Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1884-02-02

ASoe
a lot so blessed. Ihad her but single
year, though; short term of happi-
ness for one who had seen her youth
fade in hopeless pining."
There was something so command
ing in the distress of the old man, that
Hayward did not dare to venture o
syllable of consolation.
''Have you not, Major Hayward,
some communication that l should
hear from the Marquis de Montcalm ~
Duncan started, in his turn, and i'm.
mediately commenced. in an embar-
rassed voice. the half.forgotten mes.
sage. j
"You have said enough, Major Hey
ward y exclaimed the angry old man;
''enough to make volume Of COM
mentary on French civility. Here has
this gentleman invited me to confer
ence, and when send him a capable
substitute, for ye're all that, Duncan,
though your years are but few, he an
swers me with riddle"
"He may have thought less favor
ably of the substitute, my dear Sill /;
and you will remember that the invi-
tation, which he now repeats was to
the commandant of the works, and
not to his second"
"Well, sir, is not substitute cloth
ed with all the power and dignity of
him who grants the commission He
wishes to confer with Munro! Faith,
sir, l have much inclination to indulge
the man, if it should be to let him be-
hold the firm countenance we maintain
in spite of his numbers and his sum-
mons. There might be no bad policy
in such stroke, young man.
Duncan gladly encouraged this idea.
without doubt, he could gather NO
confidence by witnessing our indiffer-
ence," he said.
"You never said truer words. |
could wish, sir, that he would visit the
works in open day. and in the form Of
a storming party ; that is the least fail
ing method of proving the counte-
nance of an enemy, and would be far
preferable to the battering system he
has chosen. The beauty and mani-
ness of warfare have been much de-
formed. Major Hayward, by the arts
of young Monsieur Vauban. Our an
cestors We're far above such scientific
| cowardice."
at may be very true, sir; but we
are now obliged to repel art by art.
What is your pleasure in the matter of
the interview ?"
II will meet the Frenchman, and
that without fear or delay; promptly,
| sir, as becomes servant of my royal
master. Go, Major Hayward, and give
them a flourish of the music and send
out messenger to let them know who
is coming. We will follow with q
small guard, for such respect is due to
one who holds the honor of his king in
keeping; hark'ee, Duncan" he added
in a half whisper, though they were
alone, sit may be prudent to have
some aid at hand, in case there should
be treachery at the bottom of it ALL"
| The young man availed himself Of
this order to quit the apartment; and,
as the day was fast coming to a close,
he hastened without delay to make the
necessary arrangements.
They had proceeded only hundred
yards from the works when the little
array which attended the French gen.
eIal to the conference was seen issuing
from the hollow way, which formed the
ped of a brook that ran between the
batteries Of the besiegers and the fort.
From the moment that Munro left his
own works to appear in front of his
enemies, his air had been grand, and
his step and countenance highly mill
tary. The instant he caught a glimpse
of the white plume that waved in the
hat of Montcalm, his eye lighted, and
age no longer appeared to possess any
influence over his vast and still muscu-
lar person.
"Speak to the boys to be watchful,
SIR" he said in an undertone, to Dun
can and to look we'll to their flints
and steel, for one is never safe with
q servant of these Louis at the same
time, we will show them the front men
in deep security. YEN understand me,
| Major Hayward" :"
He was interrupted by the clamor
ofa drum from the approaching French
men, which was Immediately answered,
when each party pushed an orderly in
advance, bearing white flag, and the
wary Scotsman halted, with his guard
close at his back. AS ssoon as this slight
salutation had passed, Montcalm moved
towards them with a quick but grace
full step, barring his head to the veteran,
and dropping his spotless plume nearly
to the earth in courtesy. If the air Of
Munro was more commanding and
| manly, it wanted both the ease and in
sinuating polish of that of the French
man Neither smoke for q faw mo-