Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-07-18

Then uuQoZ Ctfe charge OF nan OOz6u
Sisters of Charity, presided over by a
lady superior.
CASTOR had hardly changed his ordi-
nary attire for the regulation loose gray
coat and cotton nightcap when Pitrot,
the tonsor of the establishment, was an
nounced, bearing an enormous pair of
scissors and laconic note, which ran as
follows:
The pupil De Langeais' hair to be cut of i'm
mediately. BoCcHARD.
The poor coiffeur, unwilling to lose so
excellent customer for pomades and
other capillary unguents, and yet COM
PEELED to obey the imperative mandate,
was in despair.
would it not be possible, monsieur, F"
he suggested, ''to obtain from the lady
superior certificate that the effect of
the operation might be injurious to an
invalid"
Castor could not help smiling at the
idea. 81 don't quite see," he said,
what a cropped head has to do with a
bruise on the knee, but there can be no
harm in trying"
AS good luck would have it, Sister
Angelique, in whose memory, perhaps,
still fingered the fopdly cherished rec
objection of some romantic episode of
her youthful days, listened with interest
to the handsome Breton, while he re-
lated to her his hopes and fears, and his
attachment to his cousin Louise. Being
naturally kind hearted and sympathetic,
she agreed without much persuasion to
his rather incongruous request, so that
Pere Pitrot, relieved from his disagree
able responsibility, went on his way re-
Joicing.
A quarter of an hour later the heuten-
ant burst into the infirmary in paroxysm
of fury.
$50, youngster!' he cried, sit seems
you are bent on Drawing me! Well, we
shall see. You cannot stay shamming
here forever; and, mark my words
when you do come out, I'll have that
head of yours as smooth as billiard
ballr'
With this parting threat he bounced
out of the room, and next day every one
of the future cavalry officers-the priso-
ner alone experimentation the sum-
mary operation of cropping at the
hands of the tonsor, Pitrot.
Meanwhile, Gaston's position was by
no means an enviable one. Through the
grated windows of the infrmary he could
see his companions mounting their horses
in the courtyard, and caracohng gayly as
they passed, and on Sundays-most pain
full trial of all-could hear with pang of
envy the joyous shouts of his more fortu-
nate colleagues, emancipated for a few
hours from duty, and on their way to
catch the first train to Paris.
The day of deliverance, however. was
at hand. Early on the 14th of July-a
date never to be forgotten by De Ian
geais-the occupants of the infirmary
were suddenly startled by a tremendous
uproar Immediately under their win
dOwS, and, on looking out, imagined for
a moment that pandemonium had broken
loose.
Such a spectacle had assuredly never
been witnessed at st. Cvr. The entire
was thronged by an excited
rushing to and fro in tumultu-
Gus disorder, finging their caps high in
the air, and bursting every now and then
into a loud and prolonged hurrah! Was
it a revolt, marveled the sisters and their
patients, or what could it possibly mean?
a few minutes sufficed to explain the
mystery. 4 hasty step was heard out
side the door, Immediately followed by
the entrance into the sick room of an ad-
iutant, bearing in his hand an official
the contents of which, recited
by him in a sonorous voice, were greeted
with an enthusiasm bordering on frenzy.
War is declared with Prussia. BY
decree, the seniors are hence
forth sub-lieutenants.
Before the sisters, deafened by the
clamor, had recovered from their stupe-
faction, they found themselves alone in
the infirmary, the invahds, one and
throw aside their wraps and make the
best of their way down stairs.
CASTOR, whose instantaneous cure Sis
ter Angelique after described as little
short OF miraculous, was the first to re-
join his comrades; and. deserving his per-
Bouchar1, standing apart from
the rest, and apparently in no very good
humor, went up TO him with outStretched
hand and frank. CHEEKY smile.
well, lieutenant, he said, you won't
have me cropped now"
80 it seems, grinly replied the other,
somewhat reluctantly the prof
fered grasp. You have more luck than
you deserve; for, depend upon it, l should
have shown you no nlercyw
Each Of the seniors entitled TO promo
ton having notified to the adiutaut on
duty the regiment to which he was de-
suous of being attached, the preparations
for departure were speedily completed.
st an early hour in the afternoon the
band of exulting youngsters started for
Paris, intent on making the most of the
.hree days allowed them before joining
heir respective corps. CASTOR sregiment
Being stationed at Lille, he had ample
eiSure, after partaking of a farewell re-
past at Brebant's with his old compan-
ons, TO carry into execution his long
cherished project of paying flying visit
o his cousin Louise at Trouville; and,
'epairing on the third day to headquar-
erS, reported himself TO the colonel Of
he Forty-second dragons, who received
him most cordially.
You are dispensed from duty" said
Nc chief ..,,p-,I x-r,,, bava cs,- x-orr l;r