The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-12-16
A LOST BATTLE

| days ana mad passed the prec~d1ng nlgnl
with their knapsacks on their backs be-
meath the drenching rain, the soldiers
were exhausted. Nevertheless, for three
mortal hours they had been kept wait
| ing, with grounded arms, in the pud-
dies of the highways and the mud of the
4 soaked fields.
Overcome with fatigue and loss of
sleep, their uniforms heavy with water,
they huddled together to keep warm, to
sustain themselves. There were some
who slept as they stood leaning on their
neighbor's knapsaeks, and WEAKNESS and
privation were best pictured on those
unbent faces abandoned 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 to-
ward the woods, had the air of watching
something. The masked mitrailleuses
stared fixedly at the horizon. Every
thing seemed ready for an attack. Why
did they not attack? For what were
they waiting?
They We're waiting for orders, and the
headquarters did not send them.
The headquarters, however, were not
far distant. They were at handsome
chateau in the style of Louis XIII, the
red bricks of which, washed by the rain,
glistened on the hillside among the trees.
1t was truly princely dwelling, and
well worthy of bearing the banner of a
marshal of France. Behind great ditch
and a stone railing which separated
them from the highway the grassplats
ran straight up to the steps of the man.
sion, even and green, and bordered with
vases of flowers.
On the other side, the private side of
the chateau, the hedge was full of lumi-
nous gaps; the pond in which swans
were swimming stretched out like a
mirror; and beneath the pagoda shaped
roof of an immense aviary, sending forth
shrill cries into the foliage, peacocks and
golden pheasants beat their wings and
spread their tails.
Although the propris4srs had departed,
nothing there indicated the recklessness,
the overwhelming desolation of war.
The orifamme of the chief of the army
had preserved everything, even to the
meanest flowers of the grass plats, and
it was something impressive to find so
near the field of battle the opulent calm
ness which arises from orderly arrange
ments, from straight rows of trees and
from the silent depths of avenues.
The rain, which filled the highways
with such wretched mud and plowed
such deep burrows, was there but an ele-
CANT, aristocratic shower, Frightening
the red bricks and the green of the grass
plats, adding gloss to the leaves of the
orange trees and the white plumage of
the swans. Everything shone-every-
thing was still. Verify, without the flag
which was flying from the peak of the
roof, without the two soldiers on guard
before the grating, never could one have
believed it the military headquarters.
The horses were reposing in the stables.
Here and there one met grooms, or
derlies in undress uniform lounging IN
the vicinity of the kitchens, or some gar
dener in red pantaloons TRANQUILITY draw
ing his rake through the gravel of the
principal walks.
The dining hall, the windows of which
opened upon the steps. displaying table
half cleared away, uncorked bottles,
soiled and empty drinking vessels, look
ing wan on the rumpled cloth-all the
fag end of dinner deserted by the
guests. In an adjoining apartment was
heard the sound of voices, of laughter,
of rolling billiard balls, of clinking glass
es. The marshal was playing his game,
and that was why the army was await
ing orders. When the marshal had once
commenced his game the heavens might
fall, but nothing on earth could prevent
him from finishing IL.
Billiards.
The game was this great warriors
weakness. He stood there, as grave as
in battle, in full uniform, his breast COW
cred with decorations. his eyes sparkling
and his eyeballs infaned by the dinner,
the game and his potations. His aids
de-camp surrounded him, eager and re
spectful, uttering exclamations of ad,
miration at each Of his shots. When the
marshal made point they all precipi-
tated themselves toward the marker.
When the marshal was thirsty they all
wished TO prepare his grog. Twas a
crush of epaulets and plumes. clash of
crosses and metal tipped shoulder knots,
and the sight Of all the agreeable smiles,
the fawning. courtier like reverences of
so much embroidery and so many new
uniforms IN that lefty oak wainscoted
hall, looking ont upon parks and courts
of honor. recalled the autumns of Com
plegne and contrasted strangely with the
weather stained overcoats vainly waiting
along the highways and forming such
somoer groups beneath the rain.
The marshal's opponent was a captain
on the staff, belted. with curled hair
and light colored gloves, who was an ex-
pert at billiards and capable Of van
gushing al the marshsls II the world. |
but be knew how to keep at a respectful /
distance from his chief. and while he 1
strove rot 10 win endesvored not to be !
bestsn too easily. BE was, as they say,
an officer with future before him
1t was truly sn interesting game. The 4
balls sped, kissed and crossed their col- /
a-s- Snddenly canron fash shot a<ro-s 1
the SKY and a hollow report made thr 4
window panss rattle. The of5cers started
and looked at each other uneaslly. Tbe
nArshal alone had seen nothing. bad
heard nothing. Bent over the billiard
table ne was combining magnificent
draw shot. Draw shots were has forte