The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-08-04


her youthful days. listened with interest
10 the handsome Breton. while no 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 homogeneous request, so that
Pore Pitrot, relieved from his disagree
able responsibility, went on his way re-
joicing
A quarter Of an hour later the lieuten-
ant hurst into tho inGrmary in n piroxysm
Of fury.
80, youngstcr" no cried, cit seems
vou arc bent on Drawing me! Well, we
shall SEQ. You cannot stay shamming
hero forever; and, mark my words
when you do como out, III have that
head Of yours as smooth as n billiard
ball"
With this parting threat lie bounced
out Of tho room, and next day every one
Of the future cavalry oiiicers-the prise
ner alone exceptcd-underwent the sum
mary operation Of cropping at the
hands Of the tonsor, Pitrot.
Meanwhile, Gaston's position was 10y
no means an enviablc ono. Through the
Grated windows Of the infirmary he could
see his companions mounting their horses
in the courtyard, and caIacoling gayly as
they passed, and on Sundays-most pain
ful trial Of all-could hear with a pang ol
envy the JOYOUS shouts Of his more fortu-
nate colleagues, emancipatcd for a few
hours from duty, and on their way to|
catch tho first train to Paris.
The day Of dcliverance, however. was
at hand Early on the nth Of July-a
date never TO be forgotten by De Ian
gcais-tho occupants Of the inilrmars
were suddenly startled by tremendous
uproar Immediately under their win
dows, and, on looking out, imagined foi
moment that pandemonium had broken
loose.
Such 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, hinging their caps high IN
the air. and bursting every now and men
into a loud and prolonged hurraM Wa
10 revolt, maryclcd the sisters and thel
patients, or what could it possibly mean
4 few minutes suifccd 10 explain the
mystery 4 hasty step was heard Out
side the door. Immediately followed b,
the entrance into the sick room of an ad
iutant, bearing in his hand IN official
document, the contents of which, rccitcd
bv him in n son0rous voice, were greeted
with an enthusiasm bordering on frenzy
"War is declared with Prussia. Bl
imperial decree, tho seniors are hence
forth sub-lieutonants.'
Before the sisters deafened 10y the
clamor. had recovered from their stupo
faction. they found themselves alone ir
the infimary, the inyalids one and
an. having mustered strength enoughto
throw aside their wraps and make Tho
best of their way down stairs.
CASTOR. whose instantaneous cure Sis
.cr Angclique after described as little
short Of miraculous, was tie first 10 re-
Join hscomrades and, deserving hispel
sccutor. Bouohard, standing apart from
the rest, and apparently in no very good
humor. went upto him with outsrctche.
hand and q frank, CHEEKY smile.
well. Lieutenant" he said, "youwon'
have me cropped now!
$50 it seems. grimly replied the other
returning somewhat reluctantly the prof
fercd grasp "Nou have more luck than
you deserve; for, depend upon it, lshould
have shown YOU no mcrcyl
Each Of the seniors entitled 20 promo
ton having notified to the adjuiant on
duty the regiment TO which he was dc
sirous Of being aitached, the preparations
for departure were speedily completed
Atan early hour IN the afternoon tht
band of oxulung youngsters started fol
Paris, intent on making the most Of the
three DAYS allowed them before joining
their respective corps acknowledgment
being stationed at Lille, he had ample
leisure, after partaking Of farewell re-
past at Brcbant's with his old compan
ions, to carry into execution his long
cherished project of paying flying isii
20 his cousin Louise al Trouvillc, and
repairing on the third day TO headquar
tors. reported himself to the colonel OF
The Forty-sccond dragons, who received
him most cordially.
"You are dispensed from duty" said
his chief, "untl you have got your Kit
in order Ma fol, young man, You have
arrived in the very nick Of time, for be.
fore the week is out VIC shall be on om
way to the front
On his first appearance at mess, De
I-uecais discovered to his establishment
that every ono of his new companions,
without exception, was closely cropped
a very necessary precaution,' said the
president, "in war time; the less oncum
brancc we carry about us the better \
long beard and as little hair as possible,
no comb or razor wanted, nothing but "a
simple brush up.
Not 10 mention" chimed in am old
campaigucro l pro,orbial badness, that
heavy helmet plays the very deuce
with ones hair
CASTOR listened with due respect TO
these we'll meant celebrations, but with
out the slightest intention Of being infu-
onccd by them; and, on tho arrival Of
his division at Metz some days later, had
already. moro than once. declined to
avail himself of the services of the regi
mental barber
Nevertheless, he instinctively felt that
a continued refusal 20 conform TO the
general custom must inevitably cndan
ger his popularity, and that the only way
to atone for this obnoxious singularity
was TO distinguish himself by some ex-
plot 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. Priyat. behind an avenue of poplars
bordering the road TO Saarbruck, had
been exposed for several hours TO a gall
INK fire of the German artillery, and had
suffered severely from an incessant storm
of shells. which were beginning to sci