Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-10-29

The young man walked heIplessly over
70 the colonel. II can't seem to per-
suade her, sir, . he said.
The colonel laughed. ooh. well then.
We'll use force, ? he said. Turning to his
men, he ordered two Of them to take the
girl away from the COW.
Are you going to kill the COW ~ the
young alde-de-camp asked.
Certainly, said the colonel. ssPray
explain to the prince the cause of the
delay, and say we shall be moving di-
rectly.n
The young man, with another look at
Fauvette, turned around and rode rap
idly off, while the two men, at the col
one1s direction, stepped up to the child's
Gomez one of them demanded in
German.
Fauyette did not move. Her hold of
Bebe frightened, and she looked up at the
rude soldiers with defiance flashing from
her black eyes.
''So" exclaimed the man; ''then
must make you" And he proceeded,
not very gently, to loosen the arms that
were clinging to Bebe's neck. Fauvette
screamed loudly, while she tried to hold
on. but her strength was small compared
to the mems, and in a moment one of
them had dragged her away, while the
other was trying 10 pull the cow in an
opposite direction. But for once Bebe's
stubbornness served her q good turn.
Whether she understood their designs or
not, the COW would not move one step
and when they tried to drag her, she
planted her feet firmly on the ground,
put down her head, and uttered a gentle
but decided ''Moop' The men looked
helplessly at the colonel, who was very
angry. For the sake of cow the whole
detachment had been detained fifteen
minutes. A less forbearing man than
himself would have shot it at once.
Presently the aide-de-camp would be
coming up again to see why they had not
moved.
''Shoot the cowl' he cried, passion
ately.
In order to raise his gun, Fauvette's
captor had to let her 90. Quick as
thought the girl rushed back, and, while
the guns were pointed at her, threw her
arms once more around Bebe's neck.
Nov firew she cried, stamping her
foot; ''fire and kill me too"
1t was this tableau that the Young man
saw as he came dashing up again: the
angry colonel on horseback, the soldiers
leveling their guns, and the patient COW
protected by the child.
'Good heavensl" he cried, riding in
between the soldiers and Fauvette, and
making himself the target for their fire,
''do you mean to kill the child9"
The men, who had no wish for the
business, lowered their muskets, while
the lad saluted the colonel. Here is
an order from the prince he said, pro-
ducing bit of paper, permitting the
child to take the COW back to the village.
] am directed to see that it is executed. !"
The colonel, with an angry frown
upon his face, turned away and gave the
order to advance. Presently the regi-
ment was in motion. The dust had
arisen, and, freed from her prosecutors,
Fauvette was left alone with the
young man. The soldiers were
marching by, but she did not mind
them now. Bebe, too, was quite
composed, and had resumed her feeding.
Fauyette would never complain again
that Bebe was stubborn. If Bebe had
MOI been stubborn to-day, where might
she not be now? But Fauvette had not
yet thanked the young man who was
waiting on horseback by her side.
Il thank you very much" she said,
timidly, looking up into the boys hand
some face. IF they had killed Bebe
they would have killed me too.'
"Oh, they wouldn't have done that, .
he said. ''Only their guns might have
! gone off accidentally"
''She hesitated moment. 'sYes, y she
said, ''they might have gone off when
you stood before them"
He colored little. 81 am a soldier, -
he said. "a soldier does not think about
such things"
Fauvette looked at him admiringly.
sYou are very brave" she said.
The aide-de-camp smiled. ttOh. no,
Pm not" he hastened to say. "Why,
the other day, when went into battle
for the first time. it was Just as much as
could do to keep from running away.
expected that every bullet would hit
me, and every time / heard one OF them
sing, / said good bye"
THAT was the first time" said Eau
vctte indulgently. "You wouldn't feel
that way again. Ny grandfather fought
with Napoleon, and he says that is the
way he used to feel. "
ibid your grandfather fight with Ma
poleon2" the boy asked. ''How l should
| like to hear him tell about itl'
'.Oh, that's easy enough" said Fau-
vette IF you will come back to the
village he will tell you anything you
want tn know RIlt I FORGOT - she