Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-24

looked as il there were . fete. People had
locked in from the country sround-tall,
ftrappi1g laborers in clean blouses, aged farm
ers tObbllug along with sticks, accompanied
by their wives and their straight, supple. rosy
checked daughters. decked out in all their
country fnery-an came to attend tho con-
scription. The towlsfolk, Of course, had
turned out to man; all the shops were shut;
only the refreshment stalls and the booths
where they sold gay ribbons and bright hued
handkerchief were open- These were patron
lied because someth ng had 10 tend bright
ness and gaiety to the scene. band OF music
played patriotic airs during the day and added
IN no small was TO ;be noise OF thecrowd; but
the music and the color and the roar OF loud
voices and the shaffiIn- ~ feet on the stones
grated harshly on ones nerves. All the move
ment and all the brightness were forced. The
day had not been a happy one.
The drawing had taken place. II was sight
to remember to watch the faces OF the men as
they came out or the hall. All went n bravely
enough and some came out joyfullH. running
down the steps-they had drawn lucky even
numbers, and they hastend to tell their anx-
iOus friends the good news; others came down
slowly. with downcast eyes. Their meeting
with friends was painful. A few who had
drawn odd numbers strobe down the steps,
looking straight before them. with faint smile
on their lips, but it was hard to keep up the
semblance of Indifference after they had min
gled with the crowd below.
But it was all over now. For the conscripts
this was to be the last night in their homes-at
least for many OF them. They all had orders
TO leave next morning; some would return
after many months; the others. The square
was deserted. The people had gone their sew
eral ways. Many prayer was offered that
night for son, brother and perchance Il
lover who on the morrow was to leave Saint
AnCc and fight for his country and her glory.
Carlo had put bis hand into the urn and his
fingers closed on one OF the slips OF card board,
but he dropped it, and drew another. He
dared not look at it; but loud voice at his
side cried out the number Pr 1t was the
officer : command. and the mayors quill pen
scratched and squeaked he wrote the name
down. Carlo was a cOnscript. He reeled for
moment and he felt lump In his throat. The
staring faces of the crowd watching him in the
sitting room vanished; he saw himself on the
battlefield; he saw the enemy, the guns, the
smoSe. the odd heaps that once were men; he
heard the rattle OF the musketry and the sharp
commands of the officers. He was conscript.
Recovering himself with an effort he turned
about and pushing his way through the crowd
that murInured around HIM LIE went down the
stairs into the open air. His courage had left
him now. He would have given anything to
change his odd number for an even. And as
he gazed over the crowded square and his eye
rested on the familiar places. as he saw the
woods and fields beyond. he felt for the first
time what pang it would cause to leave them.
As he stood musIng apart from the crowd
RudOlf came out. pale death; h., too had
drawn the odd number. and as Carlo thought
of Gabrielle he wished his rival had been more
lucky.
Early the next morning they formed in the
square; the roll called. arms were distrib-
uteG. fdrewelis said. Old Pierre was the only
one who stood by Carlo; the cure was too busy.
The poor old shoemaker was overcome with
emotion and putting his arms around the young
mans neck embraced him closely as the tears
trIckied down the burrows in his cheeks. Then
q cheer. a shout. ''NIve. Iemperuer!' and the
first detachment was off.
But Jus; as they left the square some one
came running quickly mp and touched Carlos
arm-he was on the outside. 1t was Gabrielle
''Adieu. Carlo" and a little timidly she held
out her hand. lie grasped it silently-held 1t
a morneut-thejr eyes rnet-and he moved ON.
Rudolf was in the next detachment, which
was to leave some hours later.
Steadily the men turned the corner the
tramp of their feet and the roll of the drums
sounding loud on the loosely paved street.
Then slowly up the hillside the column went
along the dusty. white road where they had
played children. When they reached the
height each man turned and took one long
uncovered cathedral. its ZigZag streets, its
quaint thatch roofs with a few slate ones here
and there. and its red-tjle chimneys and the
trees and gardens. lnstlnctively each gaze
rested at last some particular spot-some
place that called up the sweetest thoughts;
and then with a final glance down at the square
where the people were still standing they
went over the ridge.