The National tribune., 1882-06-10

shais quarters. lOrnuS saw nothing. heard
nothing. lie spoke to himself as he ascend
ed the Rue de Faubourg:
Take my FLAG from me, God above! is
it possible? Has he the right? Let him
give to tie Prnss;ans what is his own-his
| gilded coaches and his beautiful silver plate
brought from Mexico! But tie standard
that's mine. It's my honor. No one shall
touch it,"
All these bits of phrases were torn by his
speed and his stammering speech; but in
his brain the old man had his idea It was
q clear, firmly fixed idea-to seize the stand
ard, bear it away into the midst Of the regi-
ment, and pass over the bodies Of the Prus-
slams with all those who would follow him.
When ne reached his destination he was
not even allowed to enter. The Colonel, who
was also furious declined to see anyone, but
Hornus was not to be put off thus.
lie swore, hurled himself upon the guard
and shouted: :" My flag want my flag"
At last window opened.
rs it you, Hornus?"
"Yes, Colonel, I"
"All the standards are in the arsenal; you
have but to go there and get a receipt for
yours"
"a 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 drunken man.
"A receipt-a receipt" repeated he me-
chanically. At length he walked away,
comprchending but one thing, that the flag
was in the arsenal and he must get it, no
matter what the cost.
All the doors of the arsenal were wide
open to admit the Prussian army wagons
which were waiting drawn up in the court
yard. HOrnus trcmbled as he entered. All
the other standard-bearers were there, fifty
or sixty officers, mournful, silent; and those
wagons, sombre beneath the rain, those men
group behind them, with bare heads; it
looked like funeral.
In Il corner all the standards of Bazaines
army were heaped, mixed together upon the
muddy pavement. Nothing could be more
sorrowfnl than hose rags of gaudy silk,
those wrecks of I'D fringe and of carved
statls-all those glorious objects hurled to
the ground, soiled by the rain and the mud.
An officer of the commissariat took them up
one by one and as his regiment was called
ont each standard-bearer advanced to pro-
cure receipt Stiff, impossible, two Prus-
sian officers superintended the loading of the
wagons.
And you were to depart thus oh. holy,
glorious tatters, displaying your wounds,
sadly sweeping the pavement like birds with
broken wings. You were to depart with the
shame of beautiful things in disgrace, and
each one of you would bear away little OF
France. The sunlight of long marches would
remain among your faded folds In the
marks Of balls yOu would keep the remem-
brance of the unknown dead, killed by
chance shots beneath the banner aimed at.
"Hornus, it is your time. You are called
go and get your receipt"
A receipt, indeed
The flag was there before him. 1t was
truly his-the most beautiful, the most mu- |
-ilated Of ALL and, on beholding it once
more, he thought himself again upon the |
slope Of the railroad. He heard the balls |
whistle, the clattering mess-plates and the |
7oice of the Colonel shouting: "To the flag, |
ny children!" Then he saw his twenty-five |
allen comrades, and himself, the twenty |
bird, leaping forward in his turn to lift and |
support the poor standard, which was reel |
ng for want of arms. All! that day he had |
worn to defend it, to keep it until death! |
md now
At these thoughts all his hearts blood .
mounted to his head. Drunken beside him
elf, he sprang upon the Prussian officer,
ore from him his beloved standard, which |
lie grasped with all his strength; then he !
trove to raise it again, high overhead,
tTaight as q mast, shouting, To the fla"
'ut his voice expired in his throat He felt
he staff tremble, slip from between his
ands In that oppressive atmosphere, that
tmosphere Of death which hangs so heavily
yer surrendered cities, the flags could not
oat, nothing noble could Iive-and old Hor-
us fell dead, his beloved standard tluttering
own upon him and reyerently covering his
0rpSe.