The record-union., 1897-01-24

and replied.
oh! yes, doctor. We have heard
great news. The siege of Berlin has
commenced She said this with a
tranquil air while drawing the needle
TN and out of her work.
How could he doubt the news. He
could neither hear the cannOnS nor see
Inflated Paris overthrown by the en-
envy. All that he could see from his
couch was a portion of PArc de Tri-
omphe, and to excite his delusion We
strewed around the room bric-a-brac
of the First Empire. portraits of Field
Marshals, engravings of battle scenes,
a photograph of the King of Rome in
infants robe, high tables ornamented
with imperial relics, medals, bronZes,
a fragment of the rock of ST. Helena
under glass globe, various miniatures
of a blue-eyed befrizzled lady in ball
costume, a yellow gown with lego
mutton sleeves-and all these, the ia
bles, the King of Rome, the Marshals,
the yellow DANES with long waists and
wide belts-this cramped stiffness was
the style of 1906. Brave Colonel! it was
this atmosphere of victories and con-
quests which told him more than we
could, and made him innocently believe
in the siege of Berlin.
The taking of Berlin was now an af-
fair of patience, and our military oper-
atoms We're simphfied. Occasionally
when the old gentleman became weary
we read him a letter from his son, an
ina ginary letter, be it understood, for
nothing was allowed to enter Paris, and
since "a ha 10 of 10 30
staff had been centered on a German
fortress. Can you imagine the despair
of that poor child receiving no word
from her father, knowing him a pris-
oner, deprived of the comforts of life, i'll,
perhaps, and yet obliged to express his
sentiments in cheerful letters, very
brief, but such letters as soldier would
write while marching through a con-
quered country? Sometimes strength
failed her, and several weeks would pass
without news. But the old gentleman
would become uneasy and not able to
sleep-a letter would then arrive from
Germany, and sitting by his bedside she
would read it, calmly retaining her
tears. The Colonel listened religiously
smilingly approved, criticised and ex-
planned several passages, but where he
appeared at his best was in the answers
he sent to his son.
Never forget that you are a French
man. Be generous for those unfortunate
people. Do not make the invasion too
severe ; and there were recommends
tons without end, adorable homilies in
respect to property, the courtesy to-
wards women, and a true code of mill
tary honor to be used among the con-
querorS. He also added some general
considerations on politics and the con-
ditions of peace required from the de-
feated. Aside from these, l must say
he was not exactng
The indemnities of war, and moth
ing more. What can be gained by talk
ing provinces? Do you expect to make
a France out of a Germany" He die
tated with firm voice and the candor
and beaming patriotic faith of his
sentiments went to our hearts.
In the meantime the siege slowly ad :
vanced, but not that Of Berlin, alasi
1t was the time of severe cold, bonn
bardments, epidemcs and famine. but
owing to our care and indefatigable
tenderness the serenity of the old gen.
tleman was not disturbed Until the
last was able to procure white bread
and fresh meat, but only enough for
him. You cannot imagine a more
touching sight than the grandfather at
breakfast-so innocently selfsh-as he
sat In bed, bright and smiling, a nap
kin under his chin and by his side the
granddaughter, weak and pale from
privations, guiding his hands to the
food, making him eat and drink the
delicacies forbidden her. Then, re-
freshed by the repast and enjoying the
comforts of his warm room, while out
side the clustering wind ragged an ]
snow dashed against the windows, the
old soldier recalled his campaigns in
the North and related to us. for the
hundredth time, the events of that sir
lister retreat from Russia, when their
daily rations were frozen biscuits and
horsefesh
DO you understand, my little one?
We ate horsefleshi"
How we'll she understood. For two
months she had eaten nothing else
Each day, owing to the invalid's con-
valescence, our task became more diff
cult; the torpor of mind and body,
which served to aid us in the deception,
commenced to disappear.
Several times the volleys fired on
Port Maillot startled him. We were
obliged to invent a last victory of Ba-
zaine before Berlin and the salvos fired
in its honor at Aux Invalides One
evening. as I arrived, the girl met me
with troubled countenance and said :
mr. ha xt-;n ~
city"
She must have left her grandfather s
door open, for l remember in recalling
the occurrence, his face wearing an I'M
usual expression. 1t is probable lie
heard us. but we spoke of the Prus-
slams, and the Colonel thought of the
French army, the trumphal entry for
which he had waited so many days-Mac-
Mahcn marching through the Avenue
midst flowers and fiourishing of trum-
pets, his son by the MarshaPs side,
and he, the old soldier, on the balcony
in the gorgeous uniform worn at the
battle of LutZen, saluting the bedrag-
gled flags and powder stand
ards
Poor pere Jouve, He, no doubt, i'm
agined we wished him to avoid the
excitement of witnessing the entrance
OF our troops. So he confided his in
tentlons to no one, but the following
day when the battalions were quietly
marching on the road leading from
Port Maillot to aux Tuileries. the win
cow OF the upper story was noiselessiy
opened and the Colonel appeared on
the balcony in all his former glory of
cuirassier. / still wonder by what
strength Of will or by what impulse
he was moved to rise from his bed and
dress himself. But there he was stand
ing behind the railing. astonished TO