Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1891-04-03

saber, cried stand up! DreS5 rGDkSi
We are going to make dash for tho
woods.
Pierre rose, with q strange tightening
In his throat. While the column was
forming he slung his knapsack across his
shoulders and mechanically gazed at tho
officer. who from the height of his saddle
gave few brief directions to the com
mander. He was captain of the Garde
Mobile, fine, handsome young fellow OF
%, with bronzed complexion, pointed
mustache and an air of distinction. His
military toilet was irreproachable, from
the closely buttoned gray overcoat, with
It's showily braided sleeve, TO the slender
gloved hand which caressed his horses
neck Its all very well for you, you
military coxcomb. growled Pierre be.
tween his teeth; its the same to you,
my fine fellow. whether our heads are
shot off or not, while You caper about on
that horse Of yours like a fly on a
coach wheel. | wish you were at the
devilW The young captain put spurs to
his horse and galloped off into the park
through a breach which dynamite had
made in the wall Tho battalion were to
follow through the same opening 81
lently, four by four, the Eighty third
marched along a sandy path toward the
woods At the end of hundred PAGES
where the road divided shower of bull
lsts suddenly scattered the twigs in every
direction. 1t sounded like whirlwind
Of gnats on a summer evening, This sud
den and disagreeable music sent panic
through the ranks of the novices in war,
who scampered through the woods like
fock of terrified sparrows. lnstinctively
Pierre Manceau followed the rest. I'm
PEELED by blind fear he ran straight ahead
II seemed to him that the firing came from
every side at once On right and left the
balls whistled. cutting off branches of
trees and tearing off pieces of bark. He
saw them 'recocher" and bury themselves
in tho soil before him, raising little clouds
| OF sand He was conscious of rapid alter
nations of shivering and burning The
incessant hail of bullets deafened and
stupefied him. He bounded from tree to
tree nc longer feeling the weight of his
knapsack and musket
He presently found himself alone In the
wood, and continued to walk on, trembling
violently at the rustling of the leaves
under his feet, and having but one idea
to find some opening through which to
escape from this cursed park.
He reached n winding path bordered
with green trees, and followed it blindly
when he suddenly stood still, shaking
from head to foot, as If struck by an cleo
trio shock. Before him, right across the
road lay the body of garde mobile, his
head thrown back on heap of dried
leaves. His face was of marble pallor;
his lips, half parted under brown
nustache, were violet hued, and from
them tricllled a tiny stream of blood
staining the whiteness of the freshly
shaven chin
He was an officer and on examining him
more closely Pierre recognized the cap
tain, who half an hour ago had ordered
his battalion to enter the woods. Yes, it
was indeed the same face, with its aristo
cratic lines, the same fine pointed mus
tache, the same faultlessly gloved hands
which had SO exasperated our professor OF
philosophy, The gray overcoat had beer
torn open violently and in haste across the
breast, showing the blood stained gar
ments beneath. Whilst he was gallopinG
through the woods doubtless shell hat
struck him full in the breast, had hurled
him from his horse, who had taken flight
Manceau knelt by his side and Slipped his
hand under the blood stained uniform t.
feel If tho heart still beat
He shuddered at the chill which strucE
him as his hand touched the marbl,
breast. That brave young life was in
deed ended AS he drew his hand ava,
his fingers were entangled in a light chain
to which was attached medallion. III
, opened the golden circle. On one sid
was curl of golden hair, on the othe
the lovely face of a young girl, who's
beautiful eyes seemed to smile back a
| him rs he gazed. "Ah, this was hi
sweetheart. sighed Pierre, as he rever
emily replaced the medallion on the life
,4,.,l H. a.
I mournfully by this dead man, but half al
| already stiff and chill 1t was the frs
, time in his lie that he bad ever stood b.
} a dead body and he looked on it wit
mingled compassion and shame.
Gle died fulfilling his duty" he sal
bitterly to himself; nevertheless he wa
younger than |, perhaps he chung to lif
= even more fondly, for there Is somewhel
t one beloved woman who at this very me
5 ment is watching for news of him, he
4 heart torn by suspense and anguish, Will
. l. who have neither wife, sister nor sweet
I heart to mourn my death, whose onl
: mistress is my cold philosophy, hay
4 feared to brave death. fled ignomin
ously at the first approach of danger
what am but miserable coward2'
Q He rose, seized his gun and retraced tn
o road AT tho end of twenty PAGES h
I paused near sheet of water on who's
edge he dried reeds rustled mournfully
7 and near which stood the ruins of lodg
r with battered walls and empty windo-
t sashes On the opposite side of TIL
o sheet of water a company of infantr
y waited under the shelter of clump
/ saplings for orders to open fire At til
e sight of this national guard in his gree
u overcoat who arrived scared and di
ordered in their midst, the men laughe
Q derisivcly. Pierre Manceau felt the bloc
! mount TO his brow. 81 deserve it," /
I thought; II look like coward"
: And us the lieutenant gave the ordC
! to his men to remount the height, Pierl
K approached him and begged permission {
n join the company,
/ He was no longer conscious of fear, br
, blind rage seemed to possess him as
y climbed with the company to the crest
81 the plateau. which swarmed with sharI
II shooters and was half hidden in a clou
J. of smoke. Pierre had loaded his rnuskt
a and kneeling against tree he gave h
q whole soul to fulfilling his duty, regar,
d less of the balls which rained around hin
IS He loaded and reloaded his chassepot il
IS cessantly, with no sense of fatigue. Su,
:" denly he felt something strike his rgl
l. shoulder, and when he tried tc lift hi
9 arm sharp pain made him drop
d quickly
is Are you wounded. Grcencoat2" aske
. sergeant near him "a think so, mur
u murei Pierro "Ah, well then. there
% nothing more for you to hit here: &
II ,,-bo-, ,-,,, will G.,