The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-07-24
SOMERSET. Pa WEDNESDAY. JULY "a. 1889.

they were about 10 be attacked by the
entire regiment, ceased firing and hass;-
" retreated, leaving one of their guns on
the field, which Castor. at the head OF
fifteen men, bore down upon, and sabring
the ganners, carried it triumphantly into
: the French lines.
Bravols cried the colonel, warmly
grasping the young sub-lieutenan,'s hand.
= You have deserved the Gross for this,
and viii take care that you get It.
/ Stiui uiaied by this frst success and
eager to justify by some further act of
daring the good opinion Of his chief, de
I Langeais neglected no opportunity of
{ proving himself worthy of il Dispatched
on ioraging expedition, and attacked
by an outpost Of infantry, he completely
routed them and brought ten prisoners
/ into camp and a few days later held his
4 ground for half an holr, unsupported,
save by his own men, against an entire
corps Of the enemy. His gallantry did
not pass unre warded. Not only was the
+ Cross Of the Legion Of Honor conferred
on him, but his name was three times
mentioned for exceptional bravery in
the order of the day, and his speedy pro-
motion to the rank Of lieutenant was
generally regarded as certainty.
At this juHcture the unexpected capt.
ulatiOn Of Metz was severe blow to him
and, unwilling to accept comparative lib
erty on parole, he conceived project
which, although extremely hazardous,
might enable him to join the Army Of
the loire. His design being approved
ofby the general commanding under Ba-
zaine, who intrusied him with letter
to his colleague, Aurelie de Paladines, in
forming him that the army Of Prince
Frederick Charles would shortly march
toward the Loire, Castor exchanged his
uniform for q blouse and a peasants
straw hat, and carrying laszet of eggs,
pursued his way cooliy in the direction
of the enerhy's lines.
It's a terrible risk, he thought, but
better be shot at once than rot in a Ger
man 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,
scruiinized the prisoner aitentiyely.
f[-f---o l.. .--,r ..,r.,s. F--,.,
quired in tolerable French.
From Leadonchamps, on nv way
with these eggs to Graigy," was the re-
ply.
Are you aware that you run the.risk
Of being treated as 3 spy p pursued his
/. interrOgator
Necessity has no choice reiorted de
Lsngeais. with a perfectly Indifferent
air.
During this brief colloquy,, the officers
glanced curiously at tlsestalwart individ-
ual before them, whose appearance and
manner eonirasted 30 strangely with the
holnely dress he wore and were almost
unanimously Of the colonel's openly ex-
pressed opinion, that be was no peasant,
but an officer in disguise, and consequent
ly spy. 4 pause boding no good othe
accused ensled, and in another moment
bis fate would have been sealed, when
gray-haired major, who had been intent
ly gazing al de Langeais, suddenly rose
from his seat.
stay be exclaimed, with submission,
! think you are mistaken This man
whoever he may be, is no officer Ali
those We have taken prisoners have been
close croped, and no one ever heard Of
French soldier on active service with
such head Of hair as that"
True. the majDr Is right" assenied
several Of those present.
Il may be 50, said the colonel. only
half convinced, and in that case he Is
entitled to the benefit ofihe doubt. Give
him pass, and let him 90 and be hang
cd some place else
:" \ narrow escape" muttered CASTOR
to himself as he left the camp. won
der what Bouchard would say il he knew
it,
A week later our hero reached his des-
tinafion and delivered his credentials TO
the general in command, by whom the
grade of lieutenant was Immediately con-
ferred on him. At the conclusion Of the
campaign he was promoted 10 a captain
ey, and in 1871, after the final ront 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 Boulevard des Ital-
lens.
How goes it with you ?" asked the
latter, as they were sippin. their absin
the together.
Admirably" replied CASTOR Here
am I, captain at %, Cheyalier OF the ie-
gion Of honor, and the husband Of a
charming wife and all this-no thanks
to yon, by the way, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I saved my hair.-Charles Heryey, in
The Argosg.