Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1883-03-15
TEE zoUAvE.

IEE ZOU AVE.
FROM THE FRENCH OF A. DAUDRT.
The tall blacksmith, Lory, of Sainte-
Marie-aux-Mines, was anything but
satisfied that evening.
Usually, as soon as the fire in the
forge was eXtinguished at sunset, he
seated himself on bench in front of
his door, to enjoy that thorough lassi-
tude impaired by heavy work and the
heat of the day, and, before dismiss
ing his apprentices, drank with them
long Idraughts Of cool beer as he
watched the workmen leaving the
manufactures But that evening the
good man remained in his forge up to
the moment Of sitting down at table,
and even then quilted it as if with re-
gret. Madame Lory thought, as she
looked at her husband
"What has happened to him? Per-
haps he has received from the regi-
ment some bad news, which he does
not wish to tell me? Perhaps our
Oldest son is i'll? ?"
But she was afraid to ask any ques-
tions, and simply busted herself with
keeping quiet three daxen-haired
youngsters, tanned to the hue of ripe
wheat ears, who were laughing around
the board, as they ate excellent black
radish salad dressed with cream.
At last the blacksmith pushed away
his plate in anger.
"Ahl the beggars, the dogs p he
cried.
Who, Lory?" asked his wife.
He burst out with:
81 mean five or six Wretches in the
uniform of French soldiers, who have
been seen, ever since morning, roam
ing about the town, locked arms with
the Bayarians! They are more of
those renegades who have-how do
they express it?-decided to accept
the nationality Of Prussia; and to think
that every day we see these false Alsa-
tians returning What have they
given them to drink?"
The wife strove to defend them.
"My poor man." she said, "it is not
altogether their fault. That African
Algeria, to which they were sent, is so
far awayl They get homesick there,
and the temptation to return and be
free is too strong for them"
Lory struck the table fiercely with
his fist.
"Stop, mother !" exclaimed he. "You
women don't know anything about it..
By dint of living always with and only
for your children, you get as childish
as they are. Well, 1 say to you that
those men are beggars, renegades, the
most cowardly of towards, and that if,
unfortunately, our Christian should
prove capable Of such an infamy, as
truly as that my name is George Lory,
and that served seven years in the
chasseurs of France, Iwould run him
through the body with my saber."
And, terrible in his indignation, half
rising, the blacksmith pointed to his
long chasseur blade hanging against
the wall under the portrait Of his son
the portrait OF Zouave painted in
Africa; but the sight Of that frank
countenanee. all bronzed and tanned
by the sun, amid the whiteness and OBJ
security which were bright colors in the
daylight, suddenly calmed him, and he
burst out laughing.
"What fool am said he, "tolet
my anger thus get the better of me; as
if our christian could think of becom
ing a Prussian-he who killed 60 many
Prussians during the WARP
Restored to good hnmor by this ides
the good man finished his dinner gay ly
and Immediately afterward went tt
the !" Vile de Strasbourg."
Madame Lory was now alone. Aftel
having put to bed her three faA =
haired youngsters, whom she heart
cooling in the adjoining chamber like ;
nest of birds going to sleep, she tool
her work and began sewing before th'
door, on the side OF the gardens. From
time to time she sighed and thought
Yes, yes they are coxards, rene