The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-03-04
THE WHITE BISHOP.


adventurer Of the nineteenth century, that
his sword had ever been on the side of the
weak and the oppressed. From the day of
Garlbaldrs landing at Marsha till the
final triumphant coronation Of Victor
Emmanuel as king Of free and united Italy
the name of the dashing Englishman had
been q name to ccnjure with among Carl
baldis stern patriots. From the first re-
pulse at Bull Run till Lees final despair
ing surrender at Appomattox the best liked
man In tho Federal army was the Brit
Usher" Captain Derriman, and when an
old italian comrade wrote to him, offer.
ing him, after the commencement of hos
tilities between France and Prussia,
command of Franc Tireurs, Derriman un-
sheathed his sword for the losing side.
1t was not his first visit to France.
There had been an episode In his life be-
fore he became the daring adventurer con-
nected with France that had left on his
heart a scar that now seemed to burst out
again as he once more landed on its shores.
He was a young man at the time, not
more than two or three and twenty, and
Marie could not have been more than 10,
but they had loved each other with truo
and steadfast passion known only to
young hearts. Ho remembered 1t all again
now, with his eyes dimmed.
But the family Of De Liggneur had 9TH
or ambitions for their young heiress than
tho penniless Englishman Passionate en-
treaties, resentful threats had awaited
nothing. Marie must go to convent for
two years; the Englishman must go lis
way without her, A few despairing let
ters had passed between them, and then
nothing moro. Derriman told himself
that he had wrenched her from his life
and that he thought of her no longer,
knowing now that he bad lied.
Tho quick succession of events in the
war gave little time for thoughts or ro-
grcts. Disaster followed disaster, and ev-
erywhero tho desperate valor of the French
was unavuiling. Derriman, the idol of
his men, although he had endeavored
to give them courage by his example,
found himself losing heart for the first
time In his career, but IL was after a Skin
mish outside Metz that the climax came.
Derriman, with his now reduced COM
pany Of 40 men, was told of to intercept,
II possible, a small baggage guard of Ba-
vnrians OH the way to join the main army
invading the town. A young officer named
Moncour was allotted to the small force as
second in command
The march commepccd at midnight.
There was no talking in the ranks or be-
tween tho two officers, each man being in
tent on his own thoughts-tbe avenging
of his comrades Of the morning. About
flvo miles after the start halt was called,
and Derriman called Moncour to him.
"Tbey should be near here now" he
said. This is the road they must
Pingl Pingl Plngi The sentence was
cut short by the sound of rifle bullets
ruh hot Hartman
his men into limo along the small road and
waited to sec which way tho enemy was
coming.
Every way it seemed. From all sides
the hail of bullets poured upon the little
band, who replied as best they could 1t
was evident they had fallen into an am
bush themselves and were surrounded.
There was nothing for It but to mako for
the town again or die fighting.
Orders were given to retreat to fix bay
onets and charge through the horde OF
Germans that were between them and the
town. Five minutes short, sharp, desper-
ate fighting sufficed to put an end to the
resistance Of the little force who were all
killed or wounded, with tho exception of
Derriman and Moncour, who, with their
swords taken from them and their hands
bound, were marched between two of their
oaptors in tho direction of the Prussian
camp.
They were at once taken before the Off
Ger in command, who was in his tent
playing chess with the doctor. As they
entered he held up his hand for silence till
no made the next move. After a minutes
consideration he took his opponents
bishop off the board and cried "Checkl'
Then he looked up inquiringly.
l,tNal aud tutf nj
Tho chiefs brow darkencd, and he looked
at the uniforms of the two prisoners. He
asked their rank, names and regiment.
When tho last was answered, he whispered
something to the other chess player, who
nodded Then he turned to Derriman.
You arc the senior officer of the two, I"
he said gravely, and you must know that
VIC do not recognize tho Franc Tireurs as
members of tho regular French army"
Derriman interrupted. We hold our
commissions from tho emperor
Tho German held up his hand. "Your
men do not conduct warfare in a civilized
manner, he said, playing with tho piece
he had just captured. They shoot from
behind bushes and rocks. They murder
solitary Germans" He stopped for a
minute and passed his hand over his eyes.
Then he went on; My only son was shot
| ny ONO u lllGill III tllt DHtk hllltI iihb
week sworo that tho next franc-tireurs
that fell into my hands should die withonS
any chance of exchange. Sergeant" tho
sergeant saluted, (which of the two pris-
onors was captured frst'"
"Ihey were both taken at the same
time, general.
so. Then you must tako your chances.
At daybreak one of you must die, he
laughed sardonically. (which of you is II
to bo2"
Nett ler Of tho prisoners spoke or looked
at tho other. There was pause for n few
moments, and then tho German spoke
again;
you are bashful, my friends still
SILENT Come" He turned to his chess
opponent and whispered to him. There
was short conversation between them,
and then ho went on, Very WE'LL as you
say" He rose, took two bishops from the
table and held them, one in each hand.
"Tho bishop, the symbol of tho holy
church, shall decide The black one gives
DEATH the white one, emblem of hope and
innocence, life" He held out his hands
before them. Choose" he said to Derri-
man.
Neither of the prisoners moved but
both looked the German full in the face.
He went on calmly:
"What, still bashful3 Let us decide at
daybreak, then, and each can be certain OF
three hours more life and hope. Take
them away"
They were removed, still bound, to a
Dent dimly lighted by an oil lamp that
swung from the center and there left, with
guards outside, to their own thoughts,
Each Of the two prisoners, gazing at
each other, realized that his comrades
death meant life to himself. Then Mon
cour, with difficulty, drew an envelope
from his breast, and turning his back to
the light began to peruse its contents.
Trevor Derriman watched him angrily,
What right, no thought to himself, has
this boy to tho same chance of life as