The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1894-11-02

tHlrlH4 w Sssos at d A msos ia
hTSDarTOn. % brought ne h IA.
~9)'-- famous race
VIII h had
taken cold at the derby. lie had
finished his breakfast. when, glanc-
ing carelessly at a paper. he read the
news Of the disaster Of Reichshoffen.
lie emptied his glass Of Chartreuse.
placed his napkin on the restaurant
table. ordered his valet TO pack his
trunks. took two hours later. the ex-
press for Paris. ran TO the recruiting
bureau and enlisted in a regiment OF
the line.
Though from his nineteenth TO his
twenty-ffth year he had led the encr-
waiting existence of wealthy idler.
though his finer instincts had been
dullcd in racing stables ard the
boudoirs of chanteuscs d'operettes. at
such time as this he could not for
get that Enguerrand lie llardimont
had died Of the pest at TInis while in
the performance Of his duty. that Jean
de Ilardimont had commanded the
Grande companies under Du ouesclin.
and that Francois Henri de Hardimont
had been killed while charging at
Fontenov with the Maiscn Rouge; and
the young duke. in learning that
battle had been lost by the French.
upon French territory felt the blood
rush to his face as If he had received
blow
Tha, is why in the first days OF
November, 1870. returned to Paris
with his regiment. which was a part
of the Corps de Vinncy. Henri de lIar-
dmont. member OF the Jockey club.
who was fuslcer Of the main guard
before the redoubt of the Hautes-
Bruveres. position fortified in haste
which protected the cannon OF the fort
Of Bicetre.
The place was sinister: road
dcep-scarred with muddy ruts. trav-
ersed the leprous fields Of the cnvirons-
Beside il an abandoned wine shop.
among whose arbors the soldiers had
established their posts.
There had been fighting there few
days before; some Of the tree-trunks
along the road had been cut in two by
balls. and all bore upon their bark the
white cicatrices of the shot. As for
the house. its aspect made one shudder;
the roof had been shattered by she'll.
and the walls. the color of wine dregs
seemed 10 have been painted with
blood
At the door of the wine shop the
young duke stood motionless. his gun
slung upon his back, his KEPT drawn
down over his eyes. his benumbed
hands in the pockets of his red trou-
sers shivering under his shccpslSin-
He abandoned himself 10 somber rev
erie. this soldier of the defeat, and
gazed with heartsick eye at the line Of
hills. lost in the mist, from whence
each moment. with defamation.
burst a flake Of smoke from a krupp
cannon Suddenly he felt that lac was
hungry.
lie knelt and drew from his KNAPP
sack. placed near him against the
wall. a piece OF soldiers bread: then,
a. he had lost his knife. he tore il
with his teeth, and ate slowly.
But, after some mouthfuls. he had
enough: the bread was hard and bit
ter There would be none fresh until
the next days distribution. if il might
please the administration. 1t was
sometimes very hard trade OF
war--and his mind reverted to wha'
he used To call his hygicnic breakfasts
when the next day after supper lii
tie too heavy he would seat himself
by window on the ground floor Of thu
Cafe Anglais. and be served with
Mon Dieu. the least Of things-a cut
let, some eggs mixed with asparagus
tips; and the butler. knowing hi
taste, would bring and pour out from
Its basket a fine old bottle OF Leoville
The deuce. Those were happy days
and he could never accustom himsel
20 the bread of misery.
And, in a moment of Impotence. tn
young duke threw the rest Of his loa
into the mud.
At the same time another soldier,
lignnrd. issued from the cabaret; Ia
stopped. picked up the bread. move'
away few steps. wiped IL with hi
sleeve. and commenced to dcvour |
greedily.
Henri de Harlimont was alrcad
ashamed Of his action. and watches
pityngly the poor devil who CAV
proof OF SO good an appetite. lie wa
tall, thin young fellow, loosely built
with fcverish eyes and a hospita
beard. and SO lean that his shoulder
blades stuck sharply out beneath hi
well-worn uniform.
You are very hungry. comrade?
said De IIardimont. approaching Oh
soldier
As you see.' he replied. his mout
tull