Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1883-07-28
CHAPTER XXXIII.
COUNT LENOIR.

COUNT LENOIR.
But before the sun had set, th'
contest was terminated. AS Cass'
Tete said:
"In the old style, my colonel, the
old style of MarengO and AuSterliti
and Jena. All the infantry knocked
to pieces, eighty guns taken, twenty
thousand prisoners, and all the
trains in our hands. The little cor
poral has walked up again. ]
thought he would not rest till he'd
taught these Russians they were nc
better than the rest of Europe. The
idea of their comparing their lousy
greasy COssacks to oar men. Now
they will mind their own business u
Casse Tete, unmindful of the fact
that the Russian cannon-balls
knocked the dirt about within a
few feet, had lighted fire and was
TRANQUILITY cooking pot of soup for
his master, when they witnessed
the final rout of the enemy.
'And now, my colonel, the soup
is ready" he said Il moment later.
81 thought that we would have il
timed to the very moment the Rus
slams began to run. 1t is good, my
colonel, and as hot as the place
where all Russians ought to 60"
Gabriel watched from his COM
manding position the dark streams
of fugitives that were choking up
the only bridge the Russians had
left now, and was mechanically sip
ping his soup, when he was startled
by voice behind him.
"Good- evening, colonel. Is your
soup too scarce to let me have a
basin of it? for on my word, L am
hungry since my breakfast at day
light"
Gabriel turned and saw the en-
peror himself, sitting on his white
horse close behind him, with no one
near him but the Mameluke, Rous-
tan. Casse Tete, very red in the
face, was standing at a salute, look.
ing foolish, and Gabriel could not
help feeling confused himself.
"How is, thou, old mustache ?"
said the emperor smiling at Casse
Tete. "Hast thou no soup left for
me, when l say l am very hun
cry ?"
"Your majesty can have mine,"
said Casse Tete bluntly, "if you're
not too much used to silver TO mind
a tin basin. The breads bad but
among these Russian savages ?"
The emperor laughed at the cui-
rassier as he spoke, then leaned over,
and said in tone of affected conf
dence:
"My friend, l am starving.
had no dinner, thanks to those Rus
slams, and even black bread would
taste nicely"
"Certainly, your majesty, certain
ly," cried Casse Tete, bustling
about. "Here is the best | can do
now, but if your majesty would
wait awhile / can cook you a ra-
gout of lamb. l killed it yesterday
"Never mind-ah-what's your
name, my old grumbler? said the
as he took the basin and
huge iron spoon and began to eat
the soup without any further cere-
mony.
"My full name, sire, is Private
Hercule FOrtOn of the 1st squadron
Deaths Heads, but they all call me
Casse Tete, because / always cut at
he head"
The emperor burst out laughing
70 that he spilled some soup, and
:ried to Gabriel, who had been
hardly knowing what to
10 or say:
"My faith, colonel, your man has
/ good name for the regiment at
arge. L shall have 10 call them my
in future. Well, you
zee, you wouldn't give me any Of
,our soup, so I've had to take Case
rete's supper"
"Indeed, sire," answered Gabriel,
81 did not think your
would take it after my lips
lad touched it, or"
"Tut, tut" said the emperor, gay |
y; "the lips of a brave man are not
1oison to an old soldier. / suspect |
have the best of you, and that
jasse Tete kept the good soup for
old fox ?"
"Oh, your majesty" stamnered |
he old cuifassier, distressed. "YOu
wouldn't think I'd rob my own
olonel ?"
"Theu do you mean you gave me |
he poor soup?" asked the emperor
With affected severity. as that your
oyalty ?"
Casse Tete flushed deeply.
"No, SIRE" he said, "but my col
mel needs his soup all the time
nd your majesty has only taken
nine for a whim."
"Whim or not" retorted the en-
'eror, "it is good enough for any
nan, and as have drank it all up,
'asse Tete, you'll have to make
ONE more. By-the-by, did you
reak any heads to-day ?"
"a couple Of Russians, your maj
sty, just for practice, you know
'uf / pointed five of the scoundrels,
nd would have done more, but
heir ponies ran too fast"
The emperor handed him back
he empty basin of soup, with a
mile:
"Did you ever get the cross. Casso
'ete ?"
The cuirassier's face lighted up.
"NO, sire, but If had it"
"What, Case Tete 2"
81 think l should be ready to goto
eaven, your majesty"
The emperor took the cross from
is own breast and handed to the
older:
"Put that on (; and if any man
SKIS you by what right you wear it,
ell him that I gave it to you"
Then he turned to Gabriel, who
lad been wondering at the unusual |
amiliarity exhibited by the man