Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1883-08-09
THE ZOUAVE.

| The tall blacksmith, LOry, of Sante-
Marie-auX-Mines, was anything but sat
islied that evening. Usually, as soon as
the fire in the forge was extin-
| guished at sunset, he seated himself on
bench in front of bis door to enjoy
that thorough lassitude impaired by
heavy work and the heat of the day, aRd
before diSmiSsing the apprentices. crank
with them long draughtS of cool beer as
he watched the Vol kmen leaving the
manufactures. But that evening the
good man remained in bis forge up to
the moment OF sitting down at table,
and even then quilted it rs if with lie
gret. Nine. Lory thought, as she looked
at her husband:
| What has happened to him? Per
haps he has received from the regiment
some bad nsws, which he does aot wish
to tell me? Perhaps our oldest son is
| ILL.,"
AT last the blacksmith pushed away
| his plate in anger.
''Ah! the beggars, the dogs" he cried.
"Who, Lory 2" asked his wife.
| He burst out with:
II mean five or six Mretches In the
uniform of French soldiers, who have
been seen, ever since morning, roaming
about the town, locked arms with the
Bsvarlans! They are more of those
| renegades who have-how do Ehey eX-
press it?-decided to accept the nation
ality Of Prussia; and to think that eve
ry day we see these false Alsatians re-
turning! What have they given them
| to drink?'
The wife streve to defend them.
my poor man" shs Said, cit is not al
| together their fault. The AfricaA AL
geria, to which they were asnt, is So far
away They get homesck there. and
the temptation 10 returA and be free Ii
loo strong for Them"
LOfy struck the table nsrcely with his
list.
"Stop, mother" exclaimed he. you
women don't know anything about il.
BY dint of living always wi.h and only
for your children, you get xB childish as
they are. Well, say to you that those
men are besgars, ronegades, The most
cowardly of towards, and that, if uBfOr-
tunately our Christian should prove ca
pa0le OF such iHfany, as truly as that
my name is George Lery AND that
served seven years in the chasseurs Of
France, l would run him tnrsagh the
body with my saber."
And, terrible in bis Indignation, half
rising. the blacksmith pointed TO his
long chssseur blxde hanging against the
wall under the portrait of bis son, the
portrait OF a zouave painted In Africa !;
but the sight of that frank countenanes,
all bronzed and tanned by the sun, amid
ths whiteness and obscuri,y which were
hrin inh Is, pIv
calmed him, and burst out laughing.
What fool l am,' said he, TO les my
anger get the better of me; as If our
Christian could think Of becoming
Prussisn-he who killed 30 many Prus-
slams during the war;!
Restored to good humor by this idea
the good mah finished his dinner gayly,
and Immediately afterwsrd vent to
drink a couple of glasses of beer at She
Vile de Strasbourg."
Madame Lory wss not alone. After
having put to bed her snrss tlaxen-hair
ed youngsters, whom shs heard cooling
in the adjoining chamber, like \ nest of
birds going to sleep, she took her work
and began sewing before the door, Oh
the side of this gardens. From time tO
time she sighed and thought:
Yes, yes; they are cowards, rene
gades. But, no matter, their mothers
are very glad to see them again"
Suddenly she gave start. The little
back gate, that which gave access to the
fields, was open. Tue dogs had not
barked; nevertheless the person who
had just entCred crept along the walls
like rObber, gliding steal!hily between
the beehives.
How are you, mother!"
Her Christian stood before her. bis
uniform all i'll disorder. ashamed, con
fused, his tongus tkiek. The wretch
had returned 10 the district with the
others, and for an honr had been prowl-
ing around the house, awaiting his
fathers departure, to enter. She wish
ed to scold him, but had not the courage.
1t was SO long since she had seen and
embI aced him Besides. he gave her
such good reason: He WAS weary of AL
gsria, of the army, Of living always far
from his family then, the discipline had
become more severe, aid his comrades
had called him "Prussian." because OF
his Alsatian accent. She believed evs
rything he said. She had only TO look
at him To believe him.
DIG SOME 0nO was WdlklUB IN Tue
courtyard. 1t WAS the blacksmith re-
turning.
"Christian. here comes your father
Qaick, hide yourself. that | may have
some talk to him, to explain to him."
She pushed him behind the huge fai-
xnce stove, then resumed sewing with
trembling hands. Unfortunately this
zuuayes elethia had been left upon the
table, and II was the first thing I.ory saw
on entering. The mothers palor. her
embarrassment, furnished additional sv
ideuce. He understood vsrything.
christian Is here!" said he. in terri
ble voice, aud, taking down the .4ber
with II frantic movement. rushed toward
the stove where the Zouave WAS con
cealed, pale, sooerad, leaning against th.
wall from fear of falling.
The mother threw herself between
them, crying:
"Lory, Lory, don't kill him. wrote