The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1896-07-24

II we IOu0O our route unsafe are
we at liberty to choose another?"
said he
Soldiers do not choose. They
obey" He inclined his head to show
that we were dismissed and turned
round to Berthier. do not know what
he said, but l heard them both
laughing.
Well, as you may think, we lost lit
tie time in getting upon our way. In
half an hour we were riding down the
high street of Rheims. and it struck
twelve o'clock as we passed the cathe-
dral. had my little gray mare, Vic
lette, the one which Sebastian had
wished to buy after Dresden. 1t is the
fastest horse in the six brigades of light
cavalry, and was only beaten by the
duke of Rovigo's racer from England.
As to Charpentier he had the kind of
horse which a horse grenadier or a
curassier would be likely to ride,
back like bedstead, you understand,
and legs like the posts. He is a hulk
ing fellow himself, so that they looked
a singular pair. And yet in his insane
conceit he ogled the girls as they
waved their handkerchiefs to me from
the windows, and he twirled his ugly
red mustache up into his eyes, just as if
it were to him that their attention was
addressed.
When we came out of the town we
passed through the French camp and
then across the battlefield of yester-
day, which was still covered both by
our own poor fellows and by the Prus-
slams. But of the two the camp was
the sadder sight. Our army was thaw-
ing away. The guards were all right,
though the young guard was full of
conscripts. The artillery and the
heavy cavalry were also good if there
were more of them, but the infantry
privates with their under officers
looked like schoolboys with their mas
tiers. And we had no reserves. When
one considered that there were eighty
thousand Prussians to the north and
hundred and fifty thousand Russians
and Austrians to the south, it might
make even the bravest man grave. For
my own part confess that l shed
tear until the thought came that the
emperor was still with US and that on
that very morning he had placed his
hand upon my dolman and had prom
ised me medal of honor. This set me
singing and 1 spurred Violette on until
Charpentier had to beg me to have
mercy on his great snorting, painting
camel. The road was beaten into paste
and rutted two feet deep by the srtil-
lery, so that he was right in saying
that it was not the place for gallop.
l have never been very friendly with
this Charpentier, and now for twenty
miles of the way could not draw a
word from him. He rode with his
brows puclered and his chin upon his
breast like man who is heavy with
thought. More than once asked him
what was on his mind, thinking that
perhaps with my quicker intelligence 1
might set the matter straight. His an
swer always was that it was his mis-
sion of which he was thinking, which
surprised me, because, although had
never thought much of his intelli-
gence, still it seemed to me to be i'm
possible that anyone could be puzzled
by so simple and soldierly task.
Well, we came at last to Bazoches,
where he was to take the southern
road and l the northern. He half
turned in his saddle before he left me
and he looked at me with singular
expression Of inquiry on his face.
What do you make of it, brigadier?"
he asked.
"Cf what?"
''Of our mission"
Surely, it is plain enough"
You think so? Why should the en-
peror tell US his plans?"
Because he recognized our intelli-
gence."
My companion laughed in a manner
which found annoying. MAY 1 ask
what you intend to do if you find these
villages full of Prussians?" he asked.
81 shall obey my orders.
But you will be killed"
Every possibly"
He laughed again and so Extensively
that clapped my hand to my sword.
But before 1 could tell him what l
thought of his stupidity and rudeness
he had wheeled his horse and was lum-
boring away down the other road.
saw his big fur cap vanish over the
brow of hill, and then rode upon my
way wondering at his conduct. From
time to time 1 put my hand to the
breast of my tunic and felt the paper
crackle beneath my fingers. All; my
precious paper which should be turned
into the little silver medal for which
had yearned so long. All the way
from Braine to Sermoise l was think
ing of what my mother would say
when she saw it.
1 stopped to give Violette a meal at
wayside auberge on the side of hill
not far from SoisSons-a place sur
rounded by old oaks, and with so many
crows that one could scarce hear ones
own voice. 1t was from the innkeeper
that learned that Marmont had fallen
back two days before and that the
Prussians were over the Aisne. An
hour later in the fading light 1 saw
two of their vedettes upon hill to the
right and then, as darkness gathered,
a. Loo,,o~e - ba Ill ~.l;v,,-