Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1897-10-29

with the Spanish language was so linn
tied that was unable to oblige him.
1T is a very rich language" said he,
''but less prolific in rhymes than either
the German or the English. That is
why our best work has been done in
blank verse, form of literature which,
as need not remind Frcnchman, is
capable of reaching great heights. But
1 fear that such subjects are somewhat
outside the range of hussar."
Twas about to answer that if they
were good enough for guerrilla they
could not be too much for the light
cavalry, but he was already STOPPING
over his half-fnished verse. Presently
he threw down the pen with an ex-
clamation of satisfaction and detained
few lines which drew a cry of ap-
proval from the three ruffians who held
me. His broad face blushed like a
young girl who receives her first COM
pliment.
'sThe critics are in my favor. it ap-
pears" said he. 1--WE amuse ourselves
in our long evenings by singing our
own ballads, you understand; have
some little facility in that direction
and 1 do not at oil despair of seeing
some of my poor efforts in print before
long, and with Madrid upon the title
page too. But we must get back to
business. May ask what your name
is?'
"Etienne Gerard"
cranky"
"Colonel."
'Corps?"
1.-THE Third hussars."
"You are young for a colonel"
my career has been an eventful one"
'Tut, that makes it the sadder," said
he, with his bland smile.
made no answer to that, but tried
to show him by my bearing that was
ready for the very worst which could
befall me.
by the way, rather fancy that we
have had some of your corps here" said
he, turning over the pages of his big,
brown register. eve endeavor to keep
a record of our operations. Here is
heading under June "a. Have you not
a young officer named Soubiron, tall,
slight youth with light hair?"
Certainly"
II see that we buried him upon that
date"
.'Poor lad!" 1 cried. "And how did
he die?"
1--WE buried him.
:'But before you buried him?'
"You misunderstood, colonel, he was
not dead before we buried him."
CHAPTER III.
"You buried him alive?" For a mo-
ment was too stunned to act. Then 1
hurled myself upon the man, as he sat,
with that placid smile of his upon his
lios, and would have torn his throat
out had the three wretches not dragged
me away from him. Again and again
l made for him, painting and cursing,
shaking off this man and that, strain
ing and wrenching, but never quite
free. At last, with my jacket nearly
torn off my back and the blood dripping
from my wrists, l was hauled back
wards in the blight of a rope and cords
passed around my ankles and my
arms.
"You sleek hound" cried. IF ever
I have YOU at my swordspoint will
teach YOU to maltreat one Of my lads.
You will find, you bloodthirsty beast,
that my emperor has long arms, and,
though you lie here like rat in its hole,
the time will come when he will tear
YOU out of it, and you and your vermin
will perish together" My faith, l have
a rough side to my tongue, and there
was not hard word that had learned
in fourteen campaigns which l did not
let fly ut him. but he sat with the ham
die of his pen tapping against his fore
head and his eyes squirting up at the
roof as if he had conceived the idea OF
some new stanza. 1t was this occupa-
ton of his which showed me how l
might get my point into him. You
spawn" said l, you think that you are
safe here, but your life may be as snort
as TINT of your absurd verses, ana Goo
knows it could not be shorter than
that
Oh Won should have seen him bound
from his chair when l had SAID tne
words. This vile monster, who DIS
pensed death and torture US grocer
serves out figs, had one raw nerve
which 1 could prod at pleasure. his
face now grew livid and those little
bourgeois side whiskers quivered and
thrilled with his passion.
every good, colonel. You have said
enough, 4" he cried, in choking voice
You say that you have had a very DIS
tinpuishcd career; promise you also
verv distinguished ending. Col. Eth
enn. Gerard, of the Third hussars,
e 1,yc