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

DclOIc Ills ucJ dAtuIO AOl tllo eti Ii !, Ao0
been there at that same hour of the
evening, preparing to look after the
little garden. She glanced at the well
where he used to come to fill his water
ing-pots, in his blouse and with his
long hair-his beautiful hair, which
was cut off when he became Zouave.
Suddenly, she gave start. The
little back gate, that which gave ac-
cess to the fields, was open. The dogs
had not barked; nevertheless the per
son who had just entered crept along
the walls like a robber, gliding
stealthily between the bee-hives.
"How are you, mother?'
Her Christian stood before her, his
uniform all in disorder, ashamed, con-
fused, his tongue thick. The wretch
had returned to the district with the
others, and for an hour had been
prowling about the house, awaiting
his fathers departure to enter. She
wished to scold him, but had not the
courage. 1t was so long since she had
seen and embraced himl Besides, he
gave her such good reasons. He was
weary of Algeria. of the army,
of living always far away from his
family; then, the discipline had be-
come more severe, and his com
rades called him ''Prussian" because
of his Alsatian accent. She believed
everything he said. She had only to
look at him to believe him. While
talking they had entered the house.
The awakened youngsters ran, bare
footed and in their nightgowns, to
kiss their big brother. His mother of
fered him something to eat, but he was
not hungry. He was only thirsty,
terribly thirsty, and drank huge
draughts Of water on top of all the
beer and white wine to which he had
treated himself since morning at the
inn.
But some one was walking in the
courtyard. 1t was the blacksmith re-
turning.
"Christian, here comes your father.
Quick, hide yourself that 1 may have
time to talk to him, to explain to
him"
She pushed him behind the huge
faience stove, then resumed sewing
with trembling hands. Unfortunately
the Zouave's chechia had been left
upon the table, and it was the first
thing Lory saw on entering. The
mothers pallor, her embarrassment,
furnished additional evidence. He
understood everything.
"Christian is here !" said he, in a
terrible voice, and, taking down his
saber, with a frantic movement, he
rushed toward the stove where the
Zouave was concealed, pale, sobered,
leaning against the wall from fear of
falling.
The mother threw herself between
them, crying:
"Lory, Lory, don't kill himl !. wrote
to him toreturn, that you needed him
at the forge''
She clung to his arm, dragged her
self along, wept. In the darkness Of
their chamber the children began cry
ing on hearing those voices so full of
anger and sobs. 50 changed that they
no longer recognized them. The black
smith paused, and looking at his wife,
said:
"Ahl You were the cause of his
coming back, were you? So far, so
good; let him go to bed. Tomorrow
L will see what | have to do"
The next morning Christian, on
awaking from heavy sleep, full Of
Nightmares and terrors without cause,
found himself again in the chamber of
his childhood. Through the little
window-panes, framed with lead and
almost covered on the outside with
blooming hop vines, he saw that the
sun was already warm and high. Be
low the hammers were sounding on
the anvil. His mother was at his bed
side; she had not quilted it the whole
night long. with such fear had her
husbands anger filed her. Neither had
the blacksmith been in bed Until
morning he had walked about the
house, weeping, signing, opening and
shutting the closets, and now he
gravely entered his sons chamber,
dressed as if for journey, with high
CATERS, slouch hat and a stout, iron
shod mountain staff. He came straight
up to the bed, saying:
@Come, getup"
The young man, somewhat CON
fused, arose and moved as if to put on
his Zouave uniform.
"No, not that !" said his father,
sternly.
Trembling with fear, his mother in
terposed:
"But, husband, he has 70 other
clothes"
"Give him mine. 1 no longer need
them"
While Christian was dressing him
self, Lory carefully folded up the uni
form-the little vest, the wide red