Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-03-05
LINK BY LINK.
A THRILLING STORY OF THE
FRANOO-P RUSSIAN WAR.
by MAURICE LEGRAND.
CHAPTER VII.

TcHE sound of war was throughout
~ the land. France knew her
peril and vainly strove against it.
Nearer and nearer every day came the
foe; sterner, crueler and more desper-
ate grew the warfare. From village
and hamlet and town, the demand for
recruits brought ever fresh supplies;
;errorand war darkened many a home,
crushed many heart; everywhere
The dread of i'll close at hand and soon
to fall.
Within a days march of Paris, a
troop of soldiers had halted and were
gathered round table in front OF the
auberge smoking, drinking and chat
ting with the mercurial carelessness
that generally characterizes the sons
of Mars.
..We shall be in tomorrow" said
one.
..And warm work we shall have, -
nuttered another.
$50 much the better; you are not
going to shirk it now, are you?"
lit is not of the work think" the
man answered sadly .'not yet OF my
SCll-tG HAL CStu Viz DuU OIlSC-Duo
there are my wife and the little ones. "
The words cast n shadow of gloom
over many careless faces in the laugh
ing group.
..True-for them it is bad" they
murmured, and thought sadly OF tho
quiet homes, and the rosy faces, and
the pretty childish voices that might ask
| in vain for sight or sound Of a soldier.
father ere another sun had set.
One man stood aloof and apart from
all under the thick shro"ding bOughs
of a great pear tree. Now and ther
lie looked at the group as they tossed
off their wine, or laughed and jOked
with gay and airy buffoouery.
'.They can enjoy!" he thought, ant
bitter wonder and disdain cerpt int
his heart for life to him was so un
speakably sad and desolate thing
that it seemed q marvel that those o
lighter brains and hearts could flint
amusement OF forgetfulness in such al
hour as this.
"You are bad company tonight
Pierre,' said one OF the soldiers
Twill you not join us? you may no
have the chance much longer"
$50 much the better for me, h
said sternly, turning neither his gaz
nor his step toward them.
"Have you fallen out with life a
ready, or has your sweetheart jilte
you?' laughed stalwart young so
lier, with the down of manhood scare
grown on his chin, and a laughin
! boyish face that had left a sad blan
in the home circle from whence it ha
> been drawn.
> "My affairs are no concern I
yours" was the somewhat fierce r.
q tort.
, ..Dieu de dieu, no, You take We,
, good care no one else but yOurse
shall know aught Of them," returne
the other.
Don't trouble PIERRE" chimed
: the voice of the man who had give
= him the invitation to join then
:. "Cest un drole, mails c'est un
brave"
..He had need to be the one to NAL
up for the other" muttered the yorl
soldier. "a duller fellow l new
came across"
;. "He has done good work, thong
~ aud his restlcssness is something
y ! marvel at. The other night he foug
!. three Prussians, single-handed, al
u came of with scarce a scratch hill
IS SELF"
q .Ventre blue-has no else ever do
n .he same?"
g doubtless; but this fellow is an u
t'ainc1 recruit, and has the foolhart
o n sss and GOODNESS OF perfect courag
i and no more fear Of fire or regard
), danger than II he were bullet pro-
t. The Colonel thinks very highly
y him."
10 THAT means promotion"