The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-11-14
A LOST BATTLE.

N LCO1 A11LL.
AS they had been fighting for two
days'and had passed the preceding night
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
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 knapsacks, 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
y
thing seemed ready for an attack. Why
did they not attack? For what We're
they waiting?
They were 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.
It was truly a princely dwelling, and
well worthy of bearing the banner of a
marshal of France. Behind great ditch
and 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 proprietors had departed,
nothing there indicated the recklessness,
the overwhelming desolation of war.
The orifiamme 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 tho gravel of the
principal walks.
The dining hall, the windows of which
opened upon the steps, displaying a 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 it.
Billiards.!
The game was this great warriors
weakness. He stood there, as grave as
in battle, in full uniform, his breast coy
cred with decorations, his eyes sparkling
and his eyeballs inflamed 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
ftttttSttht ttetAO g POtLAo thCy e1t pICClpt-
tated themselves toward the marker,
When the marshal was thirsty they all
wished to prepare his grog. Twas a
crush of epaulets and plumes, q 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 lofty oak wainscoted
hall, looking out upon parks and courts
of honor, recalled the autumns of Com
piegne and contrasted strangely with the
weather stained oyercoats yainly waiting
along the highways and forming such
somber groups beneath the rain.
The marshal's opponent was captain
on the staff, belted, with curled hair
and light colored gloves, who was an ex-
pert at billiards and capable of YAM
auishing all the marshals in the world,
but he knew how to keep at respectful
distance from his 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 col
ors. Suddenly cannon fash shot across