The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-12-10

was not the place for a gallop.
l have never been very kindly with
this Charpentier, and now for twenty
miles of the way | could not draw
word from him. He rode with mis-
brows puckered and his chin upon his
breast like a man who is heavy with
thought. More than once I asked him
what was on his mind, thinking that
perhaps with my quicker intelligence |
might set the matter straight His an
swer always was that it was his mis-
sion of which he was thinking, which
surprised me, because, although l had
never thought much of his intelli-
gence, still it seemed to me to be i'm
possible that anyone could be puzzled
by so simply and soldlerly task.
Well we came at last to BaZoches
where he was to take the southern
road and I the northern. He half
turned in his saddle before he left me
and he looked at me with singular
expression of inquiry on his face.
What do you make of it, brigadier?"
he asked.
"Of WHAT"
"Of our mission"
Surely, it is plain enough"
"You think so? Why should the en-
peror tell us his plans?"
Because he recognized our intelll-
gence."
My companion laughed in a manner
which | found annoying. MAY | ask
what you intend to do if you find these
villages full of Prussians?" he asked.
81 shall obey my orders"
"But you will be killed"
every possibly"
He laughed again and so extensively
that l clapped my hand to my sword.
But before | could tell him what l
thought of his stupidity and rudeness
he had wheeled his horse and was lum-
berng away down the road. saw
his big fur cap vanish over the brow
of a hill, and then l rode upon my
way wondering at his conduct. From
time to time / put my hand to the
breast of my tunic and felt the paper
crackle beneath my fingers. All; my
precious paper which should be turned
into the little silver medal for Whlch l
had yearned so long. All the way
from Braine to Sermoise | was think
ing of what my mother would say When
she saw it.
stopped to give Violette a meal at
wayside auberge on the side OF a nil
not far from Soissons-a place sur
rounded by old oaks, and with so many
crows that one could scarce hear ones
own voice. 1t was from the innkeeper
| that l learned that Marmont had fallen
| hack two days before and that the
Prussians were over the Aisne. An
hour later in the fading light l saw
two of their vedettes upon a hill to the
right and then, as darkness gathered,
the heavens to the north were all glim-
mering from the lights of bivouac.
When l heard that Blucher had been
there for two days | was much sur
prised that the emperor should not
have known that the country through
which he had ordered me to carry my
precious letter was already occupied by
| tbe enemy. Still thought of the tone
Of his voice when he said to Charpen-
tier that a soldier must not choose but
must obey. I should follow the route
he had laid down to me as long as Vlo-
lette could move hoof or l a hnger
unon her bride. All the way from
Sermoise to Scissors, where the road
| dips up and down, curving among fir
woods, | kept my pistol ready and my
sword belt braced, pushing on swiftly
where the path was straight and then
| coming slowly around the corners IN
| I..,, 4 to in
| When | came to the farmhouse which
! lies to the right of the road just after
YOU cross the wooden bridge over the
| Crise, near where the great statue OF
| the Virgin stands, woman cried to me
| from the field saying the Prussians
were in Scissors. A small party of
their lancers, she said had come on
that very afternoon and a whole di-
vision was expected before midnight.
did not wait to hear the end of her
tale, but clapped spurs into Violettc
and five minutes later was galloping
her into the town.
Three Uhlans were at the mouth OF
the main street, their horses tethered
and they gossiping together each with
| IL pipe lOllb lAly StlbSA' 90" S'AN''
we'll at the light of an open door, but
of me they could have seen only the
flash of Violette's gray side and the
black flutter of my cloak. A moment
later l flew through stream of them
rushing from an open gateway. Vio-
lette's shoulder sent one of them reel
ing and | stabbed at another but missed
| i'm, want two rhinpC
but / had flown through the curve OF
the street and never so much as heard
the hiss of the balls. All, we were great
both Violette and !. She lay down tC
1t, like a coursed hare, the fire flying
from her hoofs. / stood in my stiTup;
and brandished my sword. Some one
sprang for my bride. l sliced hin
through the arm and heard him howl
ing behind me. Two horsemen CLOSED
upon me. cut one down and outpacet
the other. A minute later l was cleal
of the town and flying down a broad
white road with the black poplars OF
either side. For time l heard the rat
tie of hoofs behind me, but they dice
and died until I could not tell then
from the throbing of my own heart
Soon / pulled up and listened but al
was silent. They had given up tht
chase.
Well, the first thing that l did wa
to dismount and to lead my mare int,
a small wood through which strean
ran. There / watered her and rubbed
her down, giving her two pieces o
sugar soaked in cognac from my flask
She was spent from the sharp chase
but 1t was wonderful to see how sh
came round with a half-hour'sb rest
When my thighs closed upon her agail
l could tell by the spring and swing o
her that it would not be her fault If
did not win my way safe to Paris,
l must have been well within tn
enemY's lines now for [ heard a mum