Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-20

nurmured to himself, ''in two hours Il
will be nightfan; then the fighting must
cease. and perhaps, after all, our battalion
may not be engaged" While consoling
himself with these very unheroic reaec-
| tons he saw the same staff officer sud
denly ride toward the commander of the
Eighty-third, with whom he exchanged q
few hurried words
Immediately the latter, drawing his
saber. cried Stand upl Dress ranksl
We are going to make dash for the
woods"
Pierre rose, with strange tightening
in his throat. While the column was
forming he slung his knapsack across his
shoulders and mechanically gazed st the
officer, who from the height Of his saddle
gave few brief directions to the com
nander. He was captain of the Garde
Mobile, fine, handsome young fellow Of
20, with bronzed complexion, pointed
nustache and an air Of distinction. His
military toilet was irreproachable. from
the closely butuoned gray overcoat, with
its showily braided sleeve, TO the slender
gloved hand which caressed his horses
neck. Its al very well for you, you
military co1comb," growled Pierre be-
tween his teeth; ''it $ the same to you,
my fine fellow, whether our heads are
shot off or not, while you caper about on
that horse of yours Ike fly OF
coach wheel. l wish you were at the
devill' The young captain put spurs to
his horse and galloped of into the park
through breach which dynamite had
made in the wall. The battalion were to
follow through the same opening. ST.
lently, four by four, the Eighty third
marched along a sandy path toward the
woods. At the end of hundred PAGES,
where the road divided, a shower Of bull
lets suddenly scattered the twigs in every
direction. Il sounded like whirlwind
of gnats on summer evening. This sud
den and disagreeable music sent panic
through the ranks of the novices in war,
who scampered through the woods like a
flock Of terrified sparrows. Instinctively
Pierre Manceau followed the rest. In
PEELED BY blind fear he ran straight ahead.
It seemed to him that the firing came from
every side at once. On right and left the
balls whistled. cutting off branches of
trees and tearing of pieces Of bark. He
saw them "recocher" and bury themselves
in the soil before him. raising little clouds
of sand. He was conscious Of rapid alter
nations Of shivering and burning. The
incessant hail Of bullets deafeued and
stupefed him. He bounded from tree to
tree, no longer feeling the weight Of his
knspsack and musket
He presently found himself alone in the
wood, and continued TO walk on, trembling
violently at the rustling of the leaves
under his feet, and having but one idea
to Fl: some opening through which to
escape from this cursed park.
He reached a winding path bordered
with green trees, and followed it bIindly,
when he suddenly stood STILL shaking
from head TO foot, as if struck by an cleo
trio shock. Before him, right across the
road, lay the body of garde mobile, his
head thrown back or q heap of dried
leaves. His fsce was Of marble pallor;
his lips, half parted under a brown
mustache, were violet hued, and from
them trickled a tiny stream of blood
staining the wilderness of the freshly
shaver chin.
He was an officer, and on examining him
more closely Pierre recognized the co..
tain, who half an hour ago had ordered
his battalion to enter the woods Yes, it
was indeed the same face, with its aristo-
cratic lines, the same fine pointed mus
taohe, the same faultlessly gloved hands
which had SO exasperated our professor of
philosophy. The gray overcoat had been
torn open violently and IN haste across the
breast, showing the blood stained gar
nents beneath. Whilst he was galloping
through the woods doubtless shell had
struck him full in the breast, had hurled
him from his horse, who had taken flight
Manceau knelt by his side and slipped his
hand under the blood stained uniform to
feel if the heart still beat
He shuddered at the chill which struck
him as his hand touched the marble
breast. That brave young life was in
deed ended. AS he drew his hand away
his fingers were entangled in light chain,
to which was attached a medallion. He
opened the golden circle. On one side
the lovely face Of young girl, whose
him as he gazed. "Ah, this was his
sweetheart" sighed Pierre, as he rever-
emily replaced the medallion on the life
less heart For ssveral minutes he stood
mournfullv by this dead man, but half an
hour ago so full of life and ardor, now
already stiff and chill. 1t was the first
time in his Life that he bad ever stood by
dead body. and he looked on it with
mingled compassion and shame.
He died fulfilling his duty" he said
bitterly to himself; nevertheless he was
younger than l, perhaps he chung TO life
even more fondly, for there Is somewhere
one beloved woman who at this very mo-
ment is watching for news Of him, her
heart torn by suspense and anguish. while
|. who have neither wife, sister nor sweet
heart TO mourn my death, whose ONLY
- &c IL ~, -,
feared to brave death. He'd ignornini-
what an but miserable towards"
He rose, seized his gun and retraced the
road. At the end Of twenty PAGES he
paused near sheet of water on whose
edge the dried reeds rustled lnournfully,
and near which stood the ruins Of lodge
with battered walls and empty window
sashes- On the opposite side of this
sheet Of water company OF infantry
waited under the shelter of clump of
saplings for orders TO open fire. At the
sight Of this national guard in his green
overcoat who arrived scared and dis
derisively. Pierre Msnceau felt the blood
mount 10 his brow. Il deserve IT," he
thought; Il lock like coward"
And SIS the lieutenant gave the order
TO his ueC 10 remount the height. Pierre
approached him and begged permission to
join the company.
He was no longer conscious Of fear, but
blind rage seemed TO possess him as he
climbed with the company to the crest of
the plateau, which swarned with sharp
shooters and was half hidden in cloud
OF smoke. Pierre had loaded his musket.
y. 1t
whole soul 10 fulfilling his duty, regard
TaOs - ~. boIl, vb;,I --;ra1 .ra,r6 III,