Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1891-07-03


leading down to the river. 1t was
about II o'clock.
Monsieur Savage pointed with his
finger to the heights above and said /:
TIE Prussians are up there" and a
vague sense of uneasiness seized upon
the two friends.
The Prussians They had never set
eyes upon them, but for months past
they had felt their presence near, en-
circIing their beloved Paris, running
their beloved France, pillaging, mas
sacreing, Unsuitable, invincible, invis-
ible, all-powerful, and as they thought
on them sort Of superstitious terror
seemed to mingle with the hate they
bore towards their unknown conquer
ors. Morisot murmured: Suppose
we were to meet them and Savage
replied, with the instructive gallantry
of Partisan We'll we would offer
them some of our fish supper"
All the same they hesitated before
venturing into the country, intimi
dated as they were by the all-pervad-
ing silence.
Eventually Monsieur Savage
plucked up courage: Come along
let's make a start; but we must be
cautious"
They went the vineyard, bent
double, crawling along from bush TO
bush, ears and eyes upon the alert.
Only one strip of ground lay be-
tween them and the river. They be
gan to run, and when they reached
the bank they crouched down among
the dry reeds for shelter.
Morisot laid his ear TO the ground
to listen for the sound of footsteps,
but he could hear nothing. They
were alone, quite alone; gradually
they felt reassured and began to fish.
The deserted island of Maranthe
hid them from the opposite shore.
The little restaurant was closed, and
looked as if it had been neglected for
years.
Monsieur Savage caught the first
gudgeon, Monsieur Morisot the sec
ord. And every minute they pulled
up their lines with little silver object
dangling and struggling on the hook.
' nj Il Of ESh
As the fish were caught they put
them in a net which floated in the
water at their feet. They positively
revelled in enjoyment of long for
hidden sport. The sun shone warm
upon their backs. They heard moth
ing-they thought OF nothing-the
rest Of the world was as nothing to
them. They simply fished.
Suddenly smothered sound, as it
were underground, made the earth
tremble. The guns had recon-
menced firing. Morisot turned his
head, and saw above the bank, far
away to the left, the vast shadow of
Mont Valerien, and over it the white
wreath of smoke from the gun which
had Just been fired. Then "A jet of
flame burst forth from the fortress in
answer, a moment later followed by
another explosion. Then others, till
every second as it seemed the noun
tain breathed out death, and the
white smoke formed funeral pail
above it.
Monsieur Savage shrugged his
shoulders. They are beginning
again. he said
Monsieur Morisot, anXiously watch
ing the bob float up and down, was sud
denly seized with rage against the be-
ligerents and growled out: How
idotic to kill one another like that.
Monsieur Savage: ITS worse than
the brute beasts" ."
Monsieur Morisot, who had just
hooked bleak said: And to think
that it will always be thus so long as
there are such things as Govern
ments.n
Monsieur Savage stopped him ::
''The Republic would not have de-
clared war
Monsieur Morisot in his turn: with
kings we have foreign wars, with the
Republic we have civil wars"
Then in a friendly way they began
to discuss politics with the calm com
mon sense Of reasonable and peace
loving men, agreeing on the one
point that no one would ever be free.
And Mont Valerien thundered un-
ceasingly, demolishing with its can
non ball French houses, crushing out
French lives, running many a dream,
many joy, many a hope deferred,
wrecking much happiness, and bring
ing to the hearts Of women, girls and
mothers in France and elsewhere,
sorrow and suffering which would
never have an end.
Its life" said Monsieur Morisot.
Say rather that it's death, - said
Monsieur Savage.
They started, scared ont Of their
lives, as they felt that someone was
walking close behind them. Turning
round, they saw four men, four tall,
bearded men, dressed as servants in
livery, and wearing fiat caps upon
their heads. These men were cover
ing the two fishermen with rifles.
The rods dropped from their fright
ened hands and floated aimlessly
down the river. In an instant the
Frenchmen were seized, bound,
thrown into boat, and ferried over
70 the island.
Behind the house they had thought
81 20