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


nose, toward which all his features
seemed to run. His cheeks were
wrinkled like last years apple, but
his sweep of shoulder, and bopy, cord
ed hands told of strength which was
unsapped by age. His arms were
folded across his arching chest, and his
mouth was set in fixed smile.
"Pray do not trouble yourself to look
for your weapons" he said, as the
Prussian cast a swift glance at the
empty chair ia which they had
been laid. "You have been, if you
will allow me to say SO, little
indiscreet to make yourself so much
at home in a house every wal. of
which is honeycombed with secret pas
sages You will be amused to hear
that forty men were watching you at
your supper. All! What then!"
Capt. Baumgarten had taken step
forward with clenched fists. The
Frenchman held up revolver which
he grasped in his right hand, while
with his left he hurled the German
back into his chair.
pray keep your seat" said he. "You
have no cause to trouble about your
men. They have already been pro-
vided for 1t is astonishing with these
stone floors how little one can hear
what goes on beneath. You have been
relieved of your command, and have
now only to think of yourself. May
ask what your name is?"
81 am Capt. Baumgarten, of the
Twenty-fourth Posen regiment"
"Your French is excellent, though
you incline, like most of your country
men, to turn the p into b. l have
been amused to hear them cry: 'Avez
bite sur MOL You know, doubtless,
who it is who addresses you?"
''The count of Chateau Noir."
Precisely. 1t would have been a
misfortune if you had visited my
chateau and had been unable to have
a word with you. have had to do
with many German soldiers, but never
with an officer before. l have much to
talk to you about"
Capt. Baumgarten sat still in his
chair. Brave as he was there was
something in this mans manner which
made his skin creep with apprehension.
His eyes glanced to right and to left,
but his weapons were gone. and in a
struggle he saw that lic was but a
child with this gigantic adversary.
/ Tie count had picked up the claret
bottle and held it to the light.
Tut! Tut!" said he. ''And was this
the best that Pierre could do for you?
am ashamed to look you in the face.
Capt. Baumgarten, we must improve
upon this"
He blew call upon whistle which
hung from his shooting-jacket. The
old man servant was in the room in an
instant.
'Chamberlin from Bin Fifteen" he
cried, and minute later o grey
bottle, streaked with cobwebs, was
carried in as nurse bears an infant.
The count filed two glasses to the
brim.
Drink" said he. "It is the very
best in my cellars, and not to be
matched between Rome and Paris.
Drink, sir, and be happy! There are
cold joints below. There are two lob
sters fresh from Honfleur. Will you
not venture upon a second and more
savory support"
The German officer shook his head.
He drained his glass. however, and his
host filed it once more, pressing him
to give an order for this or that dainty.
+ "There is nothing in my house which
lis not at your disposal You have but
ito say the word. Well, then, you will
allow me to tell you story while you
drink your wine. have so longed to
tell it to some German officer 1t is
about my son, my only child Eustace,
who was taken and died in escaping. 1t
is curious little story, and think |
can promise you that you never will
forget it.
"Yop must know then. that my boy
was in the artillery, fine young fell
low, Capt. Baumgarten, and the pride
of his mother. She died within a week
of the news of his death reaching us.
1t was brought by brother officer
who was at his side throughout, and
who escaped while my lad died. ]
want to tell you all that he told me.
"Eustace was taken at Weissenburg
on the 4th of August. The prisoners
were broken up into parties and sent
back into Germany by different routes.
Eustace was taken upon the fifth to a
village called Lauterburg, where he
met with kindness from the German
officer in command. This good colonel
had the hungry lad to supper, offered
him the best he had, opened bottle of
good wine, as have tried to do foryou,
and gave him a cigar from his own
case. Might entreat you to take one
from mine?"
His horror of his companion had in
creased as he sat watching the lips that
smiled, and the eyes that glared.
nThe colonel, as say, was good to
my boy. But unluckily, the prisoners
were moved next day across the Rhine
to Ettlingen. They were not equally
fortunate then.
1.-THE officer who guarded them was
aruffian and villain, Capt. Baumgarten.
He took pleasure In Aumiliating and
i'll treating the brave men who had
fallen into his power. That night,
upon my son answering fiercely back to
some taunt of his, he struck him In the
eye like this"
'4he crash of the blow rang through
the hall. The Germans face fell for
ward, his hand up, and blood oozing
through his fingers. The count set
tied down in his chair once more.
''My boy was disfgured by the blow,
and this villain made his appearance
the object of his jeers. By the way,
you look little eomical yourself at
Il