The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-02-14
THE LITTLE DRUMMER.
MARIE II. WILLIAMS.
From Youlh's Companion.


by excess of light, spot of shade is a cool
oasis in this oven of heat and color.
Colonel Prosper Hautccourt thought this, as
he passed groups of yawning French soldiers
on his way to c!ump of trees growing on q
slight elevation, where there was at least a
promise of some breeze. When he reached
the spot, he saw lad laying asleep under the
trees, with his right arm thrown around
drum which lay beside him.
"IIa, Jules, what dost thou here" cried the
colonel
The boy sprang up instantly. A delicate
STRIPPING he was, with pale face, but bright
| intelligent eyes.
81 believe | was half sleep mon colonel,"
! no said, with laugh. I'VE had sharp time
last night with the Arabs, you know, and the
men somehow seated. i beat my drum till
my arms were numb. lay down in camp, but,
| ouf, it was hot OVEN"
Colonel Hautecourt smiled kindly at the lad,
but the next moment his face cloHded,
II have wished to speak TO thee jules. for
some time" he said. sit down there and
answer me. Dost thou know have heard
strange stories in camp about thee The men
say that in action there is one of them so
frightened that he almost loses his senses !;
that he crouchcs lchind his brave comrades,
and when he heats the drum, the strokes are
so tremulous that it sounds more like shame
full retreat than gallant charge Dost thou
know who the coward is, Jules?'
AS the colonel spoke, the boy 5 head had sunk
lower and lower, till his face was hidden AS
he raised it 20 .answetNthc officer, it was white
as death, and his lips quivercd.
~ suppose they mean me, mon colonel he
answered
Yes, they mean thee, my poor boy. Look
here, jules | have known thee from an infant
i'll La Ncndee Thy good, honest father would
die with shame il thou shouldcst disgrace him.
and coward is disgrace, not only to his family
but to his country. \ Vcndcan and a coward
Bah! they do notgo together. warn thee that
all my influence cannot go far where any in
fraction of military discipline is concerned.
have done my best but thou art getting to be 4
by-word among the men"
Look here, mon colonel!'' the boy said, q
faint flush creeping into his pale check. II
am not always afraid. Sometimes feel as bold
rs a lion but tlon another time don't know
what comes to me My hands and feet get as
cold as ice. | trcmble, my eyes are dim and
when see my comrades falling right and left,
something tells0le TO run away lmt have
never run, no, neyerr' he addict with spirit.
not yet" Colonel Haatcoourt said sadly;
''but someA'ay that cowardicc, which thou
c,lllest sonerfing will lead theo to kneel on
III, coffin, and have file of thy Xonave COM
rades shoot thee through the heart a coward
is a traitor
The boy shuddered, but did not speak
"Why didst thou beg so hard to be allowed
to become drummer in the army If thy eour-
age is so UnCertain?'' asked the colonel mourn
fully.
My father is poor, rs You know mon colo
nel-bad harvest and sickness in the family.
And wanted to come; it was grand to fight
md N
even then. o, love my DRUM" caressng it.
| alt talks 10 me like living voice"
Let il tell you. then, BE brave my boy.
Don disgrace yourself and LA Nendee any
| more, the colonel said.
The boy started to his feet, ami his eyes
| frightened
"Do not fear, mon colonel tell you a,n
no coward though seem so sometimes. 1t Is
| bodily weakness only. and will die before it
! shall conquer me again
But the colonel. as he walked thOuehtfuliv
| toward his tent did not share in tie boy ], con-
| fdence. The father OF Jules was . farmer On
! the beaver estate, of which the Marquis
| d HauteCourt his own father, was the owner
| lie had always been fond OF Jules, and his
| t;midity as a child used to amGsc him; but
! when he came under his command as soldier
| he found the boys weakness furnished ocoa-
| sion for the Gravcst fears.
! 81 must gGt his discharge unOn soiae pre-
| tcAt." the colonel thought. THAT boy. IN one
! of his l,ancs, is sure TO desert, and then no
power can save him. 1t would be TOO cruel to
/ see him shot in that way, and o. sure as | am
! here, that VIII be his fate. But va done with
such thoughts! Here today, gone tomorrow ;
/ and, before jules deserts, / may be lying on
/ the desert sands, spitted through and through
! by an Arab lance
1t was sometime after that before the next
engagement with the "Sons al the Desert -
| a portion OF the French army had moved on
some Arab stronghold, and taken it after day )
| hard lighting The march had been hot and
| toilsome one, and the soldiers were utterly OK
| haUSicd,
"Ihcylnu have rest '9Diglt, said General
! Bcauprc, "Ihe Arabs arc Thoroughly routed
and they viii not venture to como near US
| again lor many a day. The dogs have got their
! Lesson now, from a 90 y, and they leii cal4iou
enough behind them to feed an army Of buz-
! yards o. no danger from ihemW
Colonel Hauteconit shook his head
81 have been in this country many years"
he said. "and have seen strange things. Nou
/ have fought and whipped tie enemy. You
! look around the desert horizon, miles and miles
/ distant, and you see not spcck but IN n min
/ ute, ms If rose from the earth an army is upon
! you, and you hear that shrill "Allahp from
/ norih, south cast and west, till your cars are
| dealcned.'
"Thc soldiers mast rest" General Bcaupre
repeated. "Ot course there's no protection left
in these shattered walls; but post scntfica at
| every weak point, have no fear Of an attack
/ tonight, or before We leave here"
n was Il black, siallcss night. The moaning
/ Of the wind as it swept over the desert sand,
! and the cloHded skies bclokencd one Of those
/ rare tanpcsts which sometimes y!9i the 4 fiji
can desert. Jules, with his love Of the outer
Z air, had laid himself down near ono Of tho
/ breaches IN the dsInantlcd wall, before which
/ a sentinel was mOuotonousy pacing, The cool
2rccusward was pleasant 10 the boys heated
check, and rs he lay thcro, he Thought oyer
+ the events Of the day.
/ lie had been frightened, Oh horribly fright
! cnrd, when the Sighting began. but hc rcmcn-
T bogrd ~hat bis colonel had said 20 him. about
/ his drum having voice. And then h5 arm
/ gtew stronger, aud his drum seemed To- say 10
| him, ''Hc brave, jules Shame ON "a coward 80
! Al at once 'he fear left him, and he felt ai
/ beid as any oi his comrades. And IL Wa his
/ dear dum'6 dong.
/ as Jules thought tiIlt, lac drew his drum To-
! ward him and actually Rugged and kissed It,,
Perhaps there was a good spirit in it,. The
/ Vcndcaus have many supertitions. ana among
them the existence Of good Or evil spirits in iu
| animate objects, and rs far rs Superstition
went jules was a trug peasant Of La Vendcc.
Then his thoughts took him back home. lie