The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1889-08-08
SAVED BY VANITY.
Literally Hairbreadth Escape OF a
French Lieutenant.

In 1870. month or two before the
outbreak Of the Franco-German war,
one OF the most promising cadets, or, as
they are commonly styled ''pupils' of
the military college of St. Cyr was Gas
ton dc Langeais. He was the last rep
resentative of an ancient family in
Brittany, whose traditional obstinacy
and impatience of control he had in.
herited to an extent which rendered
him more popular with his comrades
than with the presiding authorities.
Not that he was especially remarka-
bic for turbulence or INSTRUMENTATION or
that his infractions OF rules were more
frequent than those of the majority of
his fellows. On one point alone he
was intractable, and exercised all his
ingenuity in repeated attempts to es-
cape a regulation which was inexpress-
IDLY repugnant to him. Gifted by ma
ture with an abundance of luxuriantly
curling hair, of which he was inordi-
nately vain, the prescribed necessity
OF having it cropped short was a per-
petual grievance to him; and he looked
anxioasly forward to his second year
at st. Cyr, and to his consequent eman-
cipation from the too close scrutiny to
which he had hitherto been periodic
ally subjected.
lin two MONTHS" he said exultingly
to one of his intimates. my time here
will be up, and once named officer l
shall be free as air, and no longer
ashamed to show myself to my cousin
Louise. For you see.' he added, lift
ing his cap. and displaying a thick
growth Of short curls carefully tlattened
down, Il still have some hair left"
Castles in the air. however, are apt
to collapse; and Gaston's visionary
projects were, to say the least, pre-
mature.
\ few mornings later, at the usual
hour of parade, the corps of youngsters
were unexpectedly summoned to un-
dergo the inspection Of the infantry
lieutenant, Bouchard, lynx-eyed mar
tinct, by no means favorably disposed
toward pupils destined <or cavalry
regiments. whom he contemptuously
designated as "coxcolnbs.' De LAM
gea:s, rs the recognized leader of the
band, WAS particularly obnoxious to
him; and his keen eyes twinkled ma
liciously Us he stopped short before the
young man, aud examined him Curl
Ously.
Take off your cap," he said.
CASTOR ObcyeG with an inward shiver
Of apprehension
II thought US much,' growlcd the
lieutenant. If that superhuous hair
has not disappeared by this time to-
morrow. you will pass the next four
days III the sale lie police.'"
"iou nre in for it now" whispered
~ sy:apathiziug comradc when the
t..:;h'e Bouchard had passed. on.
":.;ta bit Of it, - replied de Langcais,
ehrusging his shoulders unconcernedly.
why. what on earth can you do?'
IL don't exactly know, but intend
to put of the evil day as long as
possibly cam"
Next morning, with tho aid of a
couple Of brushes, we'll soaked in water,
ne succeeded i'll leveling the rebellious
locks SO as to deceive even q practiccd
eye, and appeared OH parade with his
wontca iaunty air. although not u little
nervous as to tho result of the coming
ordeal. Presently the lieutenant az
rived with an OminOusly slow step, and
pausing as before exactly i'll front of
CASTOR. repeated the order Of the pre-
vious day.
Take of your cap. '-~~,
For a moment Bouchard appeared
puzzled by the apparently smooth sur
ace of the '.pupil's'' head, but. bent
on ascertaining the real state Of the
case, he unccremoniously lifted por-
ton of the tlattencd hair with his FORE
finger, thereby disclosing a substratum
Of tiny curls. Then, turning to the
ndjutant who accompanied him, he
briefly consigned the offender for four
days to the ''salle de police" and con-
tinued his round of inspection with q
self-satisded grin. ....-...
During the last day of his seclusion
CASTOR practically employed his leisure
in decorating his knee, by q judicious
mixture of blue and green paint. with
tolerably exact imitation OF bruise,
which he showed to the regimental
doctor. pretending that the confusion
had been caused by his coming in con-
tact with u post in the riding-school.
Whether he implicitly believed the
statement or not, the good-natured
mcdico put him on the sick list. and
thus twenty-fours were gained. His re-
appearances on parade. however. became
At length matter Of necessity, and
This time his continued disobedience
sutailed On him = weeks further con-
6nement; ut theexpiration of which he
was again consigned to durance vile
lbr An entire fortnight.
This will sever doi' thought 6s