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

fought > great hAstlssA asked bic siss
qeickly.
Hs SD nss reply, though his suile deep
sptd
"Liiile iAsher. why are you pleasedg do
manded the childrtn.
Still be returned 10 answer. Silently he
made bis way to the foot Of the stairs, then
to the chamber aboys. and after abort
time descended, attired in holiday barb. Il
was so unsuAl proceeding. that in com
mon with the children the mother was siez d
with . great curiosity. Sull he oueasate
no woSd, but opening the door sailed out
into the darkness still smiling.
"FraIz. where art thou goingY cried the
wife in vague alarm; but there came no re-
Spouse to her cry. So amazed was she al
this extraordinary caprice Of her husbands,
ske did net attempt to arrest the fight OF
Ger two children, who thrust themselves past
Der in hot pursuit of fheir father
The ehildren's feet carried thsm along so
uoiselsssly, the carpenter did no perceive or
hstr them st his heels, moreover, he was tlo
lull Of his own thoughts to have an acute
observation Of things about him.
The village resounded with the tramp o!
armed men, the chatter of musksts, the roll
o. the dun. The breath of men and of
.oises could be observed Issuing into the
cold ar. Since noon the village had filled
with tolditrs Franz and Ludwig having
been kept indoors by the cold pouring rain,
tad scarcely an idea Of the commouon 30
near their habitation. The carpenter had
noted the inflax Of horses into the smithy,
but, attentive to his work, he had not suffered
himself 10 be drawn away. Being self
contained man, he had not spoken of it to
lis family until the evening.
The regiments the children had seen en-
route to Moscow had been behel1 by them
in the day; they had no experience of the
tff, ct of bodies of soldiers seen by the lurid
glare OF Ere and torches. Now every house
vas deluged with light, every window illumi-
mated, lending additional lustre TO the bril-
liant uniform of the French soldiers.
Still following their father, the children
beheld him ascend fight of steps leading
to the Mayors house. every window bright
With light casting glare on the white road.
A sentry stood on either side the door.
Franz and Ludwig noted that their father
showed something to one Of the sentries and
was allowed to pass on. The ehildren's
wonder increased In their eyes the mayor
was q great parsonage. What business
could their father have with 80 exalted
functionary, and at such time as this
Then the mayors of villages had many
onerous duties; they had to SIT up late in
the night furnishing guides at the call Of the
officers who expected much attention.
They had to give information, billet the men
when necessary, or the horses. They stood
in great awe of this military nation, whose
soldiers proved themselves such terrible foes.
1t was terrible and dangerous to affront
them. But the mayors of our villages
gladly assisted them in every particular.
".
Still the children pondered. What bust
d ss had their father in the mayors house.
Where he was sdmittsd-in their Innocence
the thought suggested itself-no exception
would be made to them. With the con-
6dence of childhood they hurried up the
steps, but the sentries, by gestures and the
butt ends of their muskets, gently repulsed
them, aud assuming stern air, bsde them
dep TT.
Que voulez-vouz, mes enfants2' depre-
Gated they, mutteTing gruffly, but not unkind-
ly. Their language was not so well under
stood by Franz and Ludwig as their gestures.
The children waited patiently, scarcely
feeling the cold; they were 90 intent upon
their fathers temperance. They stood
without fear, the arm of Franz around the |
neck of Ludwig, and both looking up into |
the soldiers faces, surveying their weather |
beaten countensnees with the curiosity the |
fesrlessness, the nervousness Of innocence. |
At last the carpenter issued from the |
mayors house, and his eyes caught sight Of |
his two boys standing below the stone steps. |
"Ah, Ludwig! Franz, what do you hereY
be exclaimed, in surprised tones.
They did not answer him. Taking each !
boy by the hand, their hands seeking his,
be led the wsy towards their home, without |
reproof or any token of displessure.
Franz, thou hast returned, cried his
wife, with an air of relief; land with thee,
the children"
go, Ester" commanded he rouse thy !
mother; dress her In her best apparel"
There was forced calmness in his voice;
although he spoks quietly there was strain |
Indicating haste. In an undertone he add |
ed, Command myself, Ester, Ulrich, thy |
brother, has returned"
"UhiehW exclaimed she, in breathless
tones, her heart FACILITATING, tears OF Joy |
yelling in her eyes.
YES, so, Ester. Quick! beloved wife,"
Struggling with her emotion, so that it |
should NOT get the better of her that she |
might the better prepare the infrm and long
expectant mother for the joyful news, she |
sscended the stairs. But the grandmother,
lying awake had heard, or she discerned the
Intelligence in her daughter eyes. With
cry she swooned away.
Il told thee, Ester, my boy Ulrich would |
she murmured complscently, COM
IL to herself Help me down quickly, he
Ia be here soon"