The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1893-07-29

uAAI SaNS keVStSs tfkf ySt'NT
batled in gold. Now this had changed
to a deep gray, gilded by the vanes of
the Rathhaus and those IF the twin
church cpircs, and against this massive
background carts and horses and Jig
ures hurrying out Of the city 10y the
Regen Thor showed with startling dis
tinctness. While the boy on the op-
posite hill gazed at the multitude which
came thronging out Of the gate. he saw
that they all took the same POad-that
which led down the steep cliff to the
| one-arch bridge, and SO on to the road
below where he stood.
What can have happened since l
went away? he said to himself. 1T
Is only q week ago."
+ The way to the town took him out
Of the field where he had been stand
ing to a wood ON the side of the de-
sent: river and road were alike hid
den from view by the close-growing
tree stems; and the boy hurried on,
eager to learn what this concourse
meant.
There is no fair till Easter" he
thought; land it Is not even market
day"
Then he smiled, for he we'll knew
| tina, market day lever brought such
q throng Of people into ~Freitenberg.
Long before he left the wood his ears
told him that the crowd WAS passing
along the road below, and when he ut
last reached the gate leading into this
he saw with increased wonder that
these hurrying people were not strang,
ers, but fellow teNnslrcn and towns
women. He looked first at n face,
then at another, Of those who Were
hurrying by, and there was the same
look on every face-a look Of terror.
"Hulio, Heinrich" he called out.
what is The matter and where are
you all goingY"
smith, shook his head, and pointed 70
the cart beside which he walked. In
it were his wife, two children, and a
heap of household goods that seemed
to have been flung any how into the
cart.
Franz turned to walk beside fApe
smith.
mo time for words, my Lad; have you
not heard the French arg marching on
Freitlberg? They will be ieEe to
night. Get in if you will"
The woman in the cart began to sob
1.-THE French are butchers" she cried
and she Rugged her little ones closely
Thank you, Heinrich the boy said
II must 50 home at once to see aftei
my grandmother"
"Lorenz Imhoff will see to her." the
smith answered. You are foolish il
you 60 into Freitenberg."
How long has this been knownT
the boy asked.
To-day" answered Heinrich briefly
aud he whipped up his horse.
Franz left him and went rapidly to
ward the bridge. Everywhere he saw
sullen, sometimes terrified men :lnd
sobbing, despairing wonen Those he
asked had but one answer to his ques
tic ns.
1.-The French are coming-they arc
even now at the gates that devils
crew-the worst OF all that came out
Of Moscow"
In spite of his excitement the boy
was slow in climbing the opposite hill
for the severe frost had made the
steep road slippery. The gate was sc
| AOl1SCu TIL AC pNoSSu OA stAOAtE SAS
road outside the wallis until he lii to
a smaller gate, a sort Ut postern, and
through this he entered the town.
Here was all hurry and hustle, max
ing a strange contract with the leader
colored sameaess Of the sky; and by
this time the Clouds had dropped Sc
low that they seemed almost to touch
the high peaked roofs If Freitenberg
Under this canopy the red roofs LOCKED
taller than ever; and every detail O1
carved wooden gable, OF. sculpturel
stone dorIneY and the plaster 0rnamep
between the muittforll and irregularls
placed windows, showed out Viytdly
Many of the houses OF this small cit,
seemed made for princely habitatiah
they were SO lofty and stately; though
the lower stories were chiefly made vi
Of c%ourtyards, or hofs, as they Wer'
called.
These larger houses were in the Her
rengasSe-a broad, handsome street
with the RathhaIls at orner lead
ing down to- the small gate by Wllcl
Franz had come In. The market plac
was at Its farther end, In front ct tn,
Rathhat1s, and Franz ran on to this
for, though the Herrengassa was de
serted, he saw d crowd Of people q
the rne OF the market place, and q
he reached 1t the councillor came 0u
and one of them stood on the step
of the RathbalIs md said 4 few word