The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-01-22
,ut biting his mustache be muttered to

but biting his mustache he muttered to-
himself:
"How did it get there3 1t is long
distance. from the battlefield of Meleg.,
nano to the Boulevard de Grenele.-s
Yes, | remember we'll Those crows
who follow an army-despoilers Of dead
bodies But why there, only few steps
FROM L'Eeole Militaire. where his regi-,
ment Is In barracks, and the otherf He
must have recognized it when passing
by here. Oh! is like an apparition '''''
"Come. Father Vidal" said /, much
interested and taking his arm, lyon shall
not continue talking in enigmas, so you
must tell me plainly what memories this
old coat recall"
/ verify believe that excepting for
those two glasses of absinths be woula
mot have told me ANYTHING, for upon tbia
Father Vidal regarded me with suspi-
cion, almost fear; but suddenly, as with
hrm resolution, be said: "Ah, well I
yes, ] will tell you about it. Moreover,
you are On intelligent. honest Young
man, whom ] can trust, and when | have
finished you must tell me frankly il you
think me excusable for acting as I have.
Let me see. how shall begin2 In the
first place. cannot tell you his nsme-
the others name-tor he is still living,
but | will mention him bv bis nickname
In the regiment. La Soif (Old Thirstv).
Yes, We called him La Soft, and we'll did
he deserve his name, being one of those
Who are not sparing Of the oanteen. and
could quaff twelve small glasses of bran.
dy to the twelve strokes OF noon. He
was Sergeant in the fourth company of
the Second Regiment, where I was
Quartermaster, and marched bv my side
at the end OF the Gle. A very good sol.
dier. although dissipated, treacherous
and qnarrelsome-traits common to Al
rica but brave as lion, With blue eyes,
as cold as steel, set in his tawny face,
which was partly covered bv reddish
beard. One perceived at first glance
that he was not an easy person with
whom to deal. About the time when
arrived with provisions at the post OF
war, La Soif was just ending his term
of service. Re-enlisting, he received |
bis pay, and consequently led riotous
life for,three days. during which time,
accompanied by four or FIVE revelers
like himself, he drove through the low
quarters OF Algiers, waving a tri-color-
ed banner on which were these words:
This will not last forever! He was
carried to the barracks with sword cut
In his head, received 10 a quarrel with
one OF the Moors. On recovering, La
Soif was sentenced to prison for fifteen
days, and for the second time lost his
stripes Indeed, excepting for his bad
,onduct. La Solf would have been an
officer long ago, for be was of bur.
yher family and we'll educated. AL
hough after the affair with the Moor
lis stripes were taken away, he recover
ID them again eighteen months later,
hanks to the indulgence of the CaptainsI
IN old African who had seen his fighting
q Kabyha /,
But behold! when this Captain was
promoted to the rank of Major, man
'nly twenty.eight years old was sent to
'ur command. He was q Corsican 9
amed Gentle. just out OF school, and
mere boy, cool, clever and ambitious.
o people said, but very exacting com =
handler, unreasonable with the soldiers, l
nd one who would sentence man to Q
'eek in the guard room for a spot of 2
est on his gun or missing button on
is gaiter; beside, never having served p
. Algeria, he would not tolerate the u
lightest act of insubordiua,ion or ca. q
rice. From the very first, Capt Gen. o
lie disiked La Soft, and the feeling was q
aturally reciprocated. The first time G
nat the Sergeant missed roll. call, seight q
ays in the guard room on the 6rst 81
barge. II drunkenness, fifteen days. q
Then the Captain--a short, dark.com- "
lexioned man, with whiskers like those o.
frightened cat, and as stubborn as
mule-pronounced his sentence of %
anishment and aided, sharply: III
nov what you are, and l will master o.
ou, my precious oneP La Soif would o.
ever answer word, but psss quietly
ito the guard room. The Captain =
light have relented somewhat, had he q
zen the dish OF rage spreading over I'll
e SergeaHts face, as soon as he turn
mis- head, and the angry fash of his IN n
rrible blue eyes. II
e
About that time the Emperor declared ri
ar against Aus.ris, and we embarked a,
r Italy. But as need not here speak br
the campaign ! will come at once to -,
9 point of my story. The night before
e battle Of Melegnano-where / lost a,
= arm, you remember-our battalion :
canped Ia the midst of little village a.
d before breaking ranks the csptain.