Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1885-06-10
Dakota, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 1885

8S-.U Utu IkAl IN UvtulW0s
WEDNESDAY,,
lying Ares before them. The big boy !
knew the way, and went across the
(lelds to avoid the sentries. Without
being able to avoid it, however, they
came to an outpost Of sharpshooters.
There they were, with their little cab
ms, huddled in the bottom Of trench
full Of water dug along the railroad
4rom Soissona This time the big boy
repeated his story in vain; they would
not let them pass. But while he was
waiting, from the gste-keepers hut
came An old sergeant, white-haired and
wriukled, who resembled Father Stenne.
"Come, youngsters! We wont cry"
he said. aYou shall 60 to your pota.
toee, but como in first and warm your
selves. That little scamp looks frozen.
Alas! II was not with cold that little
.sStenne was trembling; it was with fear
and shame. In the guard-house they
found few soldiers crouching about
feeble fire, : real widows ere, In the
1fIame Of which they were thawing bis
|anit ON the ends Ut their hayonets.
lThey crowded together to make room
ihl & aKSssgls c5ass aasE ssRxah With .desRs slss, |,
Ewsre drinking IN officer came 70 the
door, called to the sergeant, spoke to
him In low tone, and went away
Equickly. ~,
"Boys!" said the sergeant, returning
with radiant face, ~ aura du tabsc
|sto-night We have surprised the cue
|pf the Prussians. We will take il
back from them this time, that ac-
cursed Bourgetl"
There was an explosion Of laughter
and applause. They danced, they sang,
they polished their saber- bay yonets, and
baking advantage of the confusion the
boys disappeared.
HAving passed the trench, there lay
before them only the plain, and at the
foot long white wall pierced with
loop-holes Il was toward. this wall
that they advanced. stopping at every
step TO make pretense Of picking mp
potatoes.
.Let us 60 back. Let US not 60
there" entreated little Stenne again
and again.
The other shrugged his shoulders
and kept straight on. Suddenly they
heard the click Of gun.
Lie down." whispered the big boy,
throwing himself ON the ground.
Once down, he whistled. Another
whistle came in answer over the snow.
They advanced, crawling. In front Of
the wall, level with the earth, appeared
. pair of yellow mustaches under q
dirty cap. The big boy leaped into q
trench beside the Prussian.
sThis is my brother" said he, indi.
eating his companion.
Stenne was 80 little that at sight oi
him the Prussian began to laugh, and
was obliged to take him in his arms tc
Lift him up TO the breach.
| On the other side of the wall there
were great mounds of earth, fallen
trees, black holes in the snow, and in
each hole the same dirty cap, the same
yellow mustaches, which laughed 81
the children passed. In one corner
was q gardeners home, casemanted
with tree trunks. The lower story wal
full of soldiers, playing cards and max
ing soup over great clear fire. 1t ex
hailed good odor of cabbage and pork
How different from the bivouAc Of the
l shsrpshootersi Upstairs were the Off
GERS. You could hear them playing
the piano and uncorking bottles O
champagne When the Parisians en-
tered joyful hurrah welcomed them
They delivered their newspapers; ani
then the soldiers poured drinks fol
them and talked to them. All the Off
GERS had . naughty and cruel look, bu
the big boy amused them with his low
humor and his vocabulary of black
guard talk. They laughed and re
peated his words after him, rolling will
delight in the Partisan mud thu
brought to them.
Little Stenne would have been glas
to talk, too, to prove that he was n,
fool; but something oppressed him
Opposite him stood, apart from th,
others, Prussian, older. more seriou
than his comrades, who was reading, o.
rather pretending to read, for he dit
not take his eyes of the boy. In hi
look were both tenderness and re
proach, as if he had had in his ow,
country child of Stenns's age, and i
he had said to himself:
II had rather die than see my son pl,
such trade"
From that moment Stenne felt as j
there were hand grasping his hear
and hindering pulsation.
To escape from this anguish he be
gan to drink. Soon everything whirle'
, about him. He heard vaguely. in th
midst of harsh laughter, his comrade
making sport OF the National Guard
and of their manner Of drill, initiating
capture OF arms at the Marais, nigh
alarm on the ramparts. Then the bo
|, lowered his voice. the officers gathere
about him, and their faces grew sobel
The wretch was warning them Of tn
sharpshooters' attack.
Instantly little Stenne arose, furious
brought back to his senses.
"Not that. ] will not
But the other only laughed and wen
on. Before he had ended all the of
, GERS were on their feet. One Of thel
opened the door before the boys.
@Fly-the camp!" said he.
And they began to talk together yer
rapidly in German. This big boy weI
out. proud ~ king, blinking h
, money. Stenns followed, hanging b
, | head; and when he passed the Prussia
whose look had 70 palnsd nlm, /
, heard Z sad voics say:
sNot . pretty thing, that-not pre-
. ty thingls
: The tears came into his eyes.
When they were again on the plai
i, the children began to run, and returne
!, rapidly. Their bags were full Of pot,
toss which the Prussians had give
7 them; with these they passed the trenc
Of the sharpshooters freely. They wel
: making preparations for the nights 4
tack. Troops we're assembling silent
) and more wore crowding behind Il
!, walls. Tho old sergeant was ther
busy placing his men. locking 20 happ
When the boys passsd he rsmembsrs