Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-09-05

ally kiudhearted and sympathetic, she
agreed without no much persuasion to his
rather incongraus request; SO that Pere
PItrot, relieved from his disagreeable re-
possibility, went on his way rejoicing.
A quarter of an hour later the lieutenant
burst into the Inirmary in a paroxysm Of
fury.
$50 youngster" he cried, sit seems you
are bent on Drawing me! Well, we snail
see. You can not stay shamming here
forever; and mark my words, when you
do come out, I'll have that head CT yours
as smooth as billiard ban!"
With this parting threat he bounced out
of the room; and next day every one of the
future cavarly officer-the prisoners
alone xcepted-underWent the summary
operation of Cropping" at the hands of
tonsor PItoot.
Mean while, Gaston's position was by no
means an enviable one. Through the
grated windows Of the infirmary he could
see his comrades mounting their horses
in the court yard and carrcling gayly as
they passed, and on Sundays-most pain
full trial of alI-colIld hear with pang of
envy. the joyous shouts of his more for
tunate colleagues, emancipated for a few
hours from duty, and on their way to
catch the first train to Paris.
The day of deli7erauce, however, was
at hand. Early on the 14th of July-a
date never to be forgotten by DR.. Ian
geais-the occupants of the infrmary
were suddenly startled by tremendous
uproar imm ediately under their windows,
and, on looking out, imagined for mo-
ment that pandemonium had broken
loose.
Suoh q spectacle had assuredly never
been witnessed at st. Cyr. The entire
quadrangle was thronged by an excited
multitude, rushing to and fro In tumultu-
Gus disorder, finging their caps high in
the air, and bursting every now and then
into loud and prolonged hurrah! Was
it q revolt, marveled the Sisters and their
patients, or what could it possibly mean
A few minutes sufficed to explain the
mystery. A hasUy step was heard outside
the door, Immediately followed by the
entrance into the sick room of an adju-
tant, bearing in his hand an official docu-
ment. the contents of which, recited by
him IN soDorous voice, were greeted
within an enthusiasm bordering on
frenzy.
WAR is declared with Prussia. By
Imperial decree, the seniors are hence
forth sub-lieutensnts."
Before the Sisters, deafeped by the
clamor, had recovered from their stupe-
faction, they found themselves alone in
the infirmary; the invalids one and all,
having mustered strength enough to
throw away their wrans aud make the
best of their way down stairs.
CASTOR, whose instantaneous cure Sister
Angelique afterwerd described as little
short of miraculous, was the first to re-
join his comrades; and, deserving his
prosecutor, Bouchard, standing apart
from the rest and apparently in no very
good bumor, went up to him with out
stretched hand and frank, CHEEKY smile.
"Well, lieutenant" he said, "you won't
have me cropped now!"
$50 it seems" grimly replied the other,
returning somewhat reluctantly the prof
fered grasp. "You have more luck than
you deserve; for, depend upon il, [ should
have shown you no mercyW
Each of the seniors entitled TO the pro-
motion having notified the adjutant on
duty the regiment to which he was de-
sirous of being attached, the preparations
for departure were speedily completed.
At an early hour in the afternoon the
baud of exultant youngsters started for
Paris, intent on making the most of the
three days allowed them before joining
their respective corps. Gaston's regi-
ment being stationed at Lille, he had
he had ample leisure, after partaking of
farewell repast at Brebart's with his old
mpanions, to carry into execution his
long cherished project of paying flying
visit to his Cousin Louise, at TrOuville;
and. repairing on the third day to head
quarters, reported himself TO the colonel
of the Forty-seoond dragons, who re-
oeived him most cordially.
'You are relieved from duty" said his
chief, "until you have got your kit in
order. Ma fol, Young man, you have ar
rived in the very nick of time, for before
the week is out we shall be on our way to
the front"
On his first appearance at mess, De
Langeais discovered, to his establishment,
that every one of his new Gem panions,
without exception, was closely cropped.
ga very necessary precaution," said the
president, Gin war time; the less incumb-
rance we carry about us the better. A
long beard and as little hair as possible;
NO comb or razor wanted, nothing but
simple brush up"
Not to MENTION" chimed IN an old
cam paigner, "that heavy helmet plays
the very deuce with ones nair.
CASTOR listened with due respect to
these well-meant exhortstions, but with
out the slightest intention of being in
fuenoed by them; and, on the arrival of
his division at Metz, some days later, had
already more than once declined to avail
himself of the services of the regimental
barber.
Nevertheless, he instinctively felt that
a continued refusal to conform to the
general custom must inevitably endan2er
his popularity, and that the only way to
atone for his obnoxious sing ulsrity was
to dist1ng uish himself by some exploit
which might obtain from him an honor
able mention in the order of the day.
An opportunity soon came. On the
18th cf August bis regiment, posted near
St. Privit, behind an avenue of poplars
bordering the read 10 Saarbruok, had
been ex posed for several hours to gall
ing fire of the German artillery, and
had suffered severely from an incessant
storm of shells, which was beginning to
set she trees on fire. The position of
and after the colonel deciding that
the enemy's guns must at any cost
be silenced, ordered q small detachment
of dragons commanded by De Leegesis
TO charge and cut them off from the main
body. L he Germans, taken py surprise
and imagining they were to be attacked
by the entire reg iment, ceased firing and
hastily retreated, leaving one of their
guns on the field, which CASTOR, at the,
head of the fifteen men, bore down upon.
and, sabering the gunners. carried trium-
phantly into the French lines.
"Bravom cried the colonel, warmly
gZas ping the young sub-lieutenant'