The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1893-12-28

mutely, having but little taste for the
wordy savageries that were being so
freely dealt about
But the angry man at the end of the
table singled me out at last, perhaps
because my outward calm and listless-
ness Jared upon him.
Tired, Eugene?" he asked.
"a little, sir"
"Ah, / can understand It. l noted
your activity to-day. You have mis-
taken your vocation, mon cher. You
should not have come into the army.
You should have been a professional
| runner"
An answer burned on nv tongue.
But kept it there gave shrug, and
said nothing. What use could further
wrangling be?
DO you think you will again feel in
clined to use those powers of yours to-
morrow, Eugene? Or had l better
have you handcuffed to some steady old
soldier"
A dozen of the other officers sprang
to their feet at this CHASTITY taunt, for
when such n thing was said to one of
their number it touched all. The old
maj or was their spokesman.
Colonel, we all make allowances,
but you are going too far with the
| youngster."
The colonel scowled round, tight
Tipped. for minute, and then:
II am quite capable of commanding
this regiment of lost sheep without I'M
asked-for advice from subordinates,
major. Lieut. Ramard, you heard my
question, presume? Please have the
civility to answer"
During the minutes respite | had
been thinking and acting-that is,
writing ] got up and handed the
colonel a slip of paper. On it were the
| words:
II acknowledge that E Ramard lieutenant
| OF the Twenty second -. am a coward
tSigned) EUGENE RAMARD"
There, sir" said, kindly add the
date, as l have forgotten what it is,
and please leave that behind with the
baggage when we march tomorrow
If do not do better work for France
than any man in the regiment it is my
wish that this paper be published.
The colonel nodded grimly and then
| frowned.
Have your permission now, sir, to
| withdraw from this room?"
In the dark, wet air outside, and not
before, did l realize fully what had
| done.
The screed on the slip of paper had
h. % al. -
seemed to me now the outcome of a
moments insanity. had no plan, no
trace of scheme in my head whilst I
was scribbling. The words and the
| pledge were an empty boast, made in
the wild hope that | could hold them
good. But how could such thing be
done?
All, no, the thing was impossible
With them l should fall, and amongst
all of them alone would be branded
infamous. The paper would be brought
to light; the curt, bald confession would
be read with no explanation of how or
why it was written; and men would
form their own opinions-all hostile,
all against me.
l wandered wherever my blind feet
led me, wrenched by torments that
God alone knew the strength of, and
from which there seemed no human
means of escape
The heavy rain squalls moaned down
the village streets. Only the dripping
sentries were open-eyed.
The thought came: You die only to
gain wreath of craven plumes Why
not pass away from here-escape-de-
sert-vanish-be known no more-and
yet live? No one withholds from you
new life and new country. France
alone, of all the world, is utterly hope
less for you.
Farther and farther towards the scat
tered outskirts of the hamlet did my
doubling feet lead me. But sound
fell on my ear, faint and not unmu-
steal. | was DULY conscious of some
scheme beginning to frame itself l
changed my path and walked faster.
| Presently the cause of the sound dis
closed itself. A field forge. an anvil,
and couple of grimv farriers and half
a dozen troopers with horses
1t was queer enough group, and
gazed at IL Tor many minutes, still I'M
able to frame the gauzy idea that had
terminated me.
Then one of the farriers, who had
been fitting kissing shoe on to a hind
hoof, chilled the hot iron in rain pud-
die and bumped up the horses fetlock
on to his apron again.
The fellow picked up hammer, took
a nail from his mouth, and drove the
nail first gently, and then smartly
| home.
There, vicious one," swore he. ~
put that spike through the vent in a
matter of seconds, but with these four
Others beside it, thoult not rid myself
of it in as many weeks"
Five louis for that hammer and a
score of nails!'
The military smith dropped the hoof
from his lap, came to attention and
saluted. But he looked at me queerly,
and answered nothing. could see he
thought me mad.
Very likely excitement had made me
look so.
Ten louis! There is the money, in
gold"
MY officer the things are yours"
| And now for the rivar Tho ourrax, =