The Penn's Grove record., 1889-08-24
NUMBER 4.

DrlcR, Dau been expo seu Tor SeNe al
hours to a CALLING fire of the German
art II ,ry, and had suffered severely from
an incessant Storm of shells, which
were beginning to set the trees on fire.
The position Of the French corps be-
came untenable, and the colonel, de-
Gliding that the ehemy's guns must at
any cost be silenced, ordered a small
detachment of dragons commanded
by De Langeais to charge, and cut
them off from the man body. The
Germans, taken by surprise and imag.
lining they were about to be attacked
by the entire regiment, ceased firing
and hastily retrea ell, leaving one of
their guns on the field, which Castor,
at the head of fifteen men, boie down
upon, and, sabering the gunnsTs, car
ried it triumphantly into the french
lines.
"Bravo!' cried the colonel, warmly
grasping the young sub-lieutsu2nt's
hand; ''you have deserved the cross for
this, and l will take care that YOU get
itln
Stimulated by this first success, and
eager to justify by some further act Of
daring the good opinion of his chief.
De Langeais neglected no opportunity
Of proving himself worthy of it. Dis
patched on a foraging expedition and
attacked by an outpost Of infantry, he
completely routed them and brought
ten prisoners into the camp, and a few
days later held his ground for half an
hour unsupported save by his own men,
against al entire corps of the enemy.
His gallantry did not pass unrewarded.
Not only was the Cross of the Legion
of Honor conferred on lin, but his
name was three times mentioned for
exceptional bravery in the order Of the
day, and his speedy promotion to the
rank of lieutenant was generally re-
garded as a certainty.
At this juncture the unexpected capi-
tulation of Metz was a severe blow to
Inn, and, unwilling to accept compare
tive liberty OIL parole, lie conceived q
project which, although extremely haz-
ardous, miIht enable linn to join the
Army of the Loire Ills design being
approved of by the general commanding
under Bazaine, who intruSted him with
a letter to his colleague, Aurelle de
PaladineS, informing him that the army
of Prince Frederick Charles would
shortly march toward the Loire, Castor
exchanged his uniform for Il blouse and
a PEASANTS straw hat, and, carrying a
basket of eggs, pursued his way coolly
in the direction of the enemy's lines.
sit is a terrible risk, " he thought.
''but better he shot at oncs than rot in
a German prison"
Challenged by the first man be met.
and arrested on suspicion, he was taken
before the colonel of the regiment.
who, surrounded by his officers in coun-
Gil, scrutinized the prisoner attentlyely.
"Where do you come from?' he
inquired in tolerable French.
From Ladonchamps, on my way
with these eggs to Grigy," was the
young mans reply.
"Are you aware that you run the risk
of being treated as a spy?" pursued his
interrogation.
Necessity has 10 choice" retorted
De Langeais, with a perfectly indiffer-
ent air..
During this brief colloquy the officers
glanced c~uriously at the stalwart in lie
vidual before them, whose appearance
~contrasted so strangely with the homely
dress he wore, and were almost unanl-
mously Of the colonel's openly expressed
opinion that he was no peasant, but an
officer in disguise, and consequently a
spy. A pause boiling no good to the
accused ensued, and in another moment
his fate would have been sealed, when
a gray haired major who had been ill.,
tently gazing at De Langeais suddenly
rose from his seat.
"Stay!" he exclaimed; with all sub.
mission, ] think you are mistaken. This
man, whoever he may be, Is no officer.
All those we have taken prisoners have
been close cropped, and no IL ever
heard of a French soldier on active ser
vice with such a head of hair as that"
"True, the major is right" assentei
several of those present.
at may be so, said the colonel, on'y
half convinced, ''and in that case he il
entitled to the benefit of the doubt.
Give him a pass and let him go and ba
hanged somewhere else"
"a narrow escape" muttered Cas-
ton to himself as he left the camp. II
wonder what Bouchard would say if he
knew it,"
A week later our hero reached his
destination, and delivered his cIedeiI-
tials to the general in command, by
whom the grade Of lieutenant was inl.
mediately conferred on him. At tho
conclusion of the compaign he was pro-
NOTED to a captaiucy, and in 1871, after
the final route of the commune, mar
ried his cousin Louise. In the follow
ing year, while on leave in Paris, he
came across his old enemy, BoucharG,
on the Boulevard des Italiens.
"How goes it with your" asked tho
latter, as they were slipping their all
sinthe together.
Admirably, replied Castor. "Hers
am l, a captain at %, Cheyalier of the
Legion of Honor, and the husband OF Il
charming wife; and all this-no thanks
TO you, by the way, observation-disclosures
I saved my hair"