The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-12-13
HOW BROADER PLAYED
FOR A KINGDOM.
ny A. CONAN DOYLE,
Copyright, 1851
CHAPTER T.

II has struck me that some OF you
when you have heard me tell those lit
tie adventures OF mine. may have gone
away with the impression that l was
concelted. There could not be a great
err mistake than this. for / have always
observed that really fine soldiers are
free from this failing. II is true that
have had TO depict myself sometimes
as brave. sometimes as full OF resource,
always as interesting, but then II really
was 30, and had TO take the facts as
/ found them. II would be an un-
worthy affection II were to pretend
that my career has been anything than
q fne one. The incident which Will
tell you Tonight, however. Is one which
YOU win understand that only modest
man would describe. After all, when
one has attained such q poBltion as
mine. one can AFFORD to speak OF TINT
which an ordinary man would be
tempted to conceal.
You must know then, that after the
Russian campaign the remains Of our
poor army were quRrtered along the
western bank Of the Elbe, where they
might thnw their frozen blood and try,
with the help OF the good German beer.
10 put a little between their SKIN ana
their bones. There were some things
which we could not hope TO regain, for
] dare say that these large commisariat
fourgons would not have suiIlced to
carry thehngcrB and the toes which tho
army had shed during that horrible re-
treat Still. lean and crippled as we
were, we had much 10 be thankful for
when we thought OF our poor comrades
whom we had left behind, and OF the
snow fcids-thc horrible. horrible
SNOW fields. TO this day. my friends,
! DO not cure to sec red and white to-
gether. Even my red cap thrown down
upon my white countcrpnnc has given
me dreams In which ! have seen these
monstrous plnin1. the really tortured
army, and the crimson BmearB which
giarcd upon tho SNOW behind them.
You will coax no Btory out OF me about
that business. for the thought OF II is
enough TO turn my wine to vinegar and
my tobacco TO straw.
on the 100000 who crossed the Ellie
In the autumn Of the year ~ about
10000 infantry were loft In the spring
Of 10. hut they were terrible men.
these 10000 men OF iron, caters OF
horses. md sleOpcrH In the snow fllc1
too, with rage and bitterness against
the Russians. They would hold the
EllnN uItIl lNN HTNhl hIUlN VI NbUH'llibn
which tho emperor was raising In
Franco should b. ready 20 help them 70
eros II once more.
But the cavalry was IN deplornblc
condition. My own lluHHnrH were nt
lorna. and when pnrnded thcm flrRt
I burst into tears nt the sight OF the
My fnc mon and my beautiful hOrscS-
II broke my heart 10 Bpc tho Rtutc TO
which they were ro1uccdl "But. cour.
Bgc." thought. they ltovo lost much,
hut their colonel In Btlll left to thcml Fl"
I ret Ia work, therefore, 10 rCpalr their
dipAstsra, and had already constructed
two rood auundrOnB when mn order
came that all coloncln Of cavalry ahoN1
repair Instantly 10 the dcpols Of the
regiments In France to organize rO-
orutH and the romountE for tho coming
campaign,
You viii think doubtless, that was
Gyefioyod at this chance ~ Visiting
home once more. will not deny that
N wnR pleasure 10 me- 10 think TINT
should soc my mother again, aud there
were FEW Girls who would BE- very glad
ut the ncwH but there were others In
the army who had n stronger clnlm. !
would have glvOn my plnCc 10 my who
hnd wiyoH aud children whom they
might not see again However there
In no arguing when The blue paper
with the little red seal arrives, 10 with.