Smyrna times., 1886-01-06

potatoes. But hold on, come in and
warm yourselves a bit. The little chap
looks frozen"
Alas, it was not from cold that little
Stenne trembled. 1t was from fear and
shame. Inside they found some sol
diers covering around small fire, a
veritable widows fire, over which they
tried to thaw out some biscuits which
they had fastened on their bayonets.
They crowded together to make room
Tor the boys. They gave them a little
coffee to drink. While they drank, an
officer came to the door, called the
sergeant, spoke to him in low tone
and went out.
Why, boys, said the sergeant, com.
ing back radiant, tonight we shall
have tobacco. They have got the P,us-
sian cOuntersign. I be ievc this time
we shall retake that accursed Bourget." "
There was an explosion of braves and
laughter They danced, they sang, they
fourished their sabrc-bayonets, and.
protitlng by this tumult, the boys dis
appeared Once past the trench there
was nothing before them but the plain,
and at the end Of it long white wall
pierced with loo D-hoics. Towards the
wall they directed their way, stopping
at every step to pretend to pick up
potatoes.
Don't let's go. Let's go back, little
Stenne kept saying all of the time.
The other shrugged his shoulders and
went on. Suddenly thy heard the
click of the cooking of gun.
Lie down, said the large boy, throw
ing himself on the ground.
Once down he whis;lcd. Another
whistle answered him across the snow.
They advanced. crawling upon the
ground. Before the wall. ont of the
smooth ground, appeared a pair If
yellow mOustaches undcr dirty cap.
The large boy jumped into the ditch bv
the side of the Prussian.
This is my brother, he s;,id, point
ing to his companion.
Stennc was so small tha5 the Prussion
laughed at seeing him, and was Obliged
to take him in hls arms and lift him up
to the openin, in he wall.
On the other side Of the wall wora
great embankmen.s of earth. fo len
trees and blacl, holes in the snow nd
from each lie loak. L ont the same
dirty cap and til" same yellow mons
taeae that laughed ut the boys as they
pa cd
In one corner was gardeners house.
cas"mItrl with trunks of tees. Below
were crowd Of soldiers playing cards
or making soup over a great fire. How
good it smcl'ed, the cabbaees and the
bacon Z! How different from the biyouac
OF the francs ireurs! Beyond were the
Ulcers One could hear them playing
the piano or drinking champagne.
When the Parisians entered hurrab
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 proud and disdainful
air, but the large boy amused them
with his impndence and his slang.
They laughed, and repeating 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 q Prussian, who read him. or
seemed to do SO, for his eyes never
Quilted him. He looked at him with
and reproach, as if he had Mt
nome a little boy of the same AGE as
3tenne, and would say: "I had rather
lie than see my boy doing this"
AT that moment Stenne felt as if n
land had been laid upon his heart to
top its heating.
10 escape from this torment he began
o drink. Presently everything whirled
round him. He heard vaguely, in the
MIDST OF loud laughter, his mocking the
National Guard, their drills, passage
It arms, night-guard on the ramparts
Then the large boy lowered his voice.
he officers approached him and were
rave. The wretched boy was telling
hem of the intended attack of the
Suddenly little Stenne
prung up angry and sober
Not that won't have it !"
But the other only laughed and kent
Il. When he had finished all of the
Ulcers were stirring about. One of
hem opened the door to the bows.
Out OF the camp with you p he said.
Then they began to talk among them
elves in German very fast. The large
oy strutted out large as doge and
linking his money Stenne followed
Inn with his head hanging down.
Then they passed the Prussian whose
'ok had so troubled him, he heard n
ID voice, which said:
" Not gOot! Not goot!"
Tears came into his eyes.
Once on the plain again the bows
gan to run and returned rapidly,
heir sacks We're full Of potatoes which
e Prussians had given them. With
ese they passed unquestioned the
enches of the francs-tireurs They
ere preparing for the night attack.
loops were silently arriving and mass
g themselves behind the walls The
4 sergeant was there, and was placing
S men with such a confident air.
hen the boys passed he recognized
em and smiled pleasantly. All, how
at smile hurt little Stenne. For a :
Jment he wished to call
" Don't go out; we have betrayed
H."
But the other said "If you speak out
shall be shot,; and fear kept him
H. :
At Courneuve they entered deserted
use to divide their money. Truth
liges me to say that the division was
nestly made, and that when he heard
chink of the coin under his blouse -
thought of the games of galocae in
future, little Stenne found that his
me was somewhat less frightful.
But when he was alone, the unhappy 4
y! When, after they were through y
gates, the large boy had left him,