The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1891-09-26

across the sky. and u .4o..cw repor
made the window-panes rattle. The
o,ic.rs started and looked Mt each
otter uneas' iy. The marshal alone hat
seen nothing. hn1 heard nothing. BEN
over tho billiard table he was combin-
ing u magnificent draw-shot. Draw
shots were his forte.
But another fash came, then an.
other The cannon reports multiplied.
The aides-de-camp rushed to the win.
dows. Were the Prussians going to
attacks"
We'll. let them attackr' said the
marshal, chalking his cue. Your
turn to play. captain"
The staff Huttered with admiration.
Turenne asleep upon gun carriage
was nothing compared TO this marshal.
standing SO calmly before the billiard
table at tho very moment OF action.
Meanwhile the uproar redoubled.
With the cannon shots were mingled
the roar OF tho mitrailleuses and the
roll OF the platoon musketry. A red
smoke, black ut the edges. mounted
from the extremity Of the grassplats.
All the lower part Of the park was in
flames. The frightened peacocks and
pheasants clamored in the aviary.
The Arab horses seeming the powder
pranccd in the stables. The head
quarters commenced to grow excited.
Dispatch followed dispatch. Couriers
arrived in hot haste. They demanded
the marshal.
The marshal was inaccessible. Moth
ing could prevent him from finishing
the game.
Your turn to play. captain"
But the captains mind was else
whore. So much for being young! He
became confused. forgot his caution.
and made two shots 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 ut terrible
pace and dropped dead. An aid-de-
camp. covered with mud. forced the
guard and lcaped up the stops at a
bound. Marshal! Marshall" he
shouted. He met with rough recep-
ton. Swelling with rage and purple
in tho face the marshal appeared AT
the window his billiard cue in his
hand.
What Is the matterp" he said.
What is it? Is there no sentinel on
duty?"
But marshal"
VERY good-presently. Let them
await my orders"
And he closed the windows violent
ly.
Let them await his orders.
They We're doing that. the poor
men. The wind drove the rain and
shot full in their faces. Whole bat
talions were exterminated, while 9TH
ers stood useless. their weapons in
their hands unable to comprehend the
reason of the inactivity. There was
nothing for them to do. They were
awaiting orders. But as one can die,
without orders, the men fell dead by
hundreds. behind the bushes, in the
bitches. before tho silent grand cha
teau. Even when fallen shot tore
them still, and from their gaping
wounds the generous blood OF France
flowed noiselessly. Above, in the
billiard hail. things were coming to
terribly close quarters also. The mar
shall had resumed his advance but the
captain defended himself like lion.
Seventeen! elghteen! nineteen!"
Scarcely had they time to mark the
points. The noise OF the battle came
nearer. The marshal had but one
more to make. Already bombs had
reached the park. One exploded over
the pond. The mirror-like surface
was convulsed and terrified swan
swan about in a whirlpool OF feathers.
IL was the last shot.
Then an oppressive silence. Nothing
but the rain falling upon the hedges.
confused roll at the base OF the hill
lock, and on the soaked highway some
thing like the patter OF hurried flock
of sheep. The army was in full flight,
but the marshal had won his game. =
Alphonsc Daudet