The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-05-31

JH Nhu anu
town, the demand for recruits brought ever
fresh supplies; terror and war darkencd
many home, crushed many heart; every
where the dread of ill, close ut hand and soop
| to fall.
| Within d US march OF Paris. a troop OF
soldiers had halted and were gathered round
q table in front Of the auherge smoking
drinking, and chatting with tho mercuria.
carelessnoss that y..nera!y characterizes tn,
sons OF Mars"
1--WE shall be in tomorrow" said ono.
"And warm work we shall have" muttored
another.
$50 much the better; you are not going to
shirk it now, are your"
"It is not of the work think" the man
answered sadly, "nor yet OF myself-a man
can die but once-but there are the wife and
the little ones"
The words cast shadow of gloom over
many careless face in the laughing group.
"True-for them it is bad" they MUIR
INJURED, and thought sadly of the quiet
homes, and the rosy faces, and the pretty
childish voices that might ask in vain for
sight or sound of soldier-father ere an
other sun had set.
Ono man stood aloof and apart from all,
under the thick shroudng boughs of great
pear tree. Now and then he looked at the
group as thoy tossed off their wine, or
laughed and joked with gay and airy buf-
foonery.
"They can enioyp he thought and bitter
wonder and disdain crept into his heart, for
So Is I, III c,1 nd
desolate thing, that it seemed a marvel
that those of lighter brains and hearts could
find amusement or forgetfulncss in such an
hour as this.
"You are bad company tonight, Pierre"
cried one of the soldiers. s'Will you not join
us? you may not have the chance much
longer"
$50 much the better for me-" he said
sternly, turning neither his gaze nor his step
toward them.
"Have you fallen out with life already, or
has your sweet heart Tilted you?" laughed
Il young stalwart soldier, with the down Of
manhood scarce grown on his chin, and
laughing boyish face that had left n sad
blank in the home-circle from whence it
had been drawn.
"My affairs are no concern OF yours" was
the somewhat fierce retort.
"Diou do dieu, no. You take very good
care no one else but yourself shall know
aught of them," returned the other.
"Don't trouble PIERRE" chimed in the voice
OF the man who had giveu him the invitation
to join them. "C'est un drole, mais c'est un
brave"
"He had need to be the one to make up for
tho other" muttered the young soldier. "a
duler fellow I never came across"
HE has done good work, though, and his
recklessness is something to marvel at. The
other night he fought three Prussians, sim
gle-handed, and came off with scarce scratch
himself"
"Ventre bleu-has no one else ever done
the same?"
Doubtless but this fellow is an unframed
recruit, and has the foolhardiness and cool
ness Of perfect courage, and no more fear of
fire or regard of danger than il he were bull
let proof. The Colonel thinks very highly Of
him."
''That means promotion"
"He doesn't want that-only danger"
tickish of foraging parties; pauvre diable |
there's something underneath it it all. He
carries heavy heart under that bold brave
face If mistake not.''
"He is bon soldat to the backbone. hope
the bullets won't whish him off rs quickly as
he seems to desire. We can i'll spare men
ncw."
'Think you 1t will come to siege2"
"Deu do dieu-yes. These cursed German
brutes are hemming US in on every side"
The talk grew graver, the jests less bolster
Gus, while tho man whom they discussed
stood motioncss in the starlight, his musket
resting against his shoulder, his eyes fixed
on the far-off walls of the fair city so soon to
be the prey of the foe.
The fearless, dauntless soldier had been
through many hot skirmsh, had served
well, and learned quickly, and borne the
arduous nnremitting work OF trying cam
paigns and close discipline, with a cool
bravery that had brought him into notice,
and won him both respect and liking from
comrades and superiors.
They did not quito understand. They
could not comprehend his moods OF silence
cence respecting his own past life, OF which
no one knew or could ascertain anything.
1t held some mystery, some sorrow, that
they surmised; but of its nature he never
spoke, and after time they ceased to in
quire. The noise, the clang, and tumult Of
war, the ever present excitement of danger,
all these We're too constantly around and
about them TO allow of much leisure for
speculation or gossip. They accepted him
among the fraternity as one whom they
could trust, honor, and respect oven if no
warmer feeling were permitted, and for that
he was alone to blame, since he allowed Of
no closer approach TO confidence or regard
than he himself sought, and that was as
little as well might be without absolute
offense.
Times were terrible now in France. Tho
war fever was at its height. Men grew
drunk with bloodshed as with wine,
Fiercest hatred to the conqueror glowed in
every breast, and each day tho hopes OF VIC
tory grow fainter the dread conquest
sharper. And amidst all the turmoil and
anxiety and danger, one man moved as
though he bore Il charmed life, only saying
to himself: "Oh, that death were possible p
But though near often, it yet passed him
| by taking, with that strange fatality thar
makes life at once SO striking and SO sad,