Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-02-15

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the resistance of the little force
who we're all killed or wounded,
with the exception of DeIriman
and MOucour, who, with their
swords taken from them and their
hands bound, were marched be
tween two OF their captOrs IN the
direction of the Prnssiau camp.
They were at once taken before
the officer in command, who was
in his tent playing chess with the
doctor. AS they entered he held
up his hand TOR silence till he made
the next move. After a minutes
consideration he took his OppOD-
ents bishop of the board and cried
"Checkw Then he looked mp in
quIrnGly.
The sergeant saluted and ex-
planned. The chiefs brow darken.
ed, ard he looked at the uniforms
of the two prisoners, asked their
rank, names and regiment. When
the last was answered, be whisper.
ed something to the other chess
player, who nodded. Then he
turned to Derriman.
"You are the senior officer of the
two," he said, gravely. "and you
must know that we do not recOg-
nIze the Franc Tireurs as mem.
bels of the regular French army
Derriman interrupted. "Ne
hold our commissions from the
emperor
The German neld up his hand.
"YOur men do not conduct warfare
IN a civilized manner" he said,
playing with the piece he had just
captured. "They shoot from be-
hind bushes and rocks. They
murder solitary Germans" He
stopped for a minute and passed
his hand over bis eyes. Then he
went on: "My only sou was shot
10y one of them in the back and
killed last week. | swore that the
next Franc TreurS that fell in to
my hands should die without any
chance of exchange. Sergeant
the sergeant salutet, "whlch of the
two prisoners were captured hrstV"
"They were both taken at the
same time, general"
$50. Then you must take your
chances. At ddybreak one Of you
must dle," lie laughed sardODically.
(Which Of you is 1t 30 btl'
NelIher of the prisoners spoke or
looked at the other. There was
pause for few moments, and then
the German spoke again:
"YOu are bashful, my friends.
still silent Come" He turned TO
his chess opponent and whispered
to him. There was a short con-
versatiOn betA cen then, and then
he went on, "Very well, as YOU
say" He rose, took two bishops
from the table and h.ld them, one
in each hand. "The bishop, the
mbol of the hOIy church, shall
decide. Tue bl lck Onegives death;
the white one, mhlem of hope and
innocence, Ilte." lie held out his
hands before them. "ChOose," he
said to Derrlman.
Neither Of the prisoners moved,
bat both looked the German full
III the face. lie went on, calmly:
"What. still bashtul? Let us
decide at day break, then, and
each can be certain ofthree hours
more OF life aud hope. Take them
away"
They were removed, still bound,
still bound, to tent dimly lighted
by an oil lamp that swung from
the center aud there lefr, with
guards outside, to their own
thoughts.
Each of the two prisoners, gazing
at each other, realized that his
comrades death meant life 10
himself. Then MOncOur, with
difficulty, drew an envelope from
his breast, aud turning his back
to the light began to peruse its
contents.
Trevor Derriman watched him
angTily. What right, he thought
to himself, has this boy to the
same chance Of life as | havei
What has he dOnel Has he been
thought of rs much, has he helped
the world on as much as 1 have2
Has he helped to make afree Italy,
to sever the bondage and raise to
manhOOd's level mlllIOns of ep.
pressed and enslaved fellow
creatures2 have doue all this, yet
must take the same chance as
he.
Derriman gazed at the lad, still
inteut on the letter, with furious
resentment IN his heartand sneer