Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-08-15
LINK BY LINK.
A THRILLING STORY OF TIE
FRANCO PRUSsIAN WAR.
DY MAURICE LEGRAND.
CHAPTER XI.-(CoNTINUED.)


"Tausend Teufel!" muttered Bob
mer, with a fierce wrath in his voice
and glance ITO think such a heart
less brute should have it in his power
10 bully us!' Pierre looked grateful
" down at him as il thanking him
for that classification of sympathy.
"You are very good TO me- he said
gently, "'and | cannot give you aught
save thanks"
Nothing is needed" muttered the
soldier gruffly. IL am only sorry you
have such a bad time of it among us
here. Devil take me If l can UNDER
stand why. 1t seems as if the Herr
Commander had some special grudge
against you"
Pierre turned suddenly away.
doubtless he has" he thought to
himself. "He but obeys orders"
''You will not work now, you are
are not fit for it," pleaded BONNER,
following him eagerly.
Pierre smiled sadly at his entreating
voice.
''It's soldiers first duty to obey"
he said gently. The mans face flush
ed beneath all its tanned dark
ness.
"A fit rebuke. Ach mein Colt!
that you were a German"
1t was the honest fellows constant
regret. He could not bear TO think
that discipline so eXact-endurance so
great-patience so exemplary, should
belong to the ranks of his despise1
and beaten foe, yet his reluctant adj
Iniration grew deeper every day. He
could not but see what heroism lay
beneath that calm exterior-a hero
ism far nobler than any called forth
by the tumult, danger and excitement
of war-a heroism that bore hunger,
thirst, toll, insult, contumely, and yet
no sign of INSTRUMENTATION, uttered no
complaint of unmerited wrongs, and
let tho calm light of his influence shine
alike on friend and foe till, if none
loved, at least all revered him for it.
He braced his weary frame nov as
best he could. He turned t. mis- du-
ties and worked on steadily, uncom-
plainingly-to receive what?-a cut
from lash, "a taunt from hooking
tone, volley of oaths and threats that
made his blood boil and his eyes flame
with the indignation they sought to
arouse. But the coarest upbraiding
and reviiing could not make him for
get in the presence of his compatriots
the lesson he had so we'll learnt He
listened in silence, or with simple di-
rect replies, but before those cleaning
eyes OF the prisoned soldiery, those
fiery, indignant chances that seemed
TO urge him on TO mutiny, and prom
Use any support in INSTRUMENTATION,
he would not relinquish the curb that
held passion in such strong restraint,
and gave for tyranny-obedience.
"You have carried out my orders
well, Niedmann,' said Colonel Won
Brandstein that afternoon, as he stood
talking to the commandment That
French soldier looks well broken in.
BY the by, is his health good?"
II think not. He had been very ILL
before he came on here, and to-day he
had some sort of fit or other in the
barrack yard.
"Ah," murmured the colonel
thoughtfully. "Well, do not relax
your care for him. We have too
much of this useless lumber in this
country now. A few bales here and
there can easily be spared"
The other smiled, meaningly.
IL suppose this man is one of the
few?" he said, with marked emphasis
"Your perspicuity is wonderful,
Herr Commandant," said the Colonel
as he half stopped to disentangle the
sword-knot at his side. HE is"