The Red Cloud chief., 1889-08-02
SAVED BY VANITY.
Literally Hairbreadth Escape Of O
French Lieutenant.

IN 1870. = month or two before the
outbreak OF the Franco-German war.
one Of the most promising cadets. Or. as
they are commonly styled pupils" OF
the military college of ST. Cyr was Gas
o de Laureais. He was the last rep.
resentacive of an ancient family in
Brittany. whose traditional Obstinacy
and Impotence of control he had in.
herited 10 an extent which rendered
him popular with his comrades
than with the presiding authorities.
Not that be was especially remarka-
BILE for turbulence or insubordination O.
that his ~infractions OF rules were more
frequent thar those OF the majority of
his fellows On one point alone he
was intractable. and exercised all his
ingenuity in repeated attempts to e>-
cape a regulation which was ineXpress-
IDLY repugnant to him. Gifted by ma
ture with an abundance of luxuriantly
curling hair. of which he was inordi-
nately vain, the prescribed necessity
OF having it cropped short was a per-
petual grievance to him: and he looked
anxiously forward to his second year
al 81. Cvr. and TO his consequent eman-
cipation from the too close scrutiny to
which lie had hitherto been periodic
ally subjected
In two months" he said eXultingly
to one OF his intimates. my time here
will De UP. and once named officer /
shall be free as air. and no longer
ashamed 20 show myself to my cousin
Louise. For you see." he added. lift
ing his cap. and displaying a thick
growth OF short curls carefully fiattened
down. Il still nave some hair left"
Castles IN the air. however. are apt
to collapse: and Gaston's visionary
projects were. to say the least. pre-
mature.
A few mornings later. at the usual
hour o: parade, the corps OF youngsters
We're unexpectedly summoned to un-
derCo the inspection Of the infantry
lieutenant, Bouchard. a lynx-eyed mar
tinet. by no means favorably disposed
toward pupils destined for cavalry
regiments. whom he coutemptuOusly
designated as ~'-coxcombs-" De Lam
ceais. as the recognized leader OF the
band, was particularly obnoxious to
him: and his keen eyes twinkled ma
liciously as he stopped short before the
Young man. aud examined him curl
OuSly.
Take of -FOUR cap" be said
CASTOR ooeyed with al inward SILVER
o. apprehension
Il thought as much" growled the
lieutenant. IF that superiuOus hair
has not disappeared by this time to
morrow you viii pass the next four
days Ii The sale de police"
..YJa are in for il now" whispered
h. sympathizing comrade when the
terrible Buuchard had passed on.
.Nota bit OF IL" replied de Langeais,
Struggling MS shoulders unconcernediy.
Why. what on earth can you dO?'
Il don't exactly know, but l intend
to put Of the evil day as long Is /
possibly can"
N-Ah IL liz a b0O oNA "a
couple Of brushes. well soaked in water.
he succeeded in leveling the rebeilious
locks so q to deceive even a practlced
eye. and appeared OF parade with his
wonted jaunty air. although not a little
nervous as 10 the result Of the coming
ordeal Presently the lieutenant ar
rived with an ominously slow step. and
pausing rs before exactly in front OF
CASTOR. repeated the order Of the pre-
vious { iy.
Take of your cap"
For a moment Bouchard appeared
puzzled by the apparently smooth sur
face Of the pupils head. but bent