The Osceola times., 1884-11-22

ale tore away q package of papers
I that was sewed on the inside of his shirt
over his breast ard handed il 10 the boy.
The latter disspi cared.
AT the same moment the door at
which the men were battering gave way
and seven OF eight Prussian soldiers en-
tered with revolvers in their hands.
The explanation that followed WAS short.
Their brutal hands seized the two men
BY the shoulders. The spy and the faith.
er who had harl ored him were there.
/ They would be shot the next morning.
/ In the meantime, not 10 lose a moment
they searched the young usan, taking of
his blouse and his shirt. They found
nothing.
"'rhe dispatches that you brought,
where are they7" demanded the leader
of the soldiers.
"'The dispatches replied Louis Bar.
rot. Il have none.
"'Wha,. then, was there moment
since? said the officer, point lg TO "A strip
OF ripped cloth which had formed part
of a pocket and from which the threads
siill hung
"'You think that carried papers
there
"'I am certain OF il. You must have
had them there a moment ago
"'Well, then, since they are no longer
there, look for them
"Search everywhcre'"cried the officer
TO his men.
"rhe soldiers obeyed, opening every
drawer, overturning the furniture and
examining the ashes ON The he nth.
Thev found nothing. Presently two
soldiers appeared on the threshold ofihc
door tn little Jean. They had been
left on guard without, and had iusi seen
h'm as he " rs crawling behind hedge
They pushed him be ore them into the
circle of ilickcriag light cast by the fun
inr lamp. The boy conceaied his hands
behind his back.
"What is that you are Kidding there?'
said the o,hcer 10 him in 4 rough voice.
Nothing
"'Show your hands then
"The boy exposed his hands. They
were covered with dirt.
"Ah, YOU little rascal exclaimed the
Off ,er, i was you who concealed the
papers. Where are thew
"rhe boy remained silent
Listen said the German. There is
your father, is he not2 and there is your
brother"
Little Jean twice nodded his head.
every well. lfyou do not tell where
the papers are they shall be shot. II
you tell-they shall live
The boy turned his eyes toward his
father
jean said the old man, listen well
TO what say. Even though we die in
your sight, do not speak
The boy replied, Very Well
Tomorrow, them said the officer,
with AZ angry gesture,
The next morning At dawn, in the
square before the Mayors office in the
neighboring village. old Barrot and his
SON LOUIS stood erect, with uncovered
) heads immJvable and pale. Twenty
steps frsm them stood the firing party,
with their arms at rest. All about, kept
back by Gordon of soldiers, were women
and old men, who craned their pecks in
their efforts 10 catch glim ose of the
prisoners. murmurins angrily, their lips
trembling and their ewes bloodshot.
Near the dung party, between two sold
/ iers, stood Jean, his face iyid. but his
head erect,
Half an hour before the officer had
led him into rSam in the mayoralty,
where his father and hro,her were guard
ed, and ordered that they should be left
/, by themselves WhS, did he hope from
this interview That the TWO men would
melt before the tears II lhe lad? The
, boy wept certainly. for bIs ewes were red.
, Bat what mad his father said? When
li.tle Jean came oul the officer said;
"Do YOU wish 10 speak now"
Little Jean replied that he did not.
Then his father and his brother would
be taken from him. They would be
placed together against the wall before
his eyes. Even now they were there oe-
fore him awaiting death.
There was a moment of horrible sus-
pense. At last the officer gave com
mand in German and the 5 ldlers leveled
their muskets The officer turned to the
boy.
"'Do YOU wish to speak, he said.
, The boys lips di not move; but his
form trembled, an uexpresSion of frightf4l
anguish passed over his countenance ana
he uttered a half stifled cry. Then he
! tottered
The officer approached him. listening
for the confession which he thought
would fall from his contracted lips. /,
was not a confession that issued from his
lips, but flow Of blood.
THE officer sprang back. On his
uniform, on the breast just over the
heart. was seen ted stain, while at hl>
feet shapeless thing, also rel, fell on
! the pavement. The boy had bitten his
tongue IN two and bad hurled part Of il
forth into the iace Of the tormenlor.
"'F,rr cried the latter, furious with
rage.
. "a discharge Of musketry sounded like
peal Of thunder, and little Jean, faint.
ing, fell at the moment When old Barroi
anu his son Louis were killed.
And that said my friend Dubreuil
lis the reason why our pOstman Is
. dlmb'" From the Fresch CT Joseph
Montet.
A Farmers Clever Device.
We made 8 singular discovery the