Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-09-26
''There is hotter place over the hill,
Steinert. y said Franz.

came. Clear and ringing it was sounded
by the chief trumpeter. Clear and ring
ing sounded the trumpets in response.
With a great clatter the cavalry swept
up the hill to plunge into the fiery rain
below.
There came shrill singing through
the sulphurous air, deafening crash,
and a shell had exploded to the right.
Before it fell Holtz, the farther trump
eter
Steinert' ) horse recoiled, then plunged
over lis head. : In an instant Steinert
was OIL his feet and running by Franz's
side. Behind him came laundering line
upon lirc CT galloping squadrons.
"Can you take me up?" gasped Stein
ert, unmindful of the red stain which
widc,:otl Gil his side.
'Up!' cried Franz. He checked
Prinz's pace an instant, and the trum-
peter was mounted behind him. The
sight of battle had entered the cavalry
horse, and down the hill he clattered
under the double load, soon fully abreast
of the squadron.
''You arc hurt!' cried Franz "Put
your arms around me- So"
A dimness spread before the keen eyes
of Steinert. There was hu,nming in
his ears The heavens were growing
black!
Again came the trumpet call. With q
wavering effort Steinert raised his in
strument, but found no strength to
blow.
Franz" he groaned, "sound the
chargep'
There was no time for question. Seiz-
ing the trumpet, Franz raised it to his
lips Clear and strong his repetition of
the call rang out above the turmoil.
''BravoP' groaned Steinert. ''Now
let me drop
Steinert's hands loosened their grasp.
His strength ebbed fast. But Franz
caught the faccid hands firmly in his
left fist and drew the limp form closer
to his broad shoulders. He dropped the
bride rein upon his pommel thrust his
right arm through the cord OF his trump
ct, grasped his saber with that hand,
tlllu 81 l-lCu tIlS oIlOC1A VI UdUtl6.
Nightfall found the army of the crown
prince gathered in and around a French
village, far from the ground on which
Franz, after the first charge, had de-
livered Steinert to the ambulance, the
nurses and the doctors Through the
successive actions of the day the young
student had served as trumpeter.
Shouting, foraging for provisions,
cheering. singing and laughing as
though on a holiday, the Bavarian
troopers surgcd through the little cap
tured town., After darkness had come
on Franz, pushing his way through the
crowded thoroughfares, found himself
before an inn where many of his COM
rades were eating. They shouted to him
to enter.
Winking and blinking as he came
from the darkness into the strong light,
Franz failed to see the signal slyly
given by a burly dragon. There was a
hasty scraping of chairs OH the bare
floor, clatfer of feet, and the survivors
of Franz S squadron sprang to their feet.
With an uplifted sausage the signal
was given. Then ''Hoch! Hoch!" rolled
through the room and reverberated in
the corners. Smiling faces turned to
greet Franz; eager hands drew him to
a seat. Dazed, uncomprehending, he
slipped into his chair, and only upon re
peated explanations did he understand
the cause of the demonstration.
"Why, man. growled the burly
dragon, don't you know it was brave
thing to cripple yourself with Steinert
in the midst of charge? Ach, but it
was fne!"
"He is my FRIEND" answered Franz
simply, my comrade.
There was stir at the door and the
clatter of a saber upon the floor. In an
instant every hand was raised in salute.
1t was the captain.
81 find that both trumpeters of this
squadron were disabled early in the
action today, yet trumpet has sounded
the orders as they were given. How
was that?" In eager words the story
was told, and Franz found himself hus-
tied and shouldered until he stood be-
fore the captain. With some uneasiness
he raised his eyes to his superior's face.
Had he transgressed in taking upon
himself another's Office. But there was
no severity in the answering glance.
'How came you to know the calls?"
the captain asked kindly.
Franz told briefly of the lessons he
had received from Steinert back in the
fatherland
''Then keep the place you have taken
today, as Holtz is dead and Steinert too
badly wounded for service. 1t pleases
you, see. 1t pleases me ALSO Good
nightp'
And again the room resounded to
shouts, deep and sonorous, "Hoch,
Hoch, Hochn'
A year! JOY and sorrow, hope and
despair, laughter and tears, victory and
defeat-these are it's harvest. But above
the sobs Of those who will not be COM
forted rolls a tide of rejoicing. The
troops are returning!
''Mother!'
An eager face was thrust in at the
half opened door, followed after an in
terval of serious inspection by small
body. Margarita was unusually excited.
Her round checks burned cherry red,
her blue eyes shone. She held the vel.
low cat tightly under one arm.
''Well, child, what is it?'' :siiad her
mother.
''Thou knowest godmother gave me
money for q gold chain?" L arg3ita
ventured, emphasizing her rem .rl with
plaintive yowl from the compressed
puss.
Surely. 1t is high time it was
bought. Tomorrow
''Mother, " cried Margarita desperate
ly, 81 want the money for something
else. -
''What then?" asked Frau Krunmer.
Margarita burst into tears, cast away
the cat and clung to her arm.
do let ma-;lo let mer' she sobbed.
Dear mother, let me go to Berlin with
Frau Sucher and Frau Biedernsann to
meet the soldiers. l am a big girl now
8 years old, almost-and Frau Sucher
will take care of mel"
She opened her previously hidden
hand and revealed little hoard OF
money.
''It will be enough, ana. Fr.lnz will