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

GUS round that Is so wearlsOmc even 10
the trained soldier. The darkness
deepened. and the wind grew fercer.
Into his brain stole the thoughts that
could still so necessarily torture and
perplex him. Into his heart came the
memory OF that night when the wom-
an he loved had crouched at his feet,
and with the pallor OF guilt on her
face and yet the denial OF guilt on her
lips, had prayed him to believe her in
nocent Innocent! He almost laugh
ed as he thought OF 1t. A week-old
wife would not steal away through
the midnight shadows TO the presence
Of any living man, who was not be-
loved by her-would not leave her
husbands side and risk the interpreted
ton that could not fail to be put on
her doing 80, without some terribly
strong motive.
And yet now. in the stiffness and
silence, and with the shadow OF
close peril beside him, he
knew he loved her as fiercely,
adoringly, passionately as ever. He
could not forget or Danish the remem-
brance that haunted him. The fever
mist OF pain that blinded his senses to
every hardship and his eyes TO every
perl, were yet not deep enough or
dense enough TO blind them to this
one memory, to cover with oblivion
this one love.
As he paced to and fro in that mo-
notonous march, he bent his head and
low groan escaped his lips.
ITO forgetp" he implored. "Oh.
God! for one hour to forget!"
In an instant all thought of duty
escaped him, the vigilant eyes no
longer swept the horizon. the keen
ears grew deaf to all but the dull,
agonizen beating of heart that felt it
would never again find rest or peace
on the earth's wide face. Suddenly he
started and looked round. Alas for
that trance OF pain, that short forget
fullness! The dull thud OF horses feet
came loud and distinct TO his sPrs-in
the shadow-play of night an Iwn he
saw the flash OF arms, and while his
alarm rang clarion clear throAa1uunt
the slumbering camp, he knew how
vain the warning was.
In an instant all was stir, hustle,
confusion.
With marvellous celebrity the troops
got under arms, but their actions were
not rapid enough for the charging
sweep OF the foe, who trebled their
scanty numbers and bore down on
them with an eagles swoop.
The hoofs OF rearing chargers
| NJ H
the clash OF swords and
crash OF shot and steel filed all the
air. 1t was conflict sharp and short,
u conflict hand TO hand, breast to
breast over which the morning broke
gray, and silvery, and beautiful, as
though in mockery OF tho brute pas
sions and the murderous follies OF
! men.
The struggle was brief. Outnum-
bered six TO one, there was little doubt
OF how II must end. Escape or victo-
ny were alike impossible. The Prus-
slams we're victors ere the day was an
hour old.
Tho prisoners of war-humiliated;
disarmed, furious as trapped beasts
were handed over TO detachment OF
the Prussian corps. Their ultimate
fate was not yet decided upon. The
victory of Sedan had led to its evacua-
ton, and tho Bavarian and Prussian
corps were marching rapidly toward
Paris. The conquerors were exultant
tho fate of war seemed certain now.
All Paris was in revolt, confusion
and excitement reigned everywhere.
In military circles but one issue SEEM
ed possible, and though ..Guerre out
trance was still in every Frenchman's
mouth. the German armies treated it
as mere matter OF time.
The improvised and Republican
armies OF France, drawn from all
sources, ana in many cases unframed
and undisciplined, might certainly
convert the war OF arms into one OF
siege, but with Metz and Sedan in
their hands, and the flower OF the
French army, either killed or prison
ers, the Prussians might well be con-
fdent. and treat their enemy's def
ance as mere bravado.
Pierre Leroux had been severely
wounded. Unconscious OF all that was
passing around him, he lay through
out the long weary day. Pain held him
powerless, his strong frame lay bruis-
ed and stricken, his eyes were closed,
as II lead weighed down their lids.
Unfamiliar voices sounded in his ears,
but he had no consciousness of their
words. Weak with loss OF blood, dir
~ and faint with the exhaustion of
long fasting and incessant fatigue, SO
he lay, wondering dimly II death was
at hand now-the death he had prayed
for so long.