The Forrest City times., 1898-05-20

shame. Inside the tent they found soI-
diers huddled together around a little
hre, baking biscuits on the points of
their bayonets. They made room for
the children, and gave them n dron of
their warm coffee; while they were
drinking it an officer appeared at the
door, called the sergeant and, after a
few words with him in low tone. went
quickly away.
Boys" said the sergeant. on reen-
tering, there will be fun tonight. We
have found out the Prussian counter
sign. believe at last we are to capture
that cursed Bourget."
Then followed an explosion of brayos
and shouts. The soldiers danced and
tiourished their bayonets. Taking ad-
vantage OF the tumult the boys slipped
away. On leaving the trench they saw
before them plain, bordered one side
by long, white wall, defaced by bull
let's. 1t was toward this that they di-
rected their footsteps, stopping often.
as If picking up potatoes.
Let US go back when we get to the
WALL" said Stenne.
The other boy only shrugged his
shoulders and went steadily forward
Behind the wall were earthworks
fallen trees and great black bitches.
liz each ditch were the same yellow
mustaehes, which laughed as the little
| fellow went past. In one corner was
house protected by trunks of trees.
| Tho lnXyar St l.,I \ IL.
playing cards, while soup was cooking
over roaring fire. How good it
smelled, and what contrast to the
| camp of the French riflemen.
When the little Parisans entered
they were greeted with shouts of ioy.
They delivered their papers to the en-
emy. They were given wine TO drink
that their tongues might be loosened.
The large boy amused them by his odd
language and nis loww They laughed
boisterously, repeating his express
sions, fairly rolling in the Parisian
mire that was thus brought to them.
Little Stenne would have liked to
talk, too. to show that he was not
stupid, but something seemed to choke
him. In front of him, standing apart
| from the others, was an old Prussian
who seemed to be trying to read his
| thoughts, as the soldiers eyes never
eft his face. There were tenderness
and reproach in the gaze, as if the man
had boy about Stenne's age, and as
if he would have said:
II would rather die than see my
| son in such business!"
The poor boy felt as If hand
clutched his heart so that it could no
| longer beat. To escape from his tongue
| be drank a great deal of wine. Soon
everything seemed to be going round
and round. In the distance he heard
his companion ridicule the national
guard, mimicking their drill and go
| ing through other drollery. At last the
| boy lowered his voice, the officers clus-
| tered around him and their faces be-
came serious. The wretch was about
| to forewarn them of the attack to be
allied what was going on and called
| out:
"Not that! Not that!"
The large boy replied with a loud
| laugh and went on. Before he had fin
ished al the officers were on their feet.
One of them showed the door to the
boys and eNclaimed:
Leave at once
Once outside, the boys began TO run
| to get back as soon as possible. Their
sacks were filed with potatoes which
| the Prussians had given them; they
passed the French post without being
molested. There everything was be-
ing got in readiness for the night at
tack. Troops arrived silently and
massed themselves behind the bank.
How happy the old sergeant seemed as
be placed his men! When the boys
passed he recognized them and smiled
kindly at them.
Oh, how that smile hurt little Stenne!
He wanted to cry out:
Don't go down there; you have been
| betray ed"
The older boy had said to him: "If
you tell we shall be shot," so he was
afraid. On reaching the city they went
into a deserted house to divide their
money. This was honestly done, and
when little Stenne heard his gold pieces
rafting in his blouse and thought of
the games and galoche in store for him
his crime did not seem so very serious.
But when he was alone, poor child,
When the large boy had left him out
side his door, then his pockets began to
feel heavy, and the hand which held his
heart tightened its grasp. Paris no
longer seemed the same place. People
passing looked hard at him, as if they
knew where he had been. He heard
the word spy" in the noises of the
street, in the beating of the drums
along the canal. He entered the house,
and was glad that his father had not
vet returned. He went at once to his
room and hid the crowns, which were
so heavy, under his pillow.
His father had never seemed so kind
and so cheerful as on this particular
evening.
Encouragingnews from the provinces