The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1896-03-27

1t was in the days when the German
armies had broken their way across
France, and when the shattered forces
of the young republic had been swept
aside to the north of the Rhone and to
the south of the Loire. Three broad
streams of armed men had rolled slow
ly but irresistibly from the Rhine, now,
meandering to the north, now to the
south, dividing, coalescing, but all
uniting to form one great lake round
Paris. And from this lake were welled
out smaller streams, one to the north,
one southwark to Orleans, and third
westward into Normandy. Many
German trooper saw the sea for the
first time when he rode his horse girth
deep into the waves at Dieppe.
Black and bitter were the thoughts
of Frenchmen when they saw this veal
of dishonor slashed across the fair face
of their country They had fought and
they had been overborne. That swarm
ing cavalry, those countless footmen,
the masterful guns-they had tried and
tried to make head against them. In
battalions their invaders were not to
be beaten. But man to man, or ten to
ten they were their equals. A brave
Frenchman might still make single
German rue the day that he had left
his own bank of the Rhine. Thus, I'M
chronicled amid the battles and the
sieges, there broke out another war,
war of individuals, with foul murder
upon the one side and brutal reprisal
upon the other.
Col Won Gramm, of the Twenty
fourth Posen infantry, had suffered Sc
verely during this new development. He
| commanded in the little Norman town OF
Les Andelys and his outposts stretched
amid the hamlcts and farlnhouses OF
| the district round No French force
was within fifty miles of him, and yet
morning after morning he had to listen
| to a black report of sentries found dead
at their posts, or of foraging parties
which had never returned. Then the
colonel would go forth in his wrath,
and farm Stealing would blaze and vii
lagos tremble. but next morning there
was still that same dismal tale to be
told. Do what he might he could not
shake off his invisible enemy. And yet
n should. not have been so hard, for
from certain signs in common, In thel
plan and in the deed, it was certain:
| that all these outrages came from q,
single source.
Col. Won Gramm had tried violence,
and it had failed. Gold might be more,
successful. He published it abroad over
the countryside that five hundred
francs would be paid for information.
There were no responses. Then eight
hundred. The peasants were incor-
ruptible. Then, goaded on by muir
dered corporal, he rose to thousand
and so brought the soul OF FRANCOIS
Reiane, farm laborer, whose Norman
avarice was a stronger passion than
his French hatred. 49,,
"You say that you know who did
these crimes?" asked the Prussian
colonel. eyeing with loathing the blue
bloused, rat-faced creature before him
Eyes, colonel"
"And it was-?"
"Those thousand francs, colonel
mot sou until your story has
been tested. Come! who Is 1t who has
murdered my men%
at is Count Eustace, Of Chateau
Noir."
"You liel" cried the colonel, angrily
"a gentleman and noblemap coule
not have done such crimes"
The peasant shrugged his shoulders
at is evident to me that you do no
know the count. 1t is this way, col
orel. What tell you is the truth, ant
am not afraid that you should test u
The Count of Chateau Noir IL har'
man-even at the best time he was
hard man. But of late he has beei
terrible. It was his sons death, yo'
know. His son was under Donay' AM
he was taken, and then in escaping
from Germany, he met his death. II
was the counts only child, and indeed
we all think that it has driven hin
mad. With his peasants he follows the
German armies. | do not know how
many he has killed, but 1t Is he who
cuts the cross upon the foreheads, fol
it is the badge of his house."
j 1t was true. The murdered sentriei
had each had satire cross slasheC
across their brows, as by a hunting
knife. The colonel bent his stiff bacl
and ran his forefnger over the maj
which lay upon the table.
1.-The Chateau Noir is not more thar
four leagues" he said.
"Three and a kilometer, colonel"
you know the placer"
81 used to work there"
Col Won Gramm rang the bell.
"Give this man food and detain him,
said he to the sergeant.
"Why detain me, colonel? can tel
you no more"
1--WE shall need You as guide"
''As guide! But the count II wer'
i to fall into his hands! All, colonel"
The Prussian commander waved hin
away. "Send Capt. Baumgarten to ma
at once" said he.
The officer who answered the sum
mons was man of middle age, heavy
jawed, blue eyed, with curving vel
low mustache and q brick-red fac'
which turned to an ivory white wher'
his helmet had sheltered it. He wa
bald with shining, tightly.stretcheC
scalp, at the back Of which. as In |