Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-05-13
With the PruSsians at Metz.
ny CHARLES A. COLLMAN.

SLAMS, like ring of iron, drew thcil
invinciblo army slowly around th'
Notifications of Metz, ! found myself
in little French village that had JUS
been taken possession of by the Ger
mans. was correspondent for a Gin
cinnaii paper during what the French
persist in calling the Frauco-Prussan
and the Germans persist in calling tho
Franc2-Gcrman war.
A low stone coping ran along the
road at tho end of the village, and ono
sunny day | stood here leaning against
the wall, beside tho sentry.
For several days only some slight
skirihishes had taken place between
the two armies engaged at this point.
% They were separated here by di-
minutivo valley, whose sides were
covered with that most delicious fruit
for which this region of the Mosello
is famous punches of glowing all
tumn grapes.
These grapes, rs gazcd down upon
them, tempted me wonderfully.
knew the sentry beside me; he was a
huge POmeranian, who, in the capacity
of his calling, had shaved me mum
Der of times in the capital of Prussia.
But as expressed an inclination to
descend the hillside and secure some
of the fruit, the sentry shook his
head.
DOWN there, said he, in the midst
of that thickct of trees and vines, tho
place was swarming with Frcnchmcn
only too eager to get shot at man
laughed at his words. "Why,
what can you see down there, Morilz?"
| said. And, in truth, as we gazed
down, tic scene seemed peaceful
enough.
Two peasant women, in gaudy cos
tunes, were gathering grapes in little
baskets. Beyond, on the other side
uI tnv a.rcy, ran a wan, upon ,s--.-,t
we could catch a glimpse of the rcd
trousers of the French sentry lolling
there.
After a moments hesitation Ilcapcd
suddenly over the coping and ran
lightly down the hill Mori cried
the words of hasty warning after
me, but the sounds fell unintcligibly
upon my ears. The two French
peasant women dropped their baskets
and ran hastily away at the sight of
what they took TO he the approach of
one of those dreaded Prussians.
In another moment my parchcd
gums were feasting on those famous
grapes. They were delicious. l can
taste them yet.
Ny pleasure was of short duration.
From some close quarter shot came
suddenly and tore away bunch a few
inches from my outstrctched hand. |
thought at first that this was joke on
the part of my friend, the sentry, and
was Just turning about to protes'
against such grim humor, when
another shot came in as close prox-
unity, but fortunately without harm
ing me.
The bright sun dazed my faculties
for an instant. What should ] do?
| could not ascend that steep and un-
protected hill behind me and reach the
stone coping alive.
plunged into the thicket wnerc
probably the very danger was lurk-
ing; and yet it was my only refuge.
! slipped carefully through the rows
of vines until | found myself in the
she eter of the trees that covered the
bottom of the valley. A little stream
ran past here, and the wood, though
small, was very dense.
What troubled me most was that
the cracking twigs ceaselessiy be-
trayed my footsteps. The whole
ground was covered with dead
branches. | halted and listened, after
every step, for another sound or sign
of the enemy.
OF a sudden a grumbling voice
broke upon my ears so close SO me
that it was startling.
"Ou est il donc?" inquired Tho
grumblcr, in voice that was intended
for his companion only, hut whicl
reached me distinctly, SO near were
we to each other.
The other answered, but his word
escaped me. They spoke together il
lowered tones as they stood there
and from what | overheard. the,
seemed to think that |, not being il
uniform, was spy trying to crccl
through the French lines.
A sudden cracking Of the twig
made me retreat to the stream, an,
covered the sound of my progress.
"Ah," muttered to myself. ''ihcr,
come the two grapc-pickers."
thought that the two Frcnchmen wer
approaching TO investigate my posi-
tion. but hero, instead, the noise "a
caused by the heavy sabots the twl
peasant women, who adsancei, peer
ing thre ugh tho trees. as if they wer
also seeking the whereabouts of ia
fugitive rrussiau-