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

escort accompanied the prisoners to
Durlach, and from there to Carlsruhe.
He heaped every outrage upon my lad,
because the spirit of the Chateaux-
Noirs would not stoop to turn away his
wrath by feigned submission. Aye,
this cowardly villain, whose hearts
blood shall still clot upon this hand,
Jared to strike my son with his open
hand, to kick him, to tear hairs from
bis mustache-to use him thus-and
thus-and thus!"
The German writhed and struggled.
He was helpless in the hands of this huge
giant, whose blows were raining upon
him. When at last, blinded and half
benseless, he staggered to his feet it
was only to be hurled back again into
the great oalzen chair. He sobbed in
bis impotent anger and shame.
my boy was frequently moved to
tears by the humiliation of his posi-
hon," continued the count. "You will
understand when l say that it is Bit
Ter thing to be helpless in the hands of
In insolent and remorseless enemy.
On arriving at Carlsruhe, however, his
lace, which had been wounded
py the brutality of his guard, was
bound up by a young Bavarian sub
hltern, who was touched by his appear
hnce. Iregret to see that your eye is
bleeding so. Will you permit me to
bind it with my silk handkerchief
He leaned forward, but the German
dashed his hand aside. 81 am in your
bower, you monster!' he cried. 81 can
endure your brutality, but not your
hypocrisy"
81 am taking things in their order,
just as they occurred" said he. 81
was under VOW to tell it to the first
German officer with whom could talk
tete-a-tete. Let me see, had got so
far as the young Bavarian at Carlsruhe.
l regret extremely that you will not
permit me to use such slight skill in
surgery as possess At Carlsruhe my
lad was shut up in the old caserne,
where he remained for a fortnight.
The worst pang of his captivity was
that some unmannerly ours in the gar
rison would taunt him with his position
as he sat by his window in the evening.
That reminds me, captain, that you are
not quite situated upon bed of roses
yourself, are you now? You came to
trap a wolf, my man, and now the
beast has you down with his fangs in
your throat. A family man, too,
should judge, by the well-filled tunic.
Well, widow the more will make lit
tie matter, and they do not usually re-
main widows long. Get back into the
chair, you dog!
''Well, to continue my story, at the
end of fortnight my son and his
friend escaped. need not trouble you
with the dangers which they ran or the
privations which they endured. Suffice
it to say that to disguise themselves
they had to take the clothes of two
peasants, whom they waylaid in a
wood. Hiding by day and travelling by
night, they had got as far into France
as Remilly, and were within a mile-a
single mile, captain-of crossing the
German lines, when patrol of Uhlans
came right upon them. Oh, it was
hard, was it not, when they had come
SO far and were so near to safety!" The
count blew double call upon his
whistle, and three hard faced peasants
entered the room.
"These must represent my Uhlans,"
sad he. We'll, then, the captain In
command, finding that these men were
French soldiers in civilian dress within
the German lines, proceeded to hang
them without trial or ceremony.
think, Jean, that the center beam Is
the shortest"
The unfortunate soldier was dragged
from his chair to where noosed rope
had been flung over one of the huge
oaken rafters which spanped the room.
The cord was slipped over his head,
and he felt its harsh grip round his
throat. The three peasants seized the
other end, and looked to the count for
his orders.
The officer, pale but firm, folded his
arms and stared defantly at the man
who tortured him.
"You are now face to face with death,
and perceive from your lips that you
are praying. My son was also face
to face with death and he prayed also.
1t happened that q general officer came
up and he heard the lad praying for his
mother, and it moved him so-he being
himself a father-that he ordered his
Uhlans away and he remained with his
aide de camp only beside the con-
demned man. And when he heard all
the lad had to tell, that he was the
only child of an old family, and that
his mother was in failing health, he
threw off the rope as throw off this,
and he kissed him on either cheek as l
kiss you, and he babe him go as bid
you go, and may every kind wish of
that noble general, though it could not;
stave off the fever which slew my SON.
descend now upon your head"
And so it was that Capt. Baumgar-
ten, disfgured, blinded and bleeding.
staggered out into the wind and the
rain of that wild December dawn.
More Than Every Day.
'"That Young man Maud is engaged