Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1897-09-09
FHE OLD UNIFORM.
Francois COPPEE.

/ T was a clerk in the War
hent [ had for an associate a
Red Jean Vidal, a former non
stoned officer. He had lost his
| in the Italian campaign, but
4 ann remained, and with it he
kecute prodigious feats of pen
/, making a little bird IN the
fof his signature wifi a single
4 hi$ pen.
E;dol was an excellent fellow;
|, Of the old type, upright and
{bough he was only forty years
had but few grey hairs in his
lard. cut after the old Zouave
4 everyone called him Gather
more from respect than from
y Etv, for we all knew what an
lie and seIf-sacriticing life he
his little home on Grenelle
There he supported a widowed
kith several children. They all
4 to live comfortably on his
Mission and earnings from his
Three thousand francs for
sons.
THAT. Vidal's overcoats-those
hose left sleeve was fastened
hird button-were as carefully
as if he were to be present at
Nv by the Inspector-G General,
worthy man attached so much
Ice to his red ribbon, always
Aat he removed it from his
ole when he carried q pack
lie streets.
too. at that time, lived in the
suburbs south of Paris, l
liked home with Father vi
ening with pleasure to his war
While we strolled along near
+ tary School, where we met at
T. livery step-it was in the last
the Empire-the beautiful
of the Imperial Guard, White
and the magnificent somber
the officers of the artillery,
and gold-uniforms within
was worth while to be shot.
INES, on warm summer even
reated my companion to alb
luxury which poor Vidal de-
self through economy, and on
asions we sat for half an hour
fore the officers cafe ON the
le Ia Mothe- Piquet. The old
|ho had forsaken all his con-
Pbits since he had become a
fan, would rise from the table
heroic memories all alive I'M
ht'uence OF the mild stimulant,
IS sure to hear some fine mar
plscenee.
ening-I believe, God forgive
ID given two glasses of alb
NldaI-as We were walking
Wretched street On which he
stopped abruptly before a
tere secondhand military
Eas hung out for sale, one of
n IN this locality.
a dirty, uninviting place,
window display of rusty pis-
Is fall Of buttons. furnished
+ and, IN front, among some
+, were hung some old off
orms, rotted and faded by
lnd sun. They still retained
OF their wearers, and looked
e suspended human figures.
y grasping my arm with his
Vidal turned his half dazed
rd NE, and, with his stump.
an old coat, an African
with full skirt and three
ptd lace trimming the sleeves
Pc OF IS" " Hussar-fashion.
SAID he, there is part of
f1 OF my old regiment. A
goat Approaching to ex-
more carefully he read the
tedly:
"'a my regiment The First
0hee VidaIs hand, which
SKIRT Of the coat, remained
a.. IN lace darhened, his lips
; IN lowering his eyes, he
III frightened tone:
~ What if it we're his!"
with a quick movement.
TIE coat around, and
~. III tue middle of the
',Ie round hole in the
b sied by black ring--old
~ UusSs-~ and [ felt as if I
al real wound.
= an ugly hole !" I said to
br s,, VINO had dropped the
.o ,,Shiy resumed his walk
1 t%S' !, head. Foreseeing a
y way OF melting him
!. s5ot in the back ~ A0"@ves
,ss not to hear HE, but NUT
EnI5 = :, biting his mustache.
stor II nave got here F? It
b. ,1 ne = from the battlefield
ere 10 ~. Ujr,ene'le Street Yes,
'0'lo| the army and