The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1891-07-11
sense Of uneasiness seized upon The

/ TWO 1ERQOS
The Prussians! They had never yet
set eyes upon them, but for months
past they had felt their presence neal,
encircling their beloved Paris. running
their beloved France, pillaging, mas
sacreing. Unsuitable. invincible, invisi-
BILE, all-powerful. and as they thought
on them a sort of superstitious terror
seemed to mingle with the hate they
bore their unknown conquerors. Nor
isot murmured: "Suppose we were to
meet them?" and Savage replied with
the instructive gallantry of the Partisan:
well, we would offer them some of
our fish for supper"
All the same they hesitated before
venturing into the country, inundated
as they were by the all pervading 81
lence.
Eventually M. Savage picked up
courage: Come along; let's make a
start. But we must be cautious"
They vent through the vineyard,
bent double, crawling along from
bush to bush, ears and eyes upon the
alert.
Only one strip of ground lay between
them and the river. They began 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
gradually they felt treasured and be-
gan to fish.
The deserted island of Maranthe hid
them from the opposite shore. The
little restaurant was closed. and look
ed as if it had been neglected for years.
M. Savage caught the first gudgeon,
M. Morisot the second. And every
minute they pulled up their lines with
q little silver object dangling and
struggling on the hook. Truly. q
miraculous draught of fishes. As the
fish were caught they put them in a
net which foated in the water at their
feet. They positively reveled in en-
joyment of a long-for-bidden sport.
The sun shone warm upon their backs.
They heard nothing-they thought of
nothing-the rest of the world was as
nothing to them. They simply lished.
Suddenly a smothered sound. as it
were underground. made the earth
tremble. The guns had commenced
firing. Morisot turned his head and
saw above the bank. far away to the
left. the vast shadow of Mont Talerien.
and over it the white wreath of smoke
from the gun which had just been fired.
Then Il 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 mountain breathed out death. and
the white smoke formed a funeral pail
ISove it.
NJ. Savage shrugged his shoulders.
''Thev are beginning again." he said.
M. Morisot. anxiously watching his
float hob up and down, was suddenly
seized with rage against the belliger-
ents and growled out: "How idiotic
to kill one another like that"
M. Sauvage-It's worse than brute
beasts.
M. Morisot, who had just hooked a
bleak, said: 'And to think that it will
always be thus, 80 long as there are
such things as governments"
M. Savage stopped him: The re-
public would not have declared war"
M. 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 n point
that no one would ver be free. And
Mont Valerien Numbered increasingly,
demolishing with its cannon : balls
French houses, crushing out French
lives, running many a dream. many a
Joy. many hope deferred, wrecking
much happiness, and bringing to the
hearts of women. girls. and mothers
in France and elsewhere sorrow and
suffering which would never have an
end.
'.It's life," said Nj. Morisot.
Say rather that's it's DEATH" said
N. Savage.
: They started. scared. out of their
lives, as they felt that some one was
walking close behind them. Turning
round they saw four men-four tall.
bearded men-dressed a servants in
livery and wearing flat caps upon their
heads. These men were covering the
two fishermen with rifles.
The rods dropped from their fright
| ened hands and tioated aimlessly down
the river. In an instant the French
men we're seized, bound, thrown into a
boat, and ferried over to the island.
Behind the house they had thought
uninhabited was a picket of Prussian
soldiers. A hairy giant. who was sit
ting astride u chair and smoking a
porcelain pipe, asked them in excellent
French if they had had good sport.
A soldier placed at the feet Of the Of
| 6cer the net full OF fish. which he had
brought away with him.
Not bad, 1 see. but we have other
fish to fry. Listen. and don't alarm
yourselves. You are a couple of French
spies SEM out to watch my movements.
! disguised us fishermen. I take you
prisoner and order you to be shot.
You have fallen into my hands-so
much the worse far you. 1t is the for
tune of war. Inasmuch. however. as
YOU came through the lines you are
certainly in possession of the pass
word. Otherwise you could not get
back again. Give me the word and l
will let you 60"
The two friends, livid with fear.
stood side by side, their hands ner.
vously twitching, but they answered
not a word.
The officer continued: No one