Iron County news. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1890-189?, 1891-03-14

Il tnhiC otfOoos
"He hes done good work. though,
and hiB rtstlessness is something TO
marvel at. The other night he fought
three Prussians, single-handed, and
came of with scarce a scratch him
self"
'.ventre blue-hau no else ever done
the samepn
Doubtless; but this fellow Is an un-
trained recruit, and has the foolhardi-
ness and GOODNESS OF perfect courage,
and no more fear OF fire or regard OF
danger than II he were bullet proof.
The Colonel thinks very highly OF
him."
| THAT means promotion"
"He doesn't want that--ouly dan
ger"
| "Yes-Tve heard him ack for the
most ticklish Of foraging parties
pauvre diable! there's something un-
derneath It all. He carries heavy
heart under that bold brave face II /
mistake not"
HE is bod soldat to the backbone.
i hope the bullets won't whish him of
ne quickly as he seems to desire. We
can i'll spare men now"
Think you 1t will come to siegep"
"Dieu de dieu--yes. These cursed
German brutes are hemming us In on
| every side"
The talk grew graver, the jests less
boisterous, while the man whom they
discussed stood motionless in the star
light, his musket resting against his
shoulder, his eyes fixed on the far-off
walls OF the fair city so soon to be the
prey OF the foe.
The fearless, dauntless soldier had
been through many a hot skirmish.
had served we'll, aud learned quickly,
and borne the arduous unremitting
work OF trying campaigns and close
discipline, with cool. bravery that
had won him both respect and
liking from comrades and superiors.
They did not quite understand They
could not quite comprehend his moods
OF silence-his strange unsocial gravi-
ty-his utter reticence respecting his
own past life, OF which no one knew
or could ascertain anything.
| 1t held some mystery, some sorrow,
that they surmised; but of its nature
he never spoke, and after time they
ceased to inquire. The noise, the
clang, and tumult of war, the ever
present excitement OF danger, all these
were too constantly around and about
them to allow OF much leisure for
speculation or gossip They accept
ed him among the fraternity as one OF
whom they could trust, honor and re-
spect, even II no warmer feeling were
permitted, and for that he was alone
to blame, since he allowed of no clos
er approach to confidence or regard
than he himself sought, and that was
as little as well might be without abb
solute offense.
Times were tbrrible now in France.
fhs war fevet was at its height.
Iien' grew drunk with bloodshed
as with wine. Fiercest hatred
TO the conqueror glowed in
every breast, and each day the hopes
OF victory grew fainter, the dread con-
quest sharper. And amidst all the
turmoil and anxiety and danger. one
man moved as though he bore
charmed life, only saying to himself:
"Oh, that death were possible!"
But though near often, it yet passed
him by taking, with that strange ia
tality that makes life at once so strik-
ing and so sad, lives beside him,
around him-lives, loved, happy,
young, hopeful, and yet leaving his
unframed, TO bear the burden OF a
hidden woe that haunted every hour OF
his existence.
A life of hardship, discipline, suffer.
ing, was his daily portion, but for all
external discomfort he cared but little,
scarcely felt or noticed it. Hunger,
WEAKNESS, coarse food, ceaseless toll,
terrible danger, all these looked but
trifles to eyes that had grown blind
with one hours shattered bliss. with
the agony OF II doubt that had turned
love TO madness.
But the war-fre awoke in him at
last and became the one thing that
kept him from utter despair. Severe
campaigning, hot skirmishes and in
cessant watchfulness, all the demands
on his time and attention that each
day rendered more necessary. these
brought him excitement, and gave
him the utter disregard and rockies s.
ness rs to life and danger that awoke
the involuntary admiration ofhis COM
rades.
Pierre Leroux was man with the
born instincts of soldier, and his
previous quiet uneventful life in no
way untitled him for his present ex-
periences. Its necessities called many
latent faculties into play, and taught
him the two great lessons of