The Irish standard., 1895-10-12
T, M. ROBERTS SUPPLY HOUSE,

wish to have q better set OF bins to-
pick from. Chanlbertin, Graves, Ali
cant, white wine and rcd, sparkin,g,
and still, they lay in pyramids peeping3
coyly out of the sawdrst- Old Bouvet
stood with his candle, looking here and
peeping there, purring in his throat
like cat before 8, 1nilkpail. He had.
picked upon a Burgundy at last, ana
had his hand outstretched to the bot
tie, whom there came a roar OF mas
kerry from above us, a rush OF feet, and
such a yelpiilg and a screaming as l
have never listened to. The Prussians
were upon us.
Rouvet is q brave man; will say that3
for him He flashed out his sword and
away he clattered up the stone steps,
his spurs blinking AS he ran. followed
him. but just as we came out into the
kitchen passage Il tremendous shout
told us that the house had been recap
tured.
'tIt is all over" cried, gra5ping at
Bouvet's sleeve.
There is one more to die" he shout
ed. and away he went like a mailman
up the second stair. IN effect should
have gone to my death also had been
in his place. for he had done very wron!,
in rot throwing out his scouts to warn
him if the Germans advanced upon hirn.
For an instant was about to rush 10
with him, and then Ilocthouglat myself
that after all had my own mission TO
think of, and that if were taken She
important letter Of the emperor would
be sacrificed. / let Rouvet die alone,
therefore, and I went down into the
cellar again, closing the door behind
me.
Well, it was rot very rosy prospect
down there, either Bouvet hssa
dropped the candle when the alarm
came, and /, paving about in the dark
ness, could find nothing bat broken
bottles at last I came upon the ca1z-
die, which had rolled under the curve OF
a cash, but try as ! would with my lin
der box could not light it. The reaac51
was that the wick had been wet IN g.
puddle of wine, SO, suspecting that this
might be the case, cut the end off with
my sword Then found that it light
ed easily enough But what to Go
could not imagine. The scoundreis up
stairs were shouting themselves hoarse,
several hundred Of theta frora the
sound, and it was clear That some OF
them would soon want to lnolsten their
throats. There would be 81 end OF a
dashing soldier. and of the mission and
of the medal, | thought Of my mother
and I thought of the emperor. II made
me weep to think thai the one would
Il :, at I'M,
the best light cavalry officer he ever
had since La Salle's time. j;ut presents
ly I dashed the tears frona rpy eyes.
:'Courage." / cried, striking rnyse!1
upon the chest. Courage, my brave
boy! Is it possible that ono. who has
come safely from Moscow without SO
much as a frost bite viii die il.
a French wine cellar?' At the
thought l was up Oh my feet,
and clutching at the letter in my ta1nic,
for the cracl1le OF Is gave ice courage.
NV first plan was to set fire to the
house, in the hope Of escaping in the
confusion. Ny second TO get into an
empty wine caslS. / was looking round
to see if / could find one when sud
denly in the corner | espiad little,
low door, painted OF the same gray
color as the wall, SO that it WAS only q
man with quick sight who would have.
noticed it. pushed against 1T and at
first 7 imagined that it was locked
Presently, however, il gave little,
and then understood that it was held;
by the pressure Of something upon the.
other side. I put my feet against
hogshead of wine and gave such push