Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-09-18
From the Argosy.
4 HAIR BREADTH ESCAPE.

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 Cas-
ton de Langeais. He was the last rep
resentative of an ancient family in Brit
taay, whose traditional obstinacy and
zmpatience OF control he had inherite
to an extent which rendered him more
popular with his companions than with
the presiding authorities.
Not that he was especially remark
able for turbulence or characterization,
or that his infractions of rules were
more frequent than those of the major
ity of his fellows. On one point alone
he was intlactable, and exercised all
his ingenuity in repeated attempts to
escape a regulation which was mex
pressibly repugnant to him. Gifted by
nature with an abundance of luXuriant-
ly curling hair, of which he was inordi-
nately vain, the prescribed necessity of
having it cropped short was perpetual
grievance to him; and he looked anx-
lousy forward to his second year at st.
Cyr, and to his consequent emancipa-
ton from the too close scrutiny to
which be had hitherto been periodical
ly subjected.
'In two months" he said exultingly
to one of his intimates, my time here
will be up, and once named officer [
shall be Tree as air, and no longer
ashamed to show myself to my cousin
Louise For you see, he added, lifting
his cap and displaying thick growth of
short curls carefully hattened down. 81
still have some hair left"
Castles in the air, however are apt to
collapse; and Gaston's visionary pro-
jects were, to say the least, premature.
hour OF parade, the corps OF youngsters
were UNEXPECTEDLY summoned to
undergo the inspection of the infantry
lieutenant, Bouchard, lynx-eyed
martinet, by no means favorably dis
posed toward pupils destined for caval-
ry regiments: whom he contemptuously
designated as "coxcomhs." De Lam
eeais, as the recognized leader of the
band, was particularly obnoxious to
him; and his keen eyes twinkled ma
liciously as he stopped short before the
young man, and examined him curious
ly.
Take off your cap," he said.
CASTOR obeyed with an inward shiver
of apprehension.
81 thought as MUCH" growled the
lieutenant; "if that superhuous hair has
not disappeared by this time tomorrow
you will pass the next four days in the
sale de police"
You are in for it now" whispered
his sympathizing comrade, when the
terrible Bouchard had passed on.
'sNot a bit of it, replied de Ian
eeaise, struggling his shoulders uncon-
cernedly.
''Why, what on earth can you do ?"
81 don't exactly know; but [ intend
to put off the evil day as long as [ posi-
bly, can"
Next morning, with the aid of a
couple of brushes well soaked in water.
he succeeded in leveling the rebelious
locks so as to deceive even practiced
eye, and appeared on parade with his
wonted jaunty air, although not a little
nervous as to the result of the coming
ordeal Presently the lieutenant ar
pausing as before exactly in front Of
CASTOR, repeated the order of the pre-
vious day.
"Take off your cap"
For moment Bouchard appeared
puzzled by the apparently smooth sur
lace of the pupils head, but, bent on
ascertaining the real state of the case,
he unceremoniously lifted a portion OF
the ha,tened hair with his forefnger
thereby disclosing q substratum of tiny
curls. Then. turning to the adlutant,
who accompanied him, he briefly con
signed the offender for four days to the
s'saIle de police" and continued his
round Of inspection with self-satisfied
grin.
During the last day of his seclusion
CASTOR practically employed his leisure
in decorating his knee by iudicious
mixture of blue and green paint, with g
toIerabIy exact imitation of bruise
which he showed to the regimental doc.
tor, pretending that the confusion had
= been caused by his coming IN contact
with post in the riding school. Wheth
er he implicitly believed the statement
or not, the good-natured medico put hin
on the sick list, and thus twenty-foul
hours were gained His appearance or
parade, however, became at length 6
matter of necessity, and this time his
continued disobedielce entailed on hin
weeks further confinement, at the
expiration OF which he was again con
signed to durante vile for an entire fort
night.
''This will never do" thought DE-
Langeais. 1.-The earthenware pot mus
M the long run be smashed by the iror
one, and shall have to give in at last.
had better try old Grlson once more"
Wheraupon. having previously, by
way of precaution. added few touches
10 the pictorial establishment of hi
knee. he limped into the consulting
room Of DIR. Grison, who was fortunate
IL TOO much engaged with other patient
to bestow even more than a cursory
glance at the bruise, and, not knowing
precisely what to make of the case, gave
the new conner an order of admission tt
the intirmary, then under the charge o
u Of 10
ed over by lady superior.
CASTOR had hardly changed his or
binary attire for the regulation loose
gray coat and cotton nightcap wher
Ptrot, the tonsor of the establishment
was announced bearing an enormous
pair of scissors, and a laconic note
which ran as follows:
The pupil Langeais' hair is to be Gu
off Immediately. BoUCHARD.
The poor coifeur, unwilling to lose 81
excellent customer for pomades ant
other capillary unguents. and yet com
PEELED to obey the imperative mandate
wac in despair.
.sWould If not be pOseibIe monsieur ,