The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-07-24

( ftAl4iut u1fH- lintcLt-A viii 4HtEft-s q
the handsome Breton, while he related Il
her his hopes and fears, and his attach
ment TO his cousin Louise. Being natur
ally kihd-hearted and sympathetic. she
agreed without much persuasion to hi:
rather iBcongruous request, 50 that Pere
PiEot. relieved from his disrgreeable re-
sponsibiiity. went on his way rejoic-
ing.
A quarter Of an hour later the lieuten-
ant burst into the infrmary in a parox-
ysm OF fury.
$50, youngs.erw he cried, it seems
you are bent on Drawing me, Well, we
shall see. VOC cannot stay shamniug
here forever and, mark my words
when you dc c1me out, Iii have that
head Of yours as smooth as a billiard
baIlw
With this parting threat be bounced
ont Of the room and next day every
one Of the future cavalry otiieers-the
I prisoner alone excepted-underwent the
summary operation OF cropping at the
hands sf the tonsor, Pitrot.
Meanwhile, Gasion's position was by
no means al ensiable one. Through ihe
grates: windows Of the iniirnary he could
see his comrades mounting their horses
in the courtyard, caraeoling gsyly as they
passed, and ON Sundays-most painful
trial Of all-eould hear with a pang OF
envy the joyous shouts Of his more fortu-
nate colleagues, emaneipated for a few
hours from duty, and on their way 70
catch the first train TO Paris.
The day Of deliverance, however, was
at hand. Early or the 14;h Of July-a
date never TO be forgotten by de Langs-
ais-the occupants Of the infunary were
suddenly startled by 8 tremendous up
roar Immediately under their windows,
and, on looking out. imagined for mo-
nient that pandemonium had broken
loose.
such a spectacle had assuredly never
been witnessed al ST. Cvr. The entire
quadrangle was thronged by an excited
! multitude, rushing to and fro in tnmul-
tuous disorder, flinging their caps high
in the air, and bursting every now and
then into loud aud prolonged hurrah
Was il a revolt. maryeled the sisters and
their patients, or what could it possibly
mean
4 few minutes suihced to explain the
mystery A has.y step was heard out
side the door, Immediately followed by
/ the entrance into the sick-room of an ad-
/ jutant, bearing IN his hand an official
! document, the contents Of which, res.ited
I 10y him in a sonorous voice, were greeted
with an enthusiasm bordering on fren-
/ ".
War is declared with Prussia. By
Imperial decree, the seniors are hence
forth sub-lieutenants
Before the students, deafenel by the
Glamour, had recovered from their stupe-
faction, they found themselves alone in
the inirmary the invalids, one aad ali,
having mustered strength enough to
throw aside their wraps and make the
best Of their way down stains.
Castor, whose instantaneous cure SIS
ter Angelique afterwards described as
little short Of miraculous, was the frst to
rejoin his comrades and, deserving his
prosecutor, Bonchard, standing apart
from the rest, and apparently in no very
good humor, went up to him with out
stretched hand, and a frank and eheery
smile
Well, lieutenant" he said, You
won't have me cropped now -
80 it seems, grinly replied the 9TH
er, returning somewhat reluctantly the
prodered grasp. You have more luck
than you deserve for, depend upon it,
should have shown you no mercy :"
Each Of the seniors entitled to promo
ton having notified the adjutant on
duty the regiment to which he was de-
sirous Of being attached, the prepara-
tons for departure were speedily CON-
pleied. At an early hour in the after
noon the band Of exuliing youngsters
started for Paris, intent ON making the
most Of the three days allowed them be-
fore joining their respective corps. Gas
ton regiment being stationed at Lille.
he had ample leisure, after pariaking Of
q farewell repast at Brebant's with his
old companions, 10 carry into execution
his long-eherisbei project OF paying a
flying visit TO his cousin Louise AZ Trou-
Vile; and, repairing on the third day to
headquarters, reported himself 70 the CO.
lionel Of the 42d Dragons, who received
him most cordially.
q You are dispensed from duty said
his chief, until you have got your kit
in order. Ma fol, yonng man, yea have
arrived in the very nick Of time, for be-
fore the week is out We shall be on our
way 10 the front"
On his first appearance az mess, de
Langeais discovered 10 MS astonishment
that every one Of his new companions.
without exception, was closely cropped
A very necessary precaution, said the
president, in war time the less inenm-
branee We carry about us the better. A
long beard and as little hair as possible !;
no comb or razor wanted nothing but a
simple brush up"
Not to mention" chimed in an cid
campaiguer Of proyerbial boldness, "that
heavy helmet plays the very deuce
with ones aair.r
CASTOR iissened With due respect to
these wellmeant exhortztions, but with
out the slightest intention Of being inilu-
enoei oy them and, on the arrival Of
his dltision at Metz some days later, had
alTe4dy. more than once, declined TO
Evsil himself of the services Of the regi-
mental barber.
Nevertheless, he instinctiysly felt that
a continued refusal to conform to the gen
eral custom must inevitably entiaBger his
popularity, and that the only way to
atone for this obnoxious singularity 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 4 near
st. PFiyat, behind an avenue Of poplzrs
bordering the road TO Saarbrnek, had
been exposed for several hours 10 a gall