Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-30
young girl who receives her first compli-

Tut, that makes. itsthe sadder," said he
with his bland SMILE
I made no answer to that, but tried to
show him by my bearing that I was ready
for the very worst which could befan me.
by the way, rather fancy that we
nave mad some Of your corps mere SAID
ne, turning over the pages Of his big brown
register. I'VE endeavor to keep record
of our operations Here is heading under
June "a. Have you not young officer
named Soubiron, tall. slight youth with
light hair?''
Certainly
II see that we buried him upon that
date"
Poor lad"' 1 cried. "And how did he
die?"
1--WE buried him."
But before you buried him?"
You misunderstood, colonel; he was not
dead before we buried him."
CHAPTER III.
you buried him alive?" For moment
I was too stunned to act. Then hurled
myself upon the man, as he sat, with that
placid smile of his upon his lips and I
would have torn his throat out had the
three watchers not dragged me away from
him. Again and again I made for him,
painting and cursing. shaking off this man
and that, straining and wrenching, but
never quite free. At last, with my jacket
nearly torn off my back and the blood
dripping from my wrists. I was hauled
backward in the blight of rope and cords
passed around my ankles and my arms.
You sleek hound" I cried. IF ever I
have you at my swords point will teach
you to maltreat one Of my lads. You will
find, you bloodthirsty beast that my en-
peror has long arms. and. though you lie
here like a rat in its hole, the time will
come when he will tear you out of 1t.
and you and your vermin will perish to-
gether." My faith, have rough side to
my tongue, and there was not hard word
that l had learned in fourteen campaigns
which did not let fly at him, but he sat
with the handle of his pen tapping against
his forehead and his eyes squirting up at
the roof as If he had conceived the idea Of
some new stanza. 1t was this occupation
of his which showed me how I might get
my point into him. You spawn" said ).
you think that you are safe here, but
your life may be as short as that of your
absurd verses, and God knows it could not
be shorter than that"
Oh, you should have seen him bound
from his chair when had said the words
This vile monster, who dispensed death
and torture as grocer serves out figs
had one raw nerve which I could prod at
pleasure. His face now grew livid and
those little bourgeois side whiskers quiz
cred and thrilled with his passion.
Very good. colonel. You have said
enough he cried, in a choking voice. You
say that you have had a very distinguish
ed career; promise you also very dis
tinguished ending. Col. Etienne Gerard Of
the third hussars shall have death Of
his own
III L,
not commemorate 1t in verse;" I had one
or two other little ironies to utter, but he
cut me short with a furious gesture whic h
caused my three guards to drag me rom
the cave.
Our interview, which I have told you as
nearly as I can remember it. must have
lasted some time, for 1t was quite dark
when We came out. and the moon was shin
ing very clearly in the heavens. The brig
ands had lighted a great fire of the dried
branches of the fir trees; not, of course.
for warmth, since the night was already
very sultry but to cook their evening meal
and the rascals were lying all around in
the yellow glare, SO that the scene looked
like one Of those pictures which Junot
stole out of Madrid. There are some SOL
and the like, but have always been drawn
toward 1t myself. in which respect 1 show
my good taste and my breeding. 1 remem-
Der, for example. that when they were
selling the plumber after the fall of Danzig
bought very fine picture called "Nymphs
Surprised in Wood" and carried it with
me through two campaigns until my .charg-
er had the misfortune to put his hoof
through 1t.
1 only tell you this. however, to show
you that 1 was never mere rough SOL
der. like Rapp or Lefebvre. AS I lay
in that brigands' camp had little time
or inclination to think about such mat
tiers. They had thrown me down IN
der tree. the three villains squatting
founu ana smoking their cigarettes within
hands touch Of me. What to do 1 could
not imagine. In my whole career do not
suppose that I have ten times been in as
hopeless situation. But courage"
were not made a colonel of hussars at
twenty-eight because you could dance q
cotillon. You are picked man, Etienne
a man who has come through more than
not going to be the last" I began eagerly
to glance about for some chance to escape,
and as did SO I saw something which
filled me with great establishment.
I have already told you that q large fire
was burning in the center of the glade.
What with its glare and what with the
moonlight, everything was as clear as pos
sible. On the other side Of tho glade there
was single tall fir tree, which attracted
my attention because its trunk and lower
branches were discolored, as If a large
fire had recently been lit underneath 1t. A
clump of bushes grew in front Of 1t which
ward 1t was surprised to see projecting
above the bush, and fastened apparently to
the tree, pair of fine riding boots, with
the toes upward. At first 1 thought they
were tied there. but as I looked harder I
saw that they were secured by a great
nail, which was hammered through the
foot of each. And then suddenly, with a
thrill Of horror, I understood that they
were not empty boots. and, moving my
head little to the right, was able to see
who it was that had been fastened there
dIlu why q IRE HdQ Deen Ill beneath the
tree. 1t is not pleasant to speak or think
Of horrors. my friends. and 1 do not wish
to give any of you bad dreams tonight, but
cannot take you among the Spanish guer-
rillas without showing you what kind Of
men they were and the sort of warfare
that they waged. I will only say that I
understood why Monsieur Vidars horse was
waiting masterless in the grove, and that
I hoped that he had met his terrible fate
with sprightliness and courage, as a good.
F1enohman ought.
1t was not a very cheering sight for me.
as you can imagine. When I had been
with their chief in the grotto had been so
carried away by my rage at the cruel death
Of young Soubiron, who was one of the
brightest lads who ever threw his thigh
over a charger, that I had never given a
thought to my. own position. Perhaps it
would have been more polite had I spoken
the ruff1an fair, but 1t was too late now.
The cork was drawn and 1 must drain the
wine. Besides, If the harmless commits
sariat man was put to such a death, what
hope was there for me, who had snapped
the spine of their lieutenant? No, 1 was
doomed in any case, so 1t was as well. per-
haps, that I should have put the best face
~, Tho ,,,,ttar This haasf could hoor u-it