Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1883-07-07


To watch their maneuvers, when q
travelling carriage covered with
mud dashed up to the palace full
speed, and he saw the tall figure oi
the young Prince of Potsdam jump
out and run up the steps, hastily an
sWering the mechanical salutes OF
the sentries.
The young colonel's heart gave a
great bound as he saw his old rival.
"Potsdam back. That means war,
he thought. "He was minister at
Paris. When the minister leaves
his post it is the prelude to war.
Thank Godp
He quickened his pace through
the streets, being on foot, and as he
went, noticed that the people stared
and scowled at him as if they had
heard the news.
He knew how rumOrS fly III a
city, and was not surprised. Other
people could interpret signs as we'll
as himself.
When he reached the legation he
found a rabble in front of it hOoting
the tricolor, while Case Tete, who
was faithful to him as Of old, stood
on the upper steps looking savagly
down at the Germans. They were
for the most part boys and very
young men, who were believing:
"Out with the French Out !!
Out ~
Gabriel stalked into the midst of
this rabble and thrust them right
and left like children out of his
way, so that they shrunk from be-
fore him bat when he reached his
orderly he heard Casse Tete say un-
der his breath:
"They've been gathering ever
since a carriage passed by at "A gal
lop. Is there going to be war at last,
my colonel ?'
"Yes," said Gabriel, hurriedly.
"Where is the general 20
."In his cabinet, my colonel.
Shall l take stick and drive away
these ours ?'
"No. Let them howl. Come i'll
and shut the door. If they dare to
break the windows, we shall know
what to do"
Casse Tete Obeyed with u grim
smile. The old soldier began to
smell powder and the odor excited
him.
Gabriel went up to his chiefs
cabinet and found Duroc quietly
writing.
He told him what had happened
and the general laughed, and hand
ed him a paper
"It came in the last bag from
Paris"
Gabriel read it.
my DEAR DUROC =
ION the 26th of September we shall give
Potsdam his passports. Prussia Will be re-
quired to evacuate Hanover or fight. Have
your baggage ready to come away on the
last OF September.
you see To day is the 29th.
This Prussian has beat us by one
day. We were to have gone to-
morrow anyway. But what is that
noise ?"
A murmur in the streets growing
louder every moment. Shouts and
yellsiwere audibIe,thrOugh the closed
doors. Then the crashing of glass.
1.-The mob are breaking our Win
dows," quoth Gabriel quietly. They
have heard the rumOr of war and
want to begin at once, general. Shall
we fight them ?''
"By no MEANS" answered Duroc,
as calmly. Let them smash the
windows and pull down the tricolor
il they dare. So much the heavier
will be the bill of damages.
He threw open the door and list
ened. The roar of the crowd out
side was growing louder every min
ute.
"Let us go down stairs, colonel"
said the general, land it may be as
we'll to take our swords and call up
the servants. We don't want to
submit to personal HARM"
When they got down stairs they
found the front door closed. CasSe
Tete, with a carbine in his hand,
was getting the servants into line
and they were all armed, but looked
frightened.
They could hear the deep voice
of the cuirassier scolding:
"What are you afraid of? This
is nothing-only mob of boys
without arms. Even if one or two
of you get hurt. you will die under
the tricOlor. This is nothing. Get
into line there, you, Baptisle. Hold
lIluL A|O JOu "ttik ~
shoot your comrades 2"
Then as Duroc came down he
saluted and grumbled on:
"Eh, general, such lot of con-
scripts! But they'll fight, for all
that. Shall we open the door and
charge the rabble ?'
Bang! bang! smash ! ciCSh!
A regular volley OF stones ratified
in at the WaIting-rOOm windows,
followed by yell from the mob
outside.
"Out with the French Drive
them out ~ was the shout outside. |
Then General Duroc turned to |
Gabriel:
"Do as you please" he said. 81
am not responsible if it happens |
when / am upstairs. But remem-
ber, if you give them lesson let it |
be sharp"
He turned away and walked up
against the door and Gabriel said to
Case Tete:
"Open the doors and let them
have it."
Case Tete, looking as grim as if
he were about to charge Dattery,l
strobe to the doors, unlocked them
and threw them wide open.
Then they saw the cOwardly |
crowd at the opposite side of the
street, and a dead silence fell on the |
mob as they beheld the servants of |
the legation armed with muskets.
Gabriel walked out on the steps |
and waved his hand, crying in Ger
man:
"Clear this street at once. This
is the French legation and we shall
fire il you throw another stone."
: A shout came back form the rear
of the crowd h1t those in frnnf