The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-09-01
THE SIEGE OF BERLIN.
BY ALPHONsE DAUDET.

We were going up the Champs Elysees
with Doctor V, gathering from the
walls pierced by shell, the pavement
ploughed by grape shot, the history of
besieged Paris, when just before reach
ing the Place de PEtoile, the doctor
stopped and pointed out to me one Of
those large corner houses SO pompousIy
grouped around the Arc de Triomphe.
"Do you see," said he, "those four
closed windows on the balcony up there
In the beginning of August, that terrible
month of August of 20, SO laden with
storm and disaster, [ was summoned
there to attend case of apoplexy. The
sufferer was Colonel Jouve, an old CUR
assier of the First Empire, full of enthu-
siasm for glory and patriotism, who, at
the commencement of the war, had TAX
en- an apartment with balcony in the
Champs Elysees-for what do you think?
To assist at the triumphal entry of our
troops? Poor old man! The news OF Wis
semburg arrived as he was rising from
the table. On reading the name of Ma
poieon at the foot of bulletin of that de-
feat, he fell senseless.
az found the old cuirassier stretched
upon the floor, his face bleeding and in
ert as from the blow of club. Standing
he would have been very tall; lying, he
looked immense, with fms features, beau
tiful teeth, and white curling hair, carry
ing his eighty years as though they had
been sixty. Beside him knelt his grand
daughter in tears. She resembled him.
Seeing them side by side, they reminded
me of two Greek medallions stamped
with the same impress, only the one was
antique, earth stained, its outlines some
what worn; the other beautiful and clear,
in all the luster Of freshness.
The child's sorrow touched me. Daugh-
ter and granddaughter OF soldiers, for
her father was on McMshon's staff, the
sight of this old man stretched before her
evoked in her mind another vision no less
terrible. I did my best to reassure her,
though in reality had but little hope.
We had TO contend with hemoptysis, from
which at eighty there is small chance Of
recovery.
"For three days the patient remained in
the same condition of immobility and stu
DOR. Meanwhile came the news of Reichs-
hofen you remember how Strangely
Till the evening we all believed in great
victory = 10000 Prussians killed, the
Crown Prince prisoner.
ST cannot tell by what miracle, by what
magnetic current an echo of this national
Joy can have reached our poor invalid
hitherto deaf to all around him; but that
evening on approaching the bed, found
a new man. His eye was almost clear
his speech less difficult, and he had the
strength to smile and to stammer:
"'Vlctory! VictoryP
"sYes, Colonel, a great victory And
as gave the details of McMahon's splen-
did success, I saw his features relax and
his countenance brighten.
"When 1 went ont his granddaughter
was waiting for me pale and sobbing.
"'But he is saved said /, taking her
hands.
The poor child had hardly courage
to answer me. The truth had just been
announced, McMshon a fugitive, the
whole army crushed. We looked at each
other in CONSERVATION, she anxious at
the thought of her father, / trem-
bling for the grandfather. Certainly be
would not bear thus new shock. And yet
what could We do? Let him enjoy the
illusion which had revived him? Bat
then we should have to deceive him.
"'Well, then, will deceive himP said
the brave girl, and hastily wiping away
er tears, she re-entered her grandfa-
theirs room with beaming face.
sit was hard task she had set herself.
For the first few days it was compare
lively easy, as the old mans head was
weak, and he was as credulous as child.
But with returning health came clearer
ideas. 1t was necessary to keep him au
cOurdnt with the movements Of the army
and to invent military bulletins. 1t was
pltitul to see that beautiful girl bending