Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-03-29
OLD SOLDIERS.

W hin, Il ilGIO bO1NlOl. l1O btllh hO "OhAN
never forget it.
Indeed! You have never told us about
that replied Bernardin. when did he
speak to you?"
"Whenp Oh, that's my AFFAIR.""
"Well, but what did he say to your"
"What did he say to me9 That's also
my affair"
"Yes, butt
"Well, he was passing along in front Of
the regiment, and when he came opposite
to me he stopped and said"-
well, what did he sayS You surely
don't hesitate to repeat itS''
"No, no. don't hesitate. He said to
me-er-that looked like add fool!''
replied Gauillac, with an effort.
Bernardin burst into noisy laugh, and
In teasing manner said:
perhaps he was light, but where the
devil did he say that to youY'
THE eve of the battle of Lutzen, when
he was reviewing the regiment"
Gre nom, you don t look like add
fool You are one!' 1t was not to you he
said that. 1t was to meP'
ITO you, to you, Bernardin"
eyes, yes to me, and I'll prove it. We
were elbow to elbow. He stopped in front
of us. The colonel drew notebook from
his pocket put his sword under his arm
and said:
"'He is very brave To which the EN-
peror replied:
- That is not sufficient and added,
He must also have the appearance of
fool, and as he spoke it was me he looked
at-yeS, me!'
"Bernardin!" cried Gauillac in SOL
emn and threatening manner, you are
telling me lie. You are trying to steal
from my heart one of its dearest memories
You are bad fellow and a.
"Ah you have got the swelled head at
my expense will not suffer it."
Nor will Il"
"What next, then"
"Bah! am angry with everything, and
especially with you, who are jealous OF
what the emperor said to me.
You are nothing more than beast,
an arch beast and an old humbug" cried
Bernardin in state of evaporation and
ready to throw a'bottle at Gauillac s head
"Eh, bien! II shall'-
There's no need to complete your SEN
tence! Such insults are washed out only
with blood. You will hear from me to-
morrow"
And Bernardin went out proudly with
his head in the air and his legs flrmer than
they were at the beginning of the dispute.
Next day they met again in the Bots de
CLAIMANT. Bcrnardin brought with him
two swords freshly sharpened and wrap.
ped up in piece of cloth. He handed
them to the seconds and quietly took off
his cloak, avoiding his adversary's eyes
and without saying a word.
One of the seconds, decorated Invalide,
who had served with the two champions,
and who was known as Big David took
the two sabers, stuck them in the ground
and said:
This is not all. want to know before
we go any further why you two are going
to fight. If you don't tell me- by CAD, I'll
take my leavel"
Gauillac and Bernardin seemed little
disconnected by this simple question.
They exchanged chances and replied to.
gether:
THAT is our affair alone"
mot at all, not at all, " replied Big Da
yid with very pronounced Alsatian ac-
cent. lit is also the affair of the seconds.
We cannot allow old comrades to fight un.
less they have a good reason"
Ell, bien, said Gauillac. "BernardiD
has insulted me!''
1t is not true. 1t is Gauillac who in.
suited me, and who
But why? What about?'
They realized so kGenly the humor of
their position, these old soldiers, that nei-
Their of them answered the question.
You will not explain! Then shall at
once go home" declared Big David.
Listen moment, David. A second is
like confessor. l will tell you the whole
thing upon the condition that you will
not prevent us fighting"
And Gauillac related faithfully the
whole quarrel.
Scarcely had he finished when Big Da-
vid began to gambol and cut capers and
flourish his stick in such manner that
they feared he was about to have a fit. He
uttered some inarticulate sounds, In the
midst Of which certain words were never
theless distinguishable.
such id fools, such ID fools!"
Finally he Gained down. and, his eyes
still filled with tears of delirious joy, he
said:
You are couple of clowns. The EN-.
peror said that to me-"
| BGrnardln ana Gaulllac, moved by the
same impulse, approached Big David with
frowning eyebrows and closed fists. They
would have struck him, but he stopped
them with gesture.
Let me speak first, and afterward you
can do as you please, he cried. 1.-THE
night before the battle of Lutzen l was
chosen by the colonel to carry secret
message to which the emperor attached the
greatest Importance was selected be-
cause l came from Sarrelouis and could
speak German.
Il was furnished with a PEASANTS dress
and cautioned to look as much like d
ID fool as possible, and, if arrested
to behave like a donkey that wants its
! bran / was able to accomplish my mis-
sion to the satisfaction of my chiefs. /
carried tho message safely, and when re.
turned the colonel said that should have
cross. The emperor, who always looked
txedly at the men, may have said what
you heard him say before both of you, but
it was of me he was thinking"
And the proof of what you tell us?"
demanded Bernardin and Gauillao in the
same breath.
lis here" said Big David, showing his
cross, and swear by this cross that am
speaking the truth. From this moment
shake hands and let it all be declared at
an end"
He had sworn by the cross of honor. 1t
was impossible to doubt his word. Der