The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-06-17
A MEMORY SPOILED.

yalides had grown moro talkatiye than
usual, dauillac began TO talk about the
fact that 1.-THE Little Corporal had spoken
to him, mere soldier. He said he would
never forget 1t.
Indeed You have never told us about
that, replied Bernar1in. "When did he
speak to your"
"When? Oh, that's my affairp'
"Woll, but what did he say to youp'
"What did he say to meP That's also
my affair"
"Yes, but
"Well, he was passing along in front of
the regiment, ana when he came opposite
| to me he stopped and said''-
"Well, what cid no saya You surely
don hesitate to repeat it?"
mo, no. don't hesitate. He said to
me--er-that ! looked Ikea id foolm
replied Gauillac, With an effort.
3c.nardin burst into noisy laugh, and
in . teasing manner said:
"Pagliaps he was right but when the
devil did he say that to YOUR
"The owe OF the battle Of Lutzen, when
he was reviewing the regiment!'
Gre nom, you don't look like a id
fool! You are onep II was not to you
he said that 1t was to rnel''
ITO you to you, Bernardin'"
Yes, yes, to me, and I'll prove It. We
were elbow to elbow. He stopped in front
of us. The colonel drew q notebook from
his pocket, put his sword under his arm
and said:
!" He is very brave To which the en-
peror replied:
"'That Is not sufficient and added,
He must also have the appearance of a
fool And as he spoke 1t was me he looked
at--yes, mel"
"Bernardin, /" cried Gauillac in solemn
and threatening manner "you arc telling
me lie. You are trying to steal from
my heart one of its dearest memories.
You are bad fellow and a.
"Ah, you have got the swelled head at
my expense! will not suffer It,"
"Nor will I!''
"What next, thenP"
"Bahi / am angry with everything
and especially with you, who are jealous
OF what the emperor said to me-"
You are nothing more than a beast
an arch beast and an old humbugl" cried
Bernardin in state Of evaporation and
ready to throw bottle at Gauillao's head.
"Eh, bienl IL shall
"There's no need to complete your SEN
tence Such insults are washed out only
with blood. You will hear from me to-
morrow"
And Bernardin went out proudly with
his head in the air and his legs tlrmer
than they were at the beginning of the
dispute. Next day they met again in the
Bots do CLAIMANT. Bernardin brought
with him two swords, freshly sharpened
and wrapped up in piece of CLOTH He
handed them to the seconds and quietly
took off his cloak, avoiding his adycrsary's
eyes and without saying word.
One of the seconds, decorated Inyalide,
who had served with the two champions
and who was known as Big David, took
the two sabers, stuck them in the ground
and said:
This is not all. want to know be-
fore we go any further why you two are
going to fight. Il you don't tell me, by
CAD, I'll take my leavel"
Gauillac and Bernnrdin seemed q little
disconnected by this simple question. They
exchanged glanoes and replied together:
"That is our affair alone"
mot at all, not ct all, replied Big
David, with very pronounced Alsatian
accent. at is also the affair of the Sec
onds. We cannot allow old comrades to
fight unless they have good reason"
''Eb, bicn," said Gauiilao. "Bernardin
has insrlted mGl'
at Is not true. 1t is Gauillae who in
suited me, and who''-
but why? What aboutP"
w tbn 1871
their position, these old soldiers, that
neither of them answered the question.
"You will not explainf Then shall at |
once go home," declared Big David.
Listen a moment, David. A second is
like confessor. will tell you the whole
thing upon the condition that you will
not prevent us fighting"
And Gauillao related faithfully the
whole quarrel.
Scarcely had he finished when Big Da-
yid began to Eanbol and cut capers and
flourish Lis stick in such a manner that
they feared he was about to have fit.
He uttered some inartioulate sounds, in
the midst of which certain words were
nevertheless distinguishable.
"Suoh id fools, such id fools'
Finally he Gained down, and, his eyes
still filed with tears of delirlous joy, he
said:
You are couple of clowns. The am-
peror said that ~ me. >"
DerDaFdin and GauillaG, moved by the
same impulse, approached Big David with
eyebrows and closed fists. They
would hive struck him, but no stopped
hem with gesture,
Let me speak first, and afterward you
,an do as you please he cried. 1.-The
night before the battle of Lutzen was
,hosen by the colonel to carry secret
message to which the emperor attached
he greatest Importance, was selected
I came from SaaTlOuis and could
peak German
Il WAS furnished with PEASANTS dress
md cautioned to look as much like
Id fool as possible and, If arrested, to
,ohave like donkey that wants its BRAN
was able to accomplish my mission to
he satisfaction Of my chiefs. I carried
he message safely. and when I returned
he colonel said that should have a cross.
The emperor, who always looked 1xedly
t the men, may have said what you heard
i'm say before both of you, but it was of
ne he was thinking"
ind the proof of what you tell usp"
emanded BGrnardin and Gauillac in the
lme breath.
SIS here" said Big David, showing his
ross, "ind | swear by this cross that
N Speaking tho truth. From this mo-
lent shake hands and let it all be do
lared II an end"
He had sworn by the cross Of honor.
was impossible to doubt his word.
and Gauillac ehook hands, and
lrir reconciliation was complete.
But the same evening, as they emptied
lie third bottle, Gauillac grew sad and
hispcrod in Big DaYid's car:
you have destroyed the most cherished
,uyenir Of my military career From
10 French.