The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1893-07-11


there poured a deadly fire down the
incline on the third army corps. that
was attempting to join the Bavarjan
forces, and thus close fast the iron
circle around the enemy. Hardly a
quarter OF mile interviewed between
these two ends of the German army,
but this space. small as IT was. still
afforded to the enemy an easy escape.
unless the Austrian batteries on the
hills were silenced al once.
Won Lingen's regiment had not
been brought into action as yet. and
he was talking with his colonel when
an orderly galloped up and delivered
the colonel a written order. The old
officer handed the order to the lieu
tenant. and ordered him to his post.
The hill must he taken, even il a
brigade were sacrificed.
As v. Lingen was riding to his
company he heard the beat of hoofs
behind him, and Karl came gallop-
ing past He waved his hand to-
ward the hill as he rode BY. There
is my hOme,- he shouted back over
his shoulder. ..Vive la guerre!"
Y. Lingen refined in his horse so alb
ruptly that the animal recoiled on its
launches. This. then, was the peace
full house he had dreamed of last
night. Perhaps she was there behind
the Austrian batteries. and his heart
beat faster at the very thought of
being near her. He had little time
for thought, however. for the troops
soon deployed on to the open and be-
gan the ascent of the hill Half way
up a shell struck his horse in the
chest. and he only had time to swing
himself from the saddle as the ami
NAL reared and came down on its
back. Tearing off his useless belt
and scabbard. he rushed on on foot.
The guns moved great gaps in the
ranks, but the men behind pushed
on. filled up the empty spaces. and
tramp!ed under foot their wounded
comrades.
Won Lingen was one of the first to
reach the batteries. He sprang upon
q cannon. and made a desperate
thrust at the gunner. who was about
to fire his piece. The man parted
the blow with his naked hand. and
Selling the blade as it passed. he
snapped it with a tremendous effort
Of his wrist, leaving the hilt with
Jew inches OF steel in Y. Lingen's
hand. The officer recovering him
self dashed his useless sword in his
enemy's face and rushed on.
The Prussians were coming up the
hill in great numbers and almost all
the cannon had been taken. But
although the batteries had been
silenced, the Austrians, having
barricaded the house. were keeping
up murderous fire from the windows.
The front door stood at the bottom
Of the three-sided court. and was
defended on all sides by men in the
second and third stories of the house
L: was the only practical entrance.
and tvolunteers. were called to force
It Some twenty men rushed forward
and threw themselves against the
oaken panels. but the door was held
by great bolts inside. and their
efforts We're useless. Before they
could make a second attempt almost
all of them had fallen under the
tremendous fire poured down upon
them from the windows.
The regiment was in dangerous
position. After having captured the
batteries. it was exposed to almost as
fatal fusilade from the barricaded
house. There was a moment OF in
decision Suddenly squad OF men.
headed by v. Lingen. ran forward,
carrying a great beam on their
shoulders. The door resounded under
the repeated attacks of this battering
ram. but one by one the men fell,
and the iron bolts still held. Won
Lingen still grasping his broken
sword. urge the men on. waving his
arms and shouting words of encour-
agement. Moment by moment the
blows of the ram grew weaker until
finally it dropped from the hands of
the last unwounded man. Ven Lingen
stood there alone. Leaping up the
steps, he threw his weight against
the door and beat upon it with his
sword hilt-
Weakened by repeated ATTACKS. the
bolts suddenly gave way. and the
great door fell inwardS. crushing from
its hinges. The room was black with
smoke and the figure of the officer
stogd out in bold relief against the
darkness. When V. Lingen saw
nothing but the smoky interior of the
room. and could not tell whether
there was any one in it or not. he
raised his voice and cried:
"Alarie. Marie"
At first there was no answer. but
as he called again. he seemed to hear
voice. her voice. answering him out
of the depths Of the low, dark room:
30 hOspes salve."
Grasping the door-post with ono