The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-12-24
OLD SOLDIERS.


to him, moro soldier. He said he would
never forget IL.
Indeed You have never told us about
that" replied Bernardin. when did he
speak TO your"
"Whenf oh. that's my AFFAIR.""
"Well, but what did he say to your"
"What did he say to mei That's alse
my affair"
"Yes, butt
'Well. he was passing along In front Of
the regiment, and when he came opposite
to me he stopped and said
We'll. what did he say2 You surely
don't hesitate to repeat iti'
"No. no. don't hesitate. He said tc
me-er-that looked like Add fooll'
replied Gauillac. with an effort.
Bernardin burst into noisy laugh, anc
In teasing manner said:
Perhaps he was right, but where the
devil did he say that TO your"
The eve Of the battle Of Lutzen, wher
he was reviewing the regimentP
"'Cre nom. you don { look like ID
fooli You nre onel' IL was not to you ht
said that. 1t was TO mei''
ITO you. to you, Bernardinr
"Yes, yes. to me, and III prove II. We
were elbow 10 elbow. He stopped In front
of US The colonel drew notebook from
his pocket, put his sword under his arm
and said;
"'He Is very brave To which the EN-
peror replied:
THAT is not sufficient and added
He must also have the appearance Of 8
fool, and as he spoke IL was me he looked
at--yes, moi
Bernardinr' cried Gauillac In sol
emn and threatening manner, "you ars
telling me q lie. You are trying TO stea
from my heart one of It's dearest memories
You are a bad fellow and a.
"Ah you have got the swelled head al
my expcnsel i Iwill not suffer It,"
Nor will IT,
"What next, them"
"Bahl am angry with everything, apc
especially with you, who are jealous ci
what the emperor said TO me. Z"
"You aro nothing more than beast
an arch beast and an old humbuRp cried
Bernardin In state Of evaporation snc
ready to throw bottle at Gauillac's s head.
"Eh, bienl IL shall'--
There's no need to complete your sen
tencel Such insults nrs washed out only
with blood. You will hear from me to
morrow"
And Bernardin went out proudly with
bis head In the air and his legs firmer thar
they were at tho beginning OF the dispute
Next day they met again In the Bois d.
Clamart. Bernsrdin brought with. him
two swords, freshly sharpened and wrap
ped up ia a piece Of cloth. He handed
them to the seconds and quietly took OF
his cloak, avoiding his adversary's eyes
and without saying word.
One of the seconds, a decorated rnvalide
who-had served with tho two champions
and who was known as Dig David, tOot
the two sabers, stuck them In the ground
and said:
This is not all. want TO know before
we go any further why you two are going
TO fight. If you don't tell me, by sad, IN
take my lenyel'
Gauillao and Bernardin seemed ljttlt
disconnected by this simple question
They exchanged glances and replied to
gether
THAT Is our affair alone"
'Not at all, not at all. replied Big Da
vid, with very pronounced Alsatian 40
cont. lit Is also the affair OF the seconds
We cannot allow old comrades to fight un'
less tboy have a good reason"
''Eh, bien," said Gsuillao "Bernardir
has insultod MEL
1t Is not true. IL is Gaullac who in
suited me, and who
But Mhy2 What aboutf"
Thoy realized SO keenly the humor o.
their position, these old soldiers, that nei
ther Of them answered the question.
''You will not explainl Then l shall al
once GO home" declared Big David.
Listen q moment, David A second Il
lifo confessor. will tell you the whole
thing upon the condition that you will
not prevent US Fighting
And Gaullao related faithfully the
whole quarrel.
Scarcely had ho finished when Big Da.
vid began to gambol and cut capers and
flourish his stick In such manner thai
they feared he was about 20 have flt He
uttered some inartiouate sounds, In the
midst Of which certain words woro never.
theless distinguishable.
"Such d---d fools, such d--d foolsl''
Finally ho oalrled down, and his eyel
still filed with tears of delirious Joy, hs
said.
You arc couple of clowns. The en-
peror said that to me."
Bernardin and Gauillac, moved by the
same impulse, approached Big David with
frowning eyebrows and closed fists. They
would have struck him, but he stopped
them with a gesture.
Let me speak first, and aftorward you
can do as you please" he cried. "Tht
night before the battle OF Luton I was
chosen by the colonel 10 carry n secret
message to which the emperor attached tht
greatest Importance. was selected be
cause / came from Sarrelouis and coule
speak German.
Il was furnished with n PEASANTS dres,
and cautioned to look as much like I,
d---d fool ~ possible, and, IL arrested,
90 bohavo like a donkey that wants 81
BRAN was able to accomplish my. mis-
sion TO the satisfaction OF my chicis.
carried the message safely, and when re
turned the colonel said that should hav,
cross. The emperor who always looked
fxedly at tho men, may have said whal
you heard him say before both Of you, but
IL was OF me he was thinking"
And the proof Of what you tell usf'
demanded Bernardin and Gauillao in th,
same breath.
is here" said Big David, showing hi