The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-10
BILLIARDS AND BATTLE.

BILLIARDS AND BATTLE.
As they had been fighting for two days
and passed the preceding night with their
knapsacks on their backs beneath the
drenchinQ rain, the soldiers were exhaust
ed. Nevertheless, for three mortal hours
they had been kept waiting with grounded
arms in the puddles of the highway 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 IS
they stood leaning on their neighbor's
knapsacks, and weariness and privation
were best pictured on those unbent faces
abandoned to slumber. Rain, mud, no fire.
no soup, q black and threatening sky and
the enemy on all sides. It was wretched.
What were they doing there7 What was
taking place?
The cannon. their muzzles pointed toward
the wood, had the air of watching some-
thing. The masked mitrailleuses stared
hxedly at the horizon. Everything seemed
ready for an attack. Why did they not at
tack? 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 XII, the red bricks Of
hillside among the trees. It was truly
princely dwelling and we'll worthy of bearing
tho banner of marshal of France.
Behind great ditch and stone railing,
which separated them from the highway,
the grass plats ran straight up to the steps
nj fhQ mi n 0in 4v11 uro nd h0r
with vases of flowers On the other sidc, tho
private side of the chateau, the hedge was
full of luminous 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
,ries into the foliage. peacocks and golden
pheasants beat their wings and spread their
tails.
Although the. proprietors had departed
nothing there indicated the reckessness,
the overwhelming desolation of the war.
The orifiamme of the chief of the army had
preserved everything, even to the meanest
flowers of the grass plots, and it was some
thing impressive to find SO near to the field
of battle the opulent calmness which arises
from orderly arrangements, from straight
rows OF trees and from the silent depths of
avenues.
The rain, which filled the highways with
such wretched mud and plowed up such
deep burrows, was there, but an elegant,
aristocratic shower, Frightening the red
bricks and the green of the grass plants
adding gloss to the leaves of the orange
trees and the white plumage of the swans.
Everything shune, everything was still.
Verify. without the flag which was floating
from the peak Of the roof, without the two
could one believe it the military head
quarters. Here and there one met Rrooms,
orderlies in undress uniform, lounginR in
the vicinity of the kitchens, or some gar
dener III red pantaloons TRANQUILITY drawing
his rake through the gravel OF the principal
walks.
The dining hall, the windows of which
opened on the steps, displayed table
cleared away. uncorked bottles, soiled and
empty drinking vessels, looking wan on the
Iumpled eloth-all the flag end of dinner
apartment was heard the sound of voices,
OF laughter, of rolling billiard balls, OF
blinking glasses. The marshal was playing
his game, and that was why the army was
awaiting orders. When the marshal had
might fall but nothing on earth could pre-
vent him from finishing it.
Billiards!
The game was the warriors weakness. He
stood there as grave as in battle, in full uni
form, his breast covered with decorations.
his eyes sparkling and his eyeballs infamed
by the dinner. the game and his rotations.
His aides-de- camp surrounded him, eager
and respectful. uttering ordinations of ad-
miration at each of his shots. When the
marshal made point they all precipitated
themselves toward the marker; When the
prepare his grog. Twas crush of epau-
lettes and plumes, a clash of crosses and
metal-tipped shoulder knots and the sight
OF all the agreeable smiles, the fawning.
courtler-like reverences of 80 much en-
broidery and SO many new uniforms in
that lofty oak-wainscoted hall looking ont
upon parks and courts of honor, recalled
the autumns of Compeigne and oontrasted
strangely with the weather stained over
coats vainly waiting along the highways
and forming such sombre groups beneath
the rain.
The marshal's opporAnt was a captain on
the staff. belted. with curled hair and light
colored gloves. who was an expert at bill |
lizards and capable Of vanquishing 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. en-
deavored not to be beaten too easily, He |
was, az they say, an officer with future |
before him.
# was truly an interesting game. The
balls sped, kissed and crossed their colors.
and hollow report made the window panes
rattle. The officers started and looked at
each other uneasily. The marshal alone
had seen nothing, had heard nothing. Bent
over the billiard table he was combining
magnificent draw shot. Draw shots were
his forte.
But another fash came, then another.
The cannon reports multiplied. The aides
de-camp ran to the windows. Were the
Prussians going to attack?
SWELL, let them sttack.' said the marshal,
chalkinR his cue. ''Your turn to play CAP
tain"
The staff huttered with admiration. Tur-
enne asleep upon gun carriage was moth
ing compared to this marshal, standing 80
calmly before the billiard table at the very
moment of action. Meanwhile the uproar
Sedoubled. 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-p lats. All the lower part of the park
was in flames. The frightened peacocks
and the pheasnnts clamored in the eyiary,
The Arab horses. scenting the powder,
pranced in the stables. The headquarters
commenced to grow excited. Dispatch
followed dispatch. Couriers arrived in hot
haste. They demanded the marshal.