Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-10-11
Y III.

VII.
Months passed, months Of weary suspense
for news travelled slowly, and what news
came was vague, unimportant and unen-
couragiug. The Russians were still in re.
treat the French yet advancing, but no de.
cisive battle fought in which victory had
crowned the French arms, gaining for the
Emperor substantial results. A dreary
march across waste of snow. Then ru'
NOR reached the village that the Russians
had fred Moscow, that Napoleon had entered
the city amid the flames, discouraged, over,
whelmed with chsgrin. That the French
army was succumbing to cold and hunger,
that it was in retreat, with the Russians be-
hi d, harrassing the poor soldiers, msrci.
lessly cutting of strsgglers, threatening
the Grand Army with entire destruction.
AT asst, that the Emperor had abandoned
mis- army, suffering his poor faithful soldiers
to Gle of privstion, of bitter cold. Leaving
tbrm to force their passage home in the face
Of insnrmouutsble difficulties, frost.bitten,
decript, perishing BY companies by the way,
comrade deserving comrade, toe relentless
Cossacks ever lowering on their rear, pillsg-
ing, swoopiug down like vultures on those
who fell behind. Then came the news that
the Emperor would pass through our village.
1t was hard winter The snow lay knee
deep drifting across the roads until they
became almost impossible. 1t was indeed
q service OF danger venturing out into the
open country.
The Emperor was coming!
The report reached the village on sue
cessive mornings, aud each day failed in its
ful6lment. Again it was repeated but car.
ried no weight with it because of previous
dissppointments. He might make detour
where the roads were less blocked, some
thought. Others that possibly he was lost
in the dresry waste of snow. The NUM-
cipsls had so often made preparations to re-
ceive him, that they had become careless
and needless of such rumors. Therefore
they made no effort to be ready, moreover,
now that he was not returning conqueror,
their enthusiasm had considerably abated.
The carpenter and his family had receiv-
ed sll this miserable intelligence with grave
spprehensiOns. What had become Of the
Col Ulrich2
What has become Of Uncle Ulrich?" the
children inquired with hushed voices, COM
pretending the nature of the calamity.
Their elders could only shake their heads
dsspendently.
The day or the hour when the Emperor
might arrive remained matter of uucsr-
tsinty whether he would stay in the village
ives problematicaL
But late that very night there was call
for the smith Salkowicki. Beyond the vii
lsge q sledge had broken down. The Jour
ney could not be continued until it was re-
paired. The horses were dead beat. The
smith must be quick in having horses ready
there were penalties if the postm asters
wereremiss in their duties-and Salko wiski's
men must be expeditions in repairing the
sledge. Three OF the smiths men, Karel,
Otto, and Stanislas, with the foreman hu
ried into the smithy, the sledge was quickly
overturned, the broken runner taken out
and placed in the FIRE. The bellows blew
he cinders to q white heat, and the smithy.
gloEed from end TO end. The foreman re
eognized the Emperor at once, although he
bad never seen him before There Was no
uistaking the cooked hat, the cape, the
breaches and boots of the little CorporIl
Considering what parsonage he was, the
foreman tinkled little bell, used to sum
mon the master when there was urgent need
Of his presence.
One Of the aidesde-cAmp Owning the
smiths motive. struck the foreman psremp-
torily on the arm with the fat Of his sword,
As q hint for him 10 attend 10 che work in
hand, and not arouse the house and COLLECT
the neighbors. The Emperor Vas in no
mood to receive dsputRtions, OF have g.
crowd gathered about the smitAy. Bat Il