Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1892-04-23
"TIMBUCT0O."

Respondent in the fiery rays of the setting
sun. The sky was rcd and binding, while
, behind the Madeleine brilliant cloud
threw its golden reflections the length OF
the avenue The gay, joyous crowd, NOV.
ing in this flaming light, seemed To be
apotheosized-thci faces were gilded. their
hats and coats were tinted by the crimson
rays, while even their polished shoes cast
golden shadows on the asphalt. Before
the cafes crowds Of men were drinking
from glasses that seemed to be incrustel
with glowing precious stones,
In the midst of this thrOng Of soberly
dressed men two officers were seated ,iaz-
cling the eyes Of the multitude 10y the
splendor OF their uniforms
Suddenly TALL. stout negro, dressed en-
tirely in white, with "A vest covered with
gold t.lbroideries his face shining as if
| waxcd, passed the cafe with a ridiculous
air Of Importance lie laughed necessarily
--at the crowd, az the ne,gsboys, at the
brilliant slsg. al all Paris. lie was so tall
that he lowered above every one. The
loungcrs stared at him. while he stared at
the two officers Jos,ling aud tumbling
over the people in his path he rushed for
ward Co their table, liking upon one Of
them his shining. delighted eyes. while his
mouth was stretched from ear to car, ex-
hihiting his white teeth, which were like
the moon crossing dark Sky.
The two officers gazsd ut the ebony
| giant without understanding his emotion
or recognizing him.
In a queer voice. which made the tables
ring with the laughter Of the spectators,
he cried, bon jour, mon lieutcnant"7
One Of the officers was chief Of battalion,
the othera colonel.
II do not know You, sir, or what you wish
OF me-" the senior officer answered.
The negro replied. "Moi love You much
Lieutenant Nedie-siegc Of Bczi, ST 81, va"
The officer. astonnded at this jargou.
looked iixedly at the negro. searching his
memory to the bottom. Suddenly lie ex
claimed, "Timbuctoo"
The radiant negro clapped his thigh and
uttered cry which amounted in violence
to roar
Isl, 81. ia, yal You know me--Tmbuc.
too
The commandant extended his hand,
laughing with all his heart Then Tim
buctoo became very grave He seized the
hand of the officer, ard before releasing il
kissed il with rapture, according 10 Arabic
and African custom. The embarrassed
bilAiti itlitNtu nun III severe TONES. Leu
up, Timbuctool We are not In Africa.
81 down and tell me how find YOU here"
Timbuctoo drew himself up with infinite
dignity, and while stammerng and stamp
ing he answered Moi bon cuisinier, moi
mango roll teaucoup, DIES Prussiensr-
which reply was accompanied with bowls
of joy
When the officer who alone understood
tlfia htf l.
at length, he dismissed him with. An
revoir. Timbuctoo. III see yon later"
The negro arose, and contenting himself
this time with a pressure Of the hand, !
cried ont, Bon jour, va, va, gesficulating
and laughing as he disappeared
The amused spectators were now con |
WINGED that he was lunatic. while the
colonel demanded, We'll, WHO'S this black |
brutes"
"A good soldier, and brave one. am |
going To tell you his story Ii Is amusing |
You recall that in 1870 | was shut up in |
Bezieres, which the negro called Bezi |
We were not besieged, but blockaded /
The Prussian lines surrounded us, UP 10
the lannon's mouth, and though they did |
not attack us, we were starving little by
little. was then leutenant-Our gar
risen was composed of troops of many |
varieties. the remains of regiments nearly
annihilated. oeserters, marauders, all sorts
in fact.
''One evening twelve Turks arrived.
No one knew from whence or how they
came. They presented themselves at the
gate, weary, battered and hungry The
men were assigned to me, and | soon
learned that they were rebels against all
authority and ignored discipline They
were always out and always drunk.
tried the police quarters, then the prison
nothing succeeded My men would dis
appear for entire days, AS il buried in the
very earth. Then they would reappear in
n condition that resembled intoxication.
They had no money-where did they drink
and hows
This state of affairs began TO puzzle me
intensely, especially as these poor savages
amused and interested me by their eternal
good spirits. They were simply big, play
full children. observed that they blindly
Dbeyed the tall fellow, whom You have Just
seen. lie governed them By his strong
viii and led them in all their mysterious
enterprises as If he We're their chief. Final
ly / ordered them before me and cues
toned them closely.
"Our interview lasted three hours. so
eager was Ito penetrate this singular cha
rabia.' As for him. the poor devil made fran
tic efforts to be nderstood-inventel words.
gesticulated, whistled, perspired, then
stopped when he fancied had canght his
| discovered that he was the
son Of a chief-a sort OF negro king-in the
of Timbuctoo. asked him
his name. lie answered with something
that sounded like CHAR hari boula hall
1t seemed TO me simpler matter to give
him the name of his country, and in eight
days the entire garrison 50 called him.
But we were still curious to know how
this savage obtained his liquor. | discov-
cred il in singular way. On the rz1mparts