Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1895-01-31

they could. 1t was evident that they
had fallen into an ambush themselves
and were surrounded. There was
nothing for it but to make for the
town again or die fighting
Orders were given to retreat, to fix
bayonets and charge through the horde
of Germans that were between them
and the town. Five minutes short,
sharp, desperate fighting suficed to
put an end to the resistance of the lit
tie force, who, were all killed or
wounded, with the exception of Derri-
man and Moncour, who, with their
swords taken from them and their
hands bound, were marched between
two of their captors in the direction of
the Prussian 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 for
silence till he made the next move.
After a minute consideration he took
his opponents bishop off the board
and cried Check !" Then he looked
up inquiringly.
The sergeant saluted and explained.
The chiefs brow darkened, and he
looked at the uniforms of the two pris-
oners, asked their rank, names and
regiment. When the last was an
swered, he whispered something to
the other chess player, who nodded.
Then he turned to Derriman.
"You are the senior officer of the
two," he said, gravely, land you must
know that we do not recognize the
Franc -Tireurs as members of the reg
ular French army
Derriman interrupted. 1--WE hold
our commissions from the emperor =
The German held 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 behind bushes and
rocks. They murder solitary Ger
mans He stopped for minute and
passed his hand over his eyes. Then
he went on "My only son was shot
by one of them in the back and killed
last week. I swore that the next
Franc-Tireurs that fell into my hands
should die without any chance of ex-
change Sergeant the sergeant sa-
luted, which of the two prisoners
were captured frst?'
"They were both taken at the same
time, general.
80. Then you must take your
chances. At daybreak one of you
must die" he laughed sardonically.
(Which of you is it to be?"
Neither of the prisoners spoke OF
looked at the other. There was a
pause for few moment, 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 conversation be-
tween them, and then he went on
"Very well, as you say" He rose
took two bishops from the table and
held them, one in each hand. "The
bishop, the symbol of the holy church
shall decide. The black one glve'
death the white one, emblem of hope
and innocence, life" He held out
his hands before them. "Choose, he
said to Derriman.
Neither of the prisoners moved, but
both looked the German full in the
face. He went on, calmly:
"What, still bashful? Let us decide
at daybreak, then, and each can be
certain of three hours more Of life anc
hope. Take them away"
They were removed, still bound, tc
tent dimly lighted by an oil lamT
that swung from the center and there
left, with guards outside, to their own
thoughts.
Each of the two prisoners, gazing al
each other, realized tnat MS coinraue
death meant life to himself. Their
Moncour, with difficulty, drew an en-
velope from his breast, and turning
his back to the light began to perus'
It's contents.
Trevor Derriman watched him an
grily. What right, he thought to him
self, has this boy to the same chance
of life as | have2 What has he done
Has he been through as much, has n
helped the world on as much as
have? Has he helped to make fre'
Italy, to sever the bondage and raIs'
to manhood's level millions Of op
pressed and enslaved fellow creatures
| have done all this, yet | must tax