The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-26

grew sober The wretch was warning them Of
the sharpshooters stack.
Instantly little stenne arose, furious. broughs
back to his senses.
mot that / Will NOT
But the other only laughed and went on
Before he had ended all the officers were on
their feet One Of them opened the door before
the boys
"Fly-the camp!" said he
AND they began to talk together very rapidly
n German The biz boy went out, proud as .
king. blinking his money. Stenne followed,
hanging his head; and when he passed the
Prussian whose look had SO panied him. he
heard the sad voice say:
Not pretty thing that-not pretty thing
The tears came into his eyes,
When they were again on the plain the chill
dren began to run and returned rapidly. Their
bags were full Of potatoes which the Prussians
had given them; with these they passed the
trench Of the sharpshooters freely: They were
making preparations for the nights attack
Troops were assembling silently, and more were
crowding behind the walls. The old sergeaut
was there. busy placing his men, looking so
happy. When the boys passed he remembered
them, and gave them a kind smile.
Oh how that hurt poor little Stennel For q
moment he had mind to exclaim:
DO not co. we have betrayed your
But the other had told him: IF you spea6
we shall be shot, and fear restrained him.
AT Courneuve they entered an abandoned
house to divide their money Truth obliges me
to say that the division was made honestly; and
by dint of hearing the sound OF the bright
crowns under his jacket and of thinking of tho
games of galoche that lay before him in the fn-
ture, little Stenne no longer thought his crime so
fearful.
But when he was alone, unhappy child! When
inside the city gates the big boy had left him.
then his pockets began to grow very heavy, and
the hand that grasped his heart confined it more
strongly than ever Paris no longer seemed TO
him the same. The passers-by regarded him
severely, as if they knew where
he had been. The word spy, he could
beating of drums along the canal At last he
came home, and, delighted to find that his father
had not yet come In he went up quickly 20 their
chamber to hide under his pillow the crowns that
weighed him down so.
Father Stenne had never been 50 kind, so gay
as when he came in on that evening. News had
just come from the PROVINCES; the country's af-
fairs were going on better. While he ate his
supper the old soldier looked at his gun hanging
on the wall, and said to his boy with his kind
smile:
"Ah, my boy, now You would 60 against ths
Prussians if you were grown!a
Toward o'clock cannon were heard.
1T Is Auberyilliers. They are fighting al
Bourget," said the good man, who knew all tho
forts
Little Stenne grew pale, and, pleading great
fatigue. went to bed, but not to sleep. The can
non Numbered on. He pictured to himself the
eudtp6NoottES gong III Lilo ulSut 10 SUPPRESS tu&
Prussans, and falling themselves into an am
buscade He remembered the sergeant who
had smiled on him, and saw him stretched there
on the snow--and how many others with himl
The price of all this blood was hidden there nm
der his pillow, and it was he, the son of NJ
Stenne, the sou of soldier Tears strangled
him. In the next room he heard his fathers
step, heard him open the window. Below, on
the street. sounded the call to arms, and a bat
taion of militia answered the roll call before
departing Deeidedy there was real battiaI
The unhappy child could not restrain his sobs
What is the matter2" asked Father Stenne
coming in to him.
The boy could stand it no longer. but sprang
from his bed and threw himself at his fathers
feet In bis movement the crowns rolled to tho
floor.
What have you therel Have you stolen
them2" cried the trembling old man.
Then, all in one breath, little Stenne told how
he had gone to the Prussians and what he bad
done there. AS he spoke he felt his heart grow
freer-it SO comtorted him to confess bis guilt
Father Stenne listened with a terrible look. :.
When the tale was told he held his face in his
hands and wept
Father fathers pleaded the child.
The old man pushed him away without reply
and picked mp the money.
us this ali2n he asked.
Little Stenne signifed that that was all.
The old man took down his gun and cartridge
box. and put the money into his pocket,
Very well, said ne, II am going to give u
back
And without another word without ever look.
ing back, he went down to join the militia who
were departing in the night He was never seen
again.