Daily Yellowstone journal., 1888-12-14
THE SIEGE OF BERLIN.

-
e with DR.. -, speaking of the siege
of Paris, when the doctor suddenly
stopped, ands pointing to n of the
imposing houses grouped about the
Arc de Triomphe, said:
do you see those four closed win
dows above that balcony2 In the
early days of the month of August,
that terrible month of August in 1870,
90 heavily freighted with disasters, ]
was summoned there TO attend a very
bad case Of apoplexy. II was at the
house of Col. Jouve, a cuirassier of
the FRY Empire, an old man infatu-
ated with glory and full of patriot
ism, who, at the beginning of the war
had come to live in the Champs Ely
sees, in an apartment over that bal
cony-and for what purpose, do you
supposed To take part in the celebra-
ton when our troops should return in
triumph.
Poor old mani When the news of
the battle of Wissembourg came he
was about TO rise from dinner. On
reading the name of Napoleon at the
end of that bulletin of defeat he fell
as if struck down.
II found the old soldier lying at
full length on the carpet, his face pur-
pie with blood and the veins sluggish,
as if he had been stunned by a heavy
blow on the head. When standing he
seemed TO be a very large man; lying
down his stature seemed immense. He
had handsome features, superb teeth,
a fleece of white curling hair and was
so years old, although he did not APP
pear TO be more than 60. Near him
was his granddaughter on her knees
and in tears. She resembled him.
Seeing them side by side made one
think of two beautiful Greek medal
lions from the same mold-the one,
however, being antique, with the con-
tours partially eifaced, the other fresh
and clean cut
''The grief of the child touched me.
She was both the daughter and grand
daughter of a soldier. Her father was
a staff officer with MacMahon. and the
sight Of that grand old man lying be-
fore her called up in her mind another
image not less terrible. | treasured
her as best | could; but | really had
little hope, for | knew that at his age
one could hardly recover from such
an illness. For three days the patient
lay in the same condition of immobil-
ity and stupor. .
SIN the meantime news Of the battle
of Reischoifen reached Paris. You
remember in what a strange way il
came. Until evening we thought we
had gained a great victory, that 90
600 Hrissians had been killed and the
crown prince made a prisoner. |
know not by what miracle or mag
netic current an echo of the national
Joy reached that poor old man, lying
mute and helpless on his couch. On
visiting him that night, | found him
altogether another man. Ills eye was
almost clear aud his tongue less thick.
He was able TO smile ut me and to
stammer, Victory
"'Nes, colonel / answered, "A grand
victory
by degrees, as / related TO him i've
details of MacMahon's success. / could
sec his features relay and his face
brighton.
"Wbcn ] was about tp lawrt |
found the young girl aw.li,ug Ua at
the door She was pale and ".,syIe
bling.
"'But he is safe, ! sud 10 hrg tgs-
ing her hand in mine.
''The poor child hud scarcely Tho
courage 10 answer me. The truth in
rcgaId 10 the battle Of RoischOllcn had
just been made known. MacMahon
was in retreat and his army was
crushed,
1--WE looked at each other in con
sternation. She was in an agony Of
doubt as 10 the fate OF her father.
But l trembled for the life Of the old
man. l was sure that he would not
be able TO able 10 survive this second
blow. But what was 20 be donel
Clearly we must not destroy the Joy,
tho illusion which had revived him.
But il would be necessary 20 lie.
"'Oh, well, | will lie said the
young girl, heroically, as she quickly
brushed away her tears. Then. with
q bright face, she returned TO the
chamber Of her grandfather.
at was a severe task which she had
undertaken. Al first, however, il was
not 80 difficult for the old man was
worry feeble and allowed himself 10 DO