Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-10-18

Iihllo, there, Dfats! Don cry, he
SAID to the boys. They will let you
| 90 after your potatoes. But hold on,
come in and warm yourselves bit.
/ Inc little chap looks frozcn!'
Alas, it was not from cold that little
Stennc trcmbIed. 1t was from fear
and shame. Inside they found some
soldiers covering around small fire,
"A veritabe widows fire. over which
they tried to thaw out some biscuits
which they had fastened on their bayo-
nets. They crowded together to make
room for the boys They gave them
| little coffee to drink. While they drank
an officer came to the door, called the
sergeant, spoke to him in low tone.
ana went out why, boys, said the
sergeant. coming back radiant, "to-
night we shall have tobacco. They
have got the Prussian Countcrsign.
| believe this time we shall rctakc that
cursed Bourgct."
There was an explosion of bravos
and laughter. They danced. they sang,
they ilourishcd their sabcr- Duyonc
and, proiiting by this tumult, the boys
| there was nothing before them but the
| plain, and at the end Of il IA long whito
wall pierced with loopholes. Toward
| the wall they directed their way, stop
| ping at every step to pretend to pics
up potatoes.
Don't let's 90. Let's 90 back"
little Stennc kept saying all the time.
The other shrugged his shoulders
and went on. Suddenly they heard
the click of the cooking Of gun.
Lie down." said the large boy,
throwing himself on the ground.
Once down he whistIcd. Another
whistle answered his across the snow.
They advanced crawling upon the
ground. Before the wall, out on the
smooth ground, appeared pair Of yell
low mustaChcs under "A dirty cap. The
large boy jumped into the ditch 10y the
side of the Prussan.
"This is my brothcr,' he said, point
ing to his companion.
Stcnnc was SO small that the Prus-
sian laughed at seeing him, and was
obligedto take him in his arms to lift
him up to the opening in the wall.
On the other side of the wall were
great embankmcnts of earth, fallen
trees, and black holes in the snow, and
from each hole looked out the same
dirty cap and the same yellow mus
tache that laughed at the boys as they
passed.
In one corner was q gardeners
house, casematcd with the trunks of
trees. Below were Il crowd of soldiers
playing cards or making soup over Il
great lire. How good it smelled, the
cabbageS and bacon! How different
from tie bivouac Of the JrdHcS-ttreurS.
Beyond were the officers. One could
hear them playing the piano rdrinkiug
champagne. When the Parisians en-
tered hurrah OF JOY met them. They
gave out their papers. Then they gave
them something to drink and made
them talk. All of the officers had a
proud and disdainful air. but the large
boy amused them with his impud ence
and his slang They laughed, anu re-
| peating the words after him, rolled
with delight in the dirt Of Paris which
| he had brought them.
Little Stenne wanted to say some
thing too, to prove that he was not
/ stupid, but something held him back.
Before him. apart from the others,
stood a PruSslan, who read him, or
seemed to do so, for his eyes never
/ quilted him. lie looked at him with
| tenderness and rcproach, as if he had
at home a little boy of the samo age AS
| Stenne, and would say: Il had rather
die than see my boy doing this"
| At that moment Stenne felt as if q
hand had been laid upon his heart to
stop its beating.
| To escape from his torment he began
to drink. Presently everything whirlcd
around him. He heard vaguely. in the
midst of loud laughter, his comrade
mocking the National guard, their
drills, a passage at arms, night
guard on the ramparts. Then the
large boy lowered his voice, the officers
approached him and were grave. The
wretched boy was telling them of the
intended attack of the trancS-tWeurS.
Suddenly little Stcnne sprung up an
cry and sober.
Not that! | won't have it."
But the other only laughed and kept
on. When he had finished all of the
officers were stirring about. One of
them opened the door to the boys.
Out OF the camp with you" he
said.
Then they began to talk among
themselves in German very fast. The
large boy strutted out proud as dogc,
and clinking his money. Stenne tol-
lowed him with his head hanging
down. When they passed the Prus.
sian whose look had 50 troubled him,
he heard sad voice which said: Not
goot! Not goot!'
Tears came to his eyes.
Ouce on the plain again the boys be-
| gan to run and returned rapidly.
Their sacks were full Of potatoes which
the Prussaus had given them. With
these they passed unqueotioued the
trenches of the trdHcS-ttrcurS. They
were preparing for the night attack.
Troops were silently arriving and
masslng themselves behind the walls.
The old sergeant was there and was
| placing his men with such confident
air, When the boys passed he rccog-
nlzed them, and smiled pleasantly. All,
how that smile hurt little Stennc. For
"A moment he wished to call:
"Don't you 80 out, We have betrayed
you.
! But the other said: "If YOU speak
out we shall be shot, and fear kept
him still.
Al Courneuve they entered desert.
| ed house to divide their money. Truth