Connecticut western news., 1884-10-08

dispatches across the German lines that separated the army of Metz from the rest of France. Three times already had he accomplished that dangerous journey, and old Barrot, whom his son had, without doubt, visited some dark night, was unable to hold his tongue, and told of Louis's exploits everywhere, so that the Prussians, who held that part of the country for several months, quietly kept watch of the hut, believing that some day they would make good capture.
 "And it happened just as they had foreseen. One evening when Louis had arrived and was talking with his father in a corner of the kitchen without a light, heavy footsteps were heard out side, and the door was suddenly bat tered with the butt ends of muskets. It was too dark for the father and son to sec each's pale face, but they joined hands in the darkness and c,asped each other in a convuls;ve embrace. The house was surrounded; hey were lost.
 Presently, Louis called his brother in low voice.
 Jean,' he said, come here. Try to get away and conceal that in the feld.'
 "He tore away package of papers that was sewed to the inside of his shirt over his breast and handed it to the boy. The latter took the package, opened a door and disappeared.
 'tAt the same moment the door at which the men were battering gave way, and seven or eight Prussian soldiers en- tered with revolvers in their hands. The explanation that followed was short. They seized the two men by the shoul- ders. The spy and the father who had harbored him were there. They would be shot the next morning. In the meantime, not to lose a moment, they searched the young man, taking off his blouse and his shirt. They found nothing.
 "'The dispatches that you brought, where are they ? demanded the leader of the soldiers.
 "'The dispatches ? replied Louis Bar rot. q have none.'
 "'What then was there a moment sincep' said the officer, pointing to a strip of ripped cloth which had formed part of pocket and from which the threads still hung.
 "'You think that I carried papers there? ? ......... ........
 CT am certain of it. You must have had them there moment ago.
 "'Well, then, since they are no longer there look for them
 Search everywhere r cried the off cer to his men.
 ''The soldiers obeyed, opening every drawer, overturning the furniture and examining the ashes on the hearth. They found nothing. Presently two sol siers appeared on the threshold of the door with little Jean. They had been left on guard without and had just seen him as he was crawling behind hedge. They pushed him before them into the circle of hickering light cast by the fum- ing lamp. The boy concealed his hands behind his back.
 "'What is that you are hiding there ? said the officer to him in a rough voice.
 Nothing
 Show your hands, then
 "The boy exposed his hands. They were covered with dirt.
 "Ah, you little rascal exclaimed the officer, it was you who concealed the papers Where are they?'
 "The boy remained silent.
 Listen, said the German. There is your father, is he not and there is your brother?'
 Little Jean twice nodded his head.
 Very well. If you do not tell where the papers are they will both be shot. If 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, then, said the officer, with an 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, immovable and pale. Twenty steps from them stood the firing party, with their arms at rest. All about, kept 1 back by cordon of soldiers, were wo- men and old men, who craned their necks in their efforts to catch glimpse of the prisoners, murmuring angrily, their lips trembling and their eyes blood shot, Near the firing party, between two soldiers, stood little Jean, his face liyid, but his head erect.
 "aalf an hour before the officer had led him into a room in the mayoralty, where his father and his brother were guarded, and ordered that they should be left by themselves. What did he hope from this interview? That the two men would melt before the tears of tht tad? The boy wept certainly, for hii eyes were red. But what had his father said? When little Jean came out the officer asked:-
 " Do you wish to speak nowY
 "Little Jean replied that he did not Then his father and his brother wouI' be taken from him. They would b placed together against the wall befor his eyes. Even now they were ther before him awaiting death.
 "There was moment of horribl suspense. At last the officer gave command in German and the soldier leyelled their muskets. The office