straight as mast sh"g;ing |" 'ro the ,fs but his voice expired 1T his ihroa, He fel; the staff treInhlc ,hE from between his hands. In that eppres. sive atmosphere. that atmosphere ot d...'t winch hang so heavily over surrendered c.;ics the flag could not float. nothing no ble could live and old IioTnus fell dead his beloved standard iutterng down upor hum and re,erentiy coveung h,s corpse.
 Lied Like Pirate.
 Ae~k.
 You found d mans pockes-boak YcS.