The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1886-04-23

WnhI uODlG ne UELlOlSLIAbEu
that if the ''Zouaves of Death had
been there, things would have been
very different. Thereupon, warming
to the subject, he sketched out for us
plan for a sortie by the passage of the
Disc, march to Rouen, and a final
triumphant arrival at Havre, so clearly
and wildly that he aroused Durand to
great enthusiasm. And all this time
poor Inundated Victor was suffering
from his still bleeding wound.
The next day Victor had fever and
kept his bed, and for some weeks he
did not appear at the table. The Cap
tain, meanwhile, theoretically estab-
lished his pretensions to the hand of
Gertrude. The evening that Victor
reappeared among US, weak and paler
than ever, it seemed to me that Ger
trude's eyes were very red and that
some skirmish had taken place be-
tween her and her mother, who seemed
more taken up with NORM than ever.
I saw that it was time to interfere in
the interest of these poor children. 1t
was the last day of the year, and as
we were talking of the new year we
decided to celebrate the anniversary
together.
"Egad, Nine. Durand." said the
Captain, II have a surprise for your
New Years present"
This put an idea in my head.
On New Years day Durand received
us, radiant and with open arms. The
strategical editor of lie Temps had just
struck a terrible blow at Prince Charles
| in the neighborhOod of Evreu. Du-
I and offered us this good news for our
New Years present. Victor brought
a hare which he had trapped beyond
| the Notifications. As TO the Captain,
he presented Nine. Durand with bag
of mdrrOas qldces in Uhlan's helmet.
MADAM" said he, magniicently,
Il am sorry ] did not bring in it the
| head of its owner
| What" cried Mime. Durand, al
most speechless with emotion; Ibid
you kill him?n
aye, to get this bonbon box,
madam performance which, l make
| bold to say, would not have been at
/ tempted by many men"
| I will pass over the recital of this
adventure, of which you may be sure
our Bombastes did not spare US the
smallest detail. Crouched down be-
hind a cask, he had watched for, sur
prised, and knocked down the wearer
of the cap, a solitary sentinel, and had
| strangled him, in order not to arouse
the attention of the enemy by using
his revolver! What a poor showing
the hare, strangled, too, made beside
this glorious triumph!
well" said /, II would not think
Of rivaling such a hero as the Captain;
but l also have my little surprise. But
it has not vet arrived, and l hope you
viii dine without waiting for it. -
We sat down to table, and a very
pleasant dinner it was. We had just
reached the coffee, when u servant in
formed us that an artilleryman had
just deposited my present in the draw
ing-room. Repairing thither, we found
the object on the table, wrapped in
bright paper and tied up with gay rib
bons.
''What in the world can it beP" asked
Mime. Durand.
Don't try to guess. my dear mad
anne; it is bomb-shell."
''Durand has often expressed to me
desire to possess a bomb-shell, one
that has seen service, and at my re-
quest my friend Roland, commandant
of a battery, has sent me this. 1t is
from the Akron plateau, where it fell
but failed to explode"
As l spoke I united the blue ribbon,
took off the paper, and the bomb-shell
appeared, black, sinister and menac-
ing.
@Mv dear fellow" said Durand. 81
am delighted. / shall hang it up in my
study"
But" objected Nine. Durand, elf it
has not gone OFF,
''Oh have no fear; it was understood
that Roland would only send it to me
empty and harmless. However, there
is a letter accompanying it.
I opened the letter, and was about to
read it aloud, but at the first line my
face began to express surprise, then
anxiety, when every one cried:
whats the matterP"
, s'Great Heavens!-I have-listen, .
and L read:
"'DEAR FRIEND: Here Is the bomb-shel
: you desired. But have been unable to FIND
an artilleryman who knows how to unload it
Send il to the armorer in the Passage do
/ rOpera, who will fix it for you perfectly
But ] warn YOU to take great precautions
not the least shock, not the faintest frict on
! for II you strike it with even a sheet of paper
~ WIZ - ''''' 80 : - "'RoLAND.'"
was interrupted by cries of fright
ooh, take it awayr' cried Nine.
Durand. "Oh, this is terrible! A
bomb-shell in my houser
For Heavens sake, said I, raising
my hand warningly. "Be calm! Dc
not be frightened; the artillerymar
who brought it shall take it away"
"But, SIR said the servant, who
: stood trembling in the door" the artil
, leryman is gone"
"Then," said 1, eft is / who
s must
81 forbid you," cried Durand. ''Yor
/ are not strong enough to carry it. You
would let il fall on the way, perhaps or
the stairs, or even in this room. -
Nine. Durand threw herself on me
crying
5 NO, not you! It is too dangerous
Not you"
This said Durand, '.is the work
= for a strong soldier. Happily the
e Captain is her" --
! ''IP'' said the Captain, uneasily.
q Eyes, you are as strong as a bull
p and besides, You are used to these
: dreadful implements of war. You
p play with cannon-balls and bomb
3 shells as schOol-bOy does with hi
I tops and marbles"
''But-but pardon me-" said tn
{ Captain, who grew slightly pale,
= / bomb-shell, you see-er-hum, Can W,
not wait until tomorrow, and have i
: taken away then?n
"To-morrowr' cried Mime. Durand
/ "Why, l couldn't close my eyes tn
. / whole night l would rather go to
\ | hotel.
! Here Victor stepped forward;
0 do not put yourself to so mucl
trouble, 1 beg, said he. Il viii tax
n the bomb-shell away
+ You are mad, my boy" erie,
e Durand, stopping him, just of
f sick-bed. and with your wounded arm
e Do YOU want to bring the house dow