The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-09-03

depressed the most exuberant of the
marines. Fascinated, yet Mortified,
Gaspard watched their 1.-the dark
FORMS as they tore their hair and flung
their arms above their heads in ges,
tules of wild grief and wept over
the dead. One of the women, who
was crouched beside the body of fine
young warrior, turned upon Gaspard
as he passed and spat at him, uttering
words which from her manner of de-
llyering them, seemed to be curses.
Gaspard looked at the woman; he
met the full gaze of her eyes of ha-
tired, of savage agony and savage love,
and he flung down his rifle with a
chatter and marched on.
'Private Meudon, what this?"
shouted Sergeant Croix. $50, pick
up your rife"
Il shall not use it again, sergeant
Look at that womanr'
"What have the black cattle to do
with you? You have done your duty;
it is enough. Pick up your rifew
Gaspard strobe on and never an
swered, and so the sergeant picked up
the rife himself and reported Private
Meudon to the lieutenant, and the
culprit was sent for.
'Do You know what you deserve?"
asked Lieutenant Vallon, who was a
kindly man, although q severe disci-
pllnarian, and who had no wish to be
severe with man who had fought his
first battle CALAMITY.
Gaspard was silent
death is the punishment" baz-
arded the lieutenant. He had no exact
knowledge of what the punishment
was for such unprecedented behavior.
Clearly, however, Gaspard had been
guilty of dlsob dience of orders while
in an enemy's country.
Gaspard was unmoved. It was evil
dent to the officer that this man was
no coward, and to he tried to reason
with him.
"You must have had some motive
for throwing away your rifle. Come,
out with it, my lad!"
81 have killed men," The words
came out slowly, reluctantly, and Lieu
tenant WALTON laughed outright at the
answer.
"And what do you suppose yen.
rifle was given to you, for? To light
a fire with, eh?"
They are murdered! Their wives
and children are hearted. I
know til"
"You know nothing, you fool!
These black pigs do not value your
life so much as you value your cigar
If you hadn't killed them they'd have
killed YOU"
"Then I would have died without
being murderer. Intaking the lives
of men [ have lost my own soul"
"Pouf! I'll absolve you, mon en-
FAINT"
1T is impossible, lieutenantl"
"What?"-the officer was angry at
the mans obstinacy now. "What?
Speak to-your officer like that Here.
sergeant, put this imbecile under al
rest! We haven't any cells, but do
your best to make him feel what q
fool he u.s."
The sergeant grinned inteAigently
and marched the prisoner off to hut
and placed guard at the. door. The
hut was filthy and the air foul, but
there Gaspard had to remain, thirsty
and restless and silent, until the guard |
was relieved, and then he asked for
water.
"Sergeant's orders are that you are
to have none until you recover your
senses, comrade. Come, be man."
was the sentinel's reply.
Il am aman" Gaspard said proud
y, and he waited without complaint
Until morning, when the sergeant
etched him and marched him to the
lieutenant.
well, prisoner, are you going to
10 your duty?" asked the officer.
II cannot kill, was the hoarse re-
'ly, and the swollen tongue and the
tracked purple lips told what agony Of
hirst the man had endured.
every WE'LL" said the lieutenant
do with him as you suggest, SER
,eant."
"PriSoner Right about facet
lareh?' cried the sergeant, and, Joined
" the guard at the door, they marched
stake that had been set up in the
lllage street, and Gaspard was bound
0 it.
There, in the burning rays of the
I'm, hatf-crazed with the heat and the
onglng for water, Gaspard remained
ntll late in the afternoon. Then the
ergeant approached him, bearing in
is hand a flask of water and cup
ito which he Poured some of the
DOL liquid, raising the flask high SO
nat the water fell into the cup with
ne sound that there is no forgetting. !
aspard's eyes glared at it wolfshly. ;;
ut his lips and tongue were so swollen