The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1894-02-10
messed, with folded arms and nervous

away by the far wall, and lay there
mutely, having but little taste for the
wordy savageries that were being SC
freely dealt about
But the angry man at the end of the
table singled me out at last, perhaps
because my outward calm and listless-
ness Jared upon him
Tired. Eugene?" he asked.
"a little, sir"
"Ah, / can understand It / noted
your activity to-day. You have mis-
taken your vocation, mon cher. You
should not have come into the army.
You should have been q professional
runner"
An answer burned on my tongue.
But kept it there. gave a shrug, and
said nothing. What use could further
wrangling be?
DO You think you will again feel in
clined to use those powers of yours to-
morrow, Eugene? Or had better
have you handcuffed to some steady old
! soldier?'
A dozen of the other officers spraug
to their feet at this CHASTITY taunt, for
| when such a thing was said to one of
their number it touched all The old
major was their spokesman.
Colonel. we all make allowances,
but you are going too far with the
youngster."
The colonel scowled round. tight
Tipped. for minute, and then:
II am quite capable of commanding
this regiment of lost sheep without un-
asked-for advice from subordinates,
major. Lieut. Ramard. you heard my
question, I presume? Please have the
civility to answer"
During the minutes respite I had
been thinking and acting-that is,
writing. I got up and handed the
colonel a slip Of paper. On it were the
words:
II acknowledge that I. E Ramard, lieutenant
OF the Twenty second = am coward
(Signcd) EUGENE RAMAnD."
"There, SIR" said, skindly add the
date. as have forgotten what it is,
and please leave that behind with the
baggage when we march tomorrow.
1t do not do better work for France
than any man In the regiment it is my
wish that this paper be published"
The colonel nodded Rrimly and then
frowncd
"Have I your permission now, sir, to
withdraw from this room?"
In the dark, wet air outside, and not
before. did / realize fully what had
done.
The screed on the slip of paper had
been the spasm Of the instant It
seemed to me now the outcome of q
moments insanity. / had no plan, no
trace of scheme in my head whilst I
was scribbling. The words and the
pledge were an empty boast, made in
the wild hope that could hold them
good. But how could such thing be
done?
All, no, the thing was impossible.
With them ! should fall, and amongst
all OF them alone would be branded
infamous The paper would be brought
to light; the curt, bald confession would
be read with no explanation Of how or |
why it was written; and men would
form their own opinions--all hostile,
all against me.
l wandered wherever my blind feet
led me, wrenched by torments that |
God alone knew the strength of, and
from which there seemed NO human
means of escape
The heavy rain squalls moaned down |
the village streets. Only the dripping
sentries were open-eyed.
The fbo,,nhk co-o. W.. IA
gain wreath Of craven plumes Why
not pass away from here--escape-de-
scrt-vanish-be known no more-and
yet live? No one withholds from YOU
new life and new country. France
alone, of all the world. is utterly hope
less for you.
Farther and farther towards the scat
Tered outskirts of the hamlet did nv
doubling feet lead me. But a sound
ell on my ear, faint and not unmu-
heal. ! was duly conscious of some
scheme beginning to frame itself L
changed. my path and walked faster.
Presently the cause Of the sound dis
closed itself. A field forge, an anvil.
md couple OF grimv farriers and half
dozen troopers with horses
1t was queer enough group, and /
'szed ut it for many minutes, still un-
'ble to frame the gauzy idea that had
me-
Then one OF the farriers, who had
'een fitting q Kissing shoe on to a hind
loof, chilled the hot iron in rain pud- /,
lie and bumped up the horses fctlock
n to his apron again.
The fellow picked up hammer, took ,
nail from his mouth, and drove the
all first gently. and then smartly
ONE.
There, vicious one" swore he. sT
ut that spike through the vent in a
natter OF seconds, but with these four :
theirs beside It. thou1t not rid thyself J
It in as many weeks"
Five louis for that hammer and =
,ore of nails!"