The morning call., 1890-09-14

Written for TIE SUNDAY CALL
kEsfsS. they had been fighting for two
$50 days and had passed the preceding
,A-SSAs night with their knapsacks on their
hacks beneath the drcnchng rain the SOL
dierS were exhausted. Nevertheless, for
three mortal hours, they had been kept
waiting, with grounded arms, in the puddles
Of the highways and the mud OF the soaked
fields.
Overcome with fatigue and loss of sleep,
their uniforms heavy with water, they hud-
died together to keep warm, to sustain
themselves. There were some who slept as
they stood leining en- their neighbors' KNAPP
sacks, and WEAKNESS and prvation were
best pictured on those unbent faces aban-
doned to slumber. Rain, mud, no fire, no
soup, black and threatening sky and the
enemy on all sides. 1t was wretched.
What were they doing there? What was
taking place?
The cannon, their muzzles pointed toward
the wood, had the air of watching some
thing. The masked mitrailleuses stared
tixedly at the horizon. Everything seemed
ready for an attack. Why did they not
attack? For what were they waiting?
They were waiting for orders, and the
headquarters did not send them.
POWER OF THE ORIFLAMME.
The headquarters, however, we're not far
distant. They were at handsome chateau
in the style of Louis Mi, the red bricks of
which, washed by the rain. glistened on the
hillside among the trees. 1t was truly a
pTincely dwelling and well worthy of bear
ing the banner of 4 Marshal Of France.
Behind Il great ditch and a stone railing,
which separated them from the high
way, the gTaSs-platS ran straight up
to the steps Of the mansion, even
and green, and bordered with vases
OF howers. On the other side, the private
side OF the chateau, the hedge was full of
luminous gaps; the pond, in which swans
were swimming, stretched ont like a MIR
Tor, and beneath the pagoda-shaped roof of
an immense ayiaTy, sending forth shrill
cries into the foliage, peacockS and golden
pheasants beat their wings and spread
their tails.
Although the proprietors had departed
nothing there indicated the recklesSness,
the overwhelming desoation of war. The
OrIHamme of the chief of the army had pre-
served everything, even to the meanest
flowers OF the srass-plats, and it was some
thing impressive to ind so near the field of
battle the opulent calmness which arises
from orderly arrangements, from straight
rows of trees and from the silent depths of
avenues.
TRANQUIL AMID WAR.
The rain, which filed the highways with
such wretched mud and plowed such deep
burrows, was there but an elegant sristO-
cratic shower, frightening the red bricks
and the green of the grass-pldts, adding gloss
to tile leaves of the orange trees and the
white plumage of The swans. Everything
shOne, everything was still. Verify, with
out the flag which was floating from the peak
Of the roof, without the two soldiers on
guard before tbe grating, never could one
f.ave belieycfff the military headquarters.
-A-71, horses = ere reposing in the stables.
Here and zone met groOms, orderlies
in uFdr-ss unIAsSl longing in the vicinity
OF the kitchens, Of some gardener In Ted pam
falcons TRANQUILITY drawing his rake through
the gravel Of the principal walks.
The diuing-h hall, the windows OF which
opened upon the steps, displayed a table
Lalf cleared away, uneorked bottles, soiled
aud empty drinking vessels, looking wan on
the rumpled cloth-all the fag end of a din
uer dese4ted by the guests. In an adjoining
APARTMENT was heard the sound OF voices, Of
laughter, Of rolling billiard-balls, of clinking
glasses. The Marshal was playing his game,
and that was why the army was awaiting
orders When the Marshal had once com
meuced his game the heavens might fall. but
nothing on earth could prevent him from
finishing 1t.
THE MARsHAL's WEAKNESS.
Billiards.
The game was this great warriors weak
nrSs. lie stood there, as grave as in battle,
in full uniform, his breast covered with de-
corations, his eye sparkling and his eyeballs
intiamed by the dinner, tie game and his
rotations. His aids-de-camp surrounded
linn. eager and respectful, utLerlng eXclama-
tons Of admTatOn at each oil his SHOTS.
When the Marshal made Il point they all
prec.pitated themselves toward the marker
y hen the Marshal was thirsty they all
wished t prepare his grog. Twas crush
OF epaulettes and plumeS, clash of crosses
and metal-tipped ShOulder-knOtS, and the
sigHt OF all the agreeable smiles, the faWn-
Ing, courtier-like reverences of so much
embroidery and so many new uniforms IN
lat lofty oak-wainScoted hall, looking
out upon parks and courts OF honor, recalled
the autumns Of Compiesne and c0ntTaSted
strangely with the weather-stained over
coats vainly waiting along the highways and
forming such somber groups beneath the
rain.
The MarshaPs opponent was a Captain
on the staff, belted, with curled hair and
light-colored gloves, who was an expert at
billiards, and capable of vanqulshing all
the Marshals in the world; but he knew
how to keep at respectful distance from
lis chief, and, while he stroVe not to win,
endeaVored not to be beaten too easily. He
was, as they say, an officer with future
before him.
1t was truly an interesting game The
balls sped, kissed and crossed their colors.
Suddenly a cannon flash shot across the
panes rattle. The officers started and
looked at each other uneaSily. The Marshal
alone had seen nothing, had heard nothing.
Bending over the billiard-table, he was
combining a magnificent draw shot. Draw
shots were his forte.
THE CANNoNADE.
But another flash came, then another.
The cannon reports multiplied. 1.-The aids
de-camp ran tO the windows. Were the
PTussians going to attack?
Well, let them attack, said the Mar
shal, cbalkinE his cue. Your turn to play,
Captain"
The staff fluitered with admiration.
TuTenne asleep upon a gLn-carTiage was
nothing compared to this Marshal standing
so calmly before the billiaTd-table at the
very moment of action. Meanwhile the up
roar redOubled. With the cannon shots
were mingled the roar of The mitrailleuses
and the roll of the platoon musketry. A
red smoke, black at the edges, mounted from
the extremity Of the grass pats. All the
lower part OF the park was in flames. The
frightened peacocks and pheasants clamorei
in lie aviary The Arab horses, seeming
the powder, pranced in the stables. The
Headquarters commenced to grow excited.
Dispatch followed dispatch. Couriers ar
rived in hot haste. They demanded the Mar
shal.
The Marshal was inaccessible. Nothing
could prevent him from finishing the game.
'Your turn to play, Captain"
Bat the Captains mind was elsewhere So
much for being y0ungi He became con-
fused, forgot his caution and made two
SLOTS which nearly gave his opponent the
game. This time the Marshal grew furious
Surprise and Indignation burst forth on his
manly Visage. Just at this moment horse
tore into the courtyard at a terrible pace
and dropped dead. An aid-de-camp COW
cred with mud forced the guard and leaped
M the steps at a bound. Marshal!
Marshall he shouted. He met with
rough reception. Swelling with rage and
purple in the face, the Marshal appeared at
the window, his billiard cue in his hand.
what is tile matter?" he said. 'Wbat
IS it? Is there no sentinel GU duty?"
'But, Marshal"
VERY go0d-presently. Let them await
my orders"
Aud he closed tie window violently.
Let them await his orders.
THE MARSHAL WINS.
They were doing that, the poor men: The