Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-03-05
..IIe doesn't want that-only daa-

GER"
..Yes-Tve heard him ask 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 l
mistake not"
| ..IIe is bod soldat to Ne backbone.
hope the bullets won't whish him on
as quickly as he seems to desire. we
can i'll spare men now"
Think you it will come to siege?"
..Dieu de dieu-yes. These cursed
German brutes are hemming us In on
every side."
The talk grew graver. the jcsts less
boisterous, while the man whom they
discussed stood mo:ionless 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. l.
The fearless, dauntless soldier had |
been through many hot skirmish,
had served we'll, and learned quickly, |
} and borne the arduous unremitting |
work of trying campaigns and close
discipline. with a 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
q 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
cd him among the fraternity as one OF
whom they could trust, honor and re-
spect, even if no warmer feeling were
permitted, and for that he was alone
to blame, since he allowed of no clos
than he himself sought, and that was
= as little as we'll might be without alb
solute offense.
Times were terrible now in France
The war fever was at its height.
Men grew drunk with bloodshed
as with wine. Fiercest hatred
to the conqueror glowed in
IT every breast, and each day the hopes
er OF victory grew fainter, the dread con-
II quest sharper And amidst all the
no turmoil and anxiety and danger, one
~. man moved as though he bore a
20 charmed life, only saying to himself:
Dr. "Oh, that death were possible"'
~. But though near often, it yet passed
30 him by taking, with that strange IA
10 tality that makes life at once so strik
m ing and so sad, lives beside him,
around him--livcs, loved, happy,
a young, hopeful, and yet leaving his
40 unframed, to bear the burden OF 4
ho hidden woe that haunted every hour o
~ his existence.
,ss A life of hardship, discipline, suffer
ms ing. was his daily portion, but for al
external discomfort he cared but little
lid scarcely felt or noticed it. Hunger
WEAKNESS, coarse food, ceaseless toll
T." terrible danger, all these looked bu
trihes to eyes that had grown blint
not with one hours shattered bliss. will
the agony of doubt that had turnet
he love to madness.
nv But the war-fire awoke in him a
mt last and became the one thing tina
So kept him from utter despair. Sever
ON campaigning, hot skirmishes and in
III cessant watchfulness, all the demand
on his time and attention that eacl
lev day rendered more necessary. thes
the brought him excitement, and CAV
Ind him the utter disregard and rockies
ask ness as to life and danger that awok
er- the involuntary admiration ofhis com
rades.
ON Pierre Leroux was man with tn
CHS born instincts OF soldier, and hi
hen previous quiet uncventful life in n
sed way untitled him for his present eA
xed perienccs. Its necessities called man
latent faculties into play, and taugl
and him the two great lessons
nto life-patiencc and endurance
un- and this man, who but a fe
ng, months before had known no create
Q of anxiety than the failure OF a crop I
find the drought Of a season, now boz
an privations as calmly, and risked deaf
as recklessly, as the hardest soldi'
,ht, who had spent lifetime in the Sc
ers. vice OF war and the toll Of camps.
not Tonight, when the carousal WI
over, and the soldiers slept for Il
he few brief hours that were alone pc
,aze mitted, he stood Us sentinel over Il
little troop.
} al The air was chilly-there was
lied light, for moon and stars were shrou
SOL ed by gray heavy clouds. With ca
arce alert, and eyes keen and sharp
hing long habit could make them, he pac
ank to and fro in that ceaseless monoto
had Gus round that is SO wearisomc even
the trained soldier. The darkne
, of deepened, and the wind grew fierce
2 re- Into his brain stole the thoughts tn
could still SO necessarily torture a
very perplex him. Into his heart came t
rSelf | mamO.v of that nipht when the wO