Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1889-08-01
New Series, Vol. 90, No 81.

way to atone for this obnoxious singu-
laEity was to distinguish himself by some
exploit which might obtain for him an
honorable mention in the order of the
day.
An opportunity soon came. On the
18th of August his regiment, posted
near st. Privat, behind an avenue of
pOplars bordering the road to Saarbruek,
had been exposed for several hours to a
CALLING fire of the German artillery; and
suffered severely from an incessant
storm of shells, which were beginning to
set the trees on fire. The position of
the French corps became untenable, and
the colonel, deciding that the enemy's
guns must at any cost be silenced, Or
dered a small detachment of dragons
commanded by Langaeis to charge, and
cut them off from the main body. The
Germans, taken by surprise, and imag-
ining they were about to be attacked by
the entire regiment, ceased firing and
hastily retreated, leaving one of their
guns on the field, which CASTOR, at the
head of fifteen men, bore down upon,
and, sabering the gunners, carried it
trimphantly into the French lines.
"BravoT" cried the colonel. warmly
grasping the young sub-lieutenant's
hand; "yOu have deserved the Cross for
this, and 1 will see that you get it."
Stimulated by this first success, and
eager to justify by some further act of
daring the good opinion of his chief, de
Langeais neglected no opportunity of
proving himself worthy of it. Dispatch
ed on a foraging expedition, and attack
ed by an outpost of infantry, he COM
pletely routed them and brought ten
prisoners into the camp; and few days
later held his ground for half an hour,
unsupported, save by his own men,
against an entire corps of the enemy.
His gallantry did not pass unrewarded.
Not only was the Cross of the Legion of
Honor conferred on him, but his name
was three times mentioned for eXcep-
tional bravery in the order of the day,
and his speedy promotion to the rank of
lieutenant was generally regarded as a
certainty.
At this juncture the unexpected ca
pitulation of Metz was a severe blow to
him, and, unwilling to accept compare
tive liberty on parole, he conceived a
project which, although extremely haz-
ardous, might enable him to join the
Army of the Loire. His design being
approved by the general commanding
under Bazaine, who intrusted him with
a letter to his colleague, Aurelle de Pal
aides, informing him that the army of
Prince Frederick Charles would shortly
march toward the Loire, CASTOR ex-
changed his uniform for a blouse and
peasants straw hat, and carrying bas-
ket of eggs, pursued his way cOOlly in
the direction of the enemy's lines.
at is a terrible task" he thought,
''but better be shot at once than rot in
a German prison"
Challenged by the first man he met,
and arrested on suspicion, he was taken
before the colonel of the regiment, who,
surrounded by his officers in council,
scrutinized the prisoner attentively.
''Where do you come frOm?" he in
quired in tolerable French.
From LadOnchamps, on my way with
these eggs to Grigy," was the young
mans reply.
"Are you aware that you run the risk
of being treated as spy?" pursued his
interrogation.
Necessity has no choice" retorted
de Langeais with perfectly Indifferent
air.
During this brief colloquy, the officers
glanced curiously at the stalwart indi-
vidual before them, whose appearance
and manner cOntrasted so strangely with
the homely dress he wore; and were al
most unanimously of the cOlonePs open
ly expressed opinion, that he was no
peasant, but an officer in disguise, and
consequently spy. A pause bodlng
no good to the accused enSued, and in
another moment his fate would have
been sealed, when a gray-haired major,
who had been intently gazing at de
Iangeais, suddenly rose from his seat
s'Stav," he exclaimed, with all sub
mission, l think you are mistaken =
This man, whoever he may be, is no CT
ficer. All those we have taken prison
ers have been close cropped, and no one
ever heard of French soldier on active
service with such head of hair as that"
True, the major is right" assented
several of those present.
'.It may be So" said the colonel, only
half convinced, "and in that case he IS
entitled to the benefit of the doubt. Give
him a pass, and let him go and be hang
ed somewhere else"
"a narrow escape" muttered CASTOR
to himself, as he left the camp. Il Won
der what Bouehard would say If he
knew it,"
A week later our hero reached his
destination, and delivered his ereden-
tials to the general in command, by
whom the grade of lieutenant was i'm
mediately conferred upon him. At the
conclusion of the campaign he was pro-
NOTED to a captaincy, and in 1871, after
the final rout of the Commune, married
his COUSIN Louise In the following
year, while on leave in Paris, he came
across his old enemy, Bouchard, on the
the Boulevard des Italiens.
"How goes it with your" asked the
latter, as they were slipping their absinthe
together.
"Admirably," replied CASTOR. "Here
am |, captain at twenty-five, CheVa-
lier of the Legion of Honor, and the hus-
band of charming wife; and all this no
thanks to you, by the way, Bouehard-
because saved my hair. ."-Chdrfes Her
reg, IN the AryoSy.
THE ERASCAL'S PROMPTNESS.
From the Boston Record.
Up in a certain town the grocers under
stand all the little tricks of the trade. a
gentleman bought six pounds of sugar,
and found it sadly adulterated with sand.
The next day a notice was posted, reading
thus: