Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1895-04-30


ghosts who haunt ancient castles wailing
and groaning md carrying flaming lights
from window 10 window for apparently no
earthly or rather unearthly, purpose save
that OF terrifying out Of his wits some poor
hind bearing home bewildercd brain aft
or staying too long with John Barleycorn
I'm the village inn, but for something that
has forever baflled me and made mo often
wonder whether i was dreaming or awake,
commend mo TO what saw, or thought
saw, the night before Balaklava, Oct. 25,
1854"
And my father threw himself back I'm
his armchair before the fire I'm the smoking
room crate as he took long Whit OF a
nowly lighted cigar and gazed drcamily
into the flames that were cracking up tho
chimney
The subject Of conversation had drift
ed from the battlofelds of yesterday In
Abyssinia and Zululand to those of 30
years before, when the tall, heavy forms
before us Of my father and his old comrades
in arms, Sir Langley Fethcrstone and
Colonel Elmhurst, with their gray, bris-
tling mustaches, their still erect gait, their
unconsciously imperative style and their
solemn and grave department were M
light as my own, Aubrey's or Bob Fcther-
stones that night as we sat around listen
ing to the stories Of the hot days when our
fathers were men rs young as we.
Hand me my memory, Aubrey" said
my father, pointing to a huge cavalry saber
that hung over the mantelpiece. The sword
that had waved over the now iron gray
head, that then was chestnut, as it's own
er with n shout OF defiance bore down
upon the ranks Of the Muscovites OH the
wintry plains of the Crimea.
My father drew the sword from its scab-
bard and lovingly surveyed the glittering
blade.
"Old never failed me- ;" he said. "Do
you see that dint In its edge, Langp Got
that crossing the Alma off the helmet of
Russian cuirassier. / sent the blow
through steel and skull together. There
Is another. Got that the 25th Of October
from tho commander of the Cossacks that
charged tho left flank Of the 'hcavies.' He
struck mt me, Iparried, there is the mark.
And thenf" said Sir Langley.
II swept 1t round and caught him
across the throat" answered my father alb
stractedly. II saw his body afterward
when 1t was turned over to his relatives,
for nc was noble, grand duke, be-
lieve. The same angry frown was slpon
his handsome features as just before my
steel entered his jugular And hero ds an
other-but thcrei II l once got started
telling anecdotes OF every experience that
old blade went through in my hands,
would stay talking until morning. Put
1t up again, Vic. love to handle itwhen-
ever settle down to tell story of the old
days. 1t, as 1t were, inspires me by bring
ing back the events Of bygone years to my
mind as II they had happened yesterday"
Seeing that we were all watching him
in anticipation, he again took some whiffs
Of his cigar and commenced:
1T was the night before the never to be
forgotten 25th of October. We were close
to the Russian lines, our pickets being al
most within hailing distance Of theenemy.
II was riding out to inspect thcsentries
stationed along the GrodnO road. 1t was
a wet, cold night, and clasped my great
coat close about me and spurred my charg-
er along the muddy road. AS reached the
side Of the valley drew him in quickly,
as / heard distant rumble, like the mov-
ing Of some parks Of heavy ordnance at
again. An occasional stray shot from the
outposts, distant challenge of q sentry,
light here and there peering through the
between it and us large, uneven mass Of
something indistinguishablo that marked
out tho Russian lines.
II rode on. 1 arrived at the station Of
the sentry, and us did SO some smart fir
ing broke out toward the rear. Our pick
cts were evidently being driven in, and I
sent the sentry back to hasten up the sup
ports. He never returned. 1 subsequent
ly heard that he had gone on with the re-
endorsements he had been sent to summon
and had been captured.
II staid, cursing his delay for over half
an hour. When l again heard the same
rumbling noise, looked up the valley
All was dark, but the rumble seemed to
be advancing Mt n terrific pace. AS it was
coming from our lines thought 1t might
be night attack. Although how cavalry
could be of any service at such an hour,
on such night, l failed to see. But it is
the soldiers duty to obey first and to form
his opinions aftcrward, and / eagerly
awaited the oncoming of the force.
"A white streak appeared 200 feet away,
the noise crashed upon me with full force,
and In an instant 1 saw the charging
ranks and the wild, eager forms of the sol
diers seated on their foaming galloping
steeds Forms, did l say? Yes, forms
only. Forms pale and shadowy. Horse
and man alike woven, as it were ont of
the mist. On they came, icy breezes rush-
ing with them us they swept by. My
horse plunged and reared frantically. TO
save myself from being dismountsd i
sprong from his back into the snow, and
prancing and snorting he made off toward
our aincs giving rise to the subsequent ru-
NOR OF any death.
"As turned saw tho form of Louis
Nolan. He was sitting half round in his
saddle, his sword hanging from his wrist,
his forage cap in his hand, which he was
waving exultingly. His face was partial
ly turned from me toward the ranks, but
not word passed the open mouth with
the ashen hue on the lips, though 1 could
see blaze in the glistcning eye On they
came-hpssars, lanccrs, dragoons-with
all tho pomp and glory and magnifconce
OF war, mingled with the mystery of the
world unknown. There rode Major Halk-
ct his proud handsome face cot firmly