The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1898-02-19

sazr as possible g eeE5 9 razar
sanfeds uofhsrg bat . siuple brush
ept-
.Not 70 mention ehiIned n sn cd
esm1.aignsr q prossrbiai baldnrss.
.-fhat 8 heavy helmet plays he xsrg
deaee wifh ones hair
Castor listened with due respect "a
these weIl-meant exhoriati0ns, bat
without The slightest intention of be
jag Influenced b them; ard. o. ne ar
rigai Of his dffision at Net some days
later. had ALREADY. more than once de-
eliasd 70 araiI himself Of the services e
the regimenfal barber
Nevertheless. be iHstineiiTely fel.
fhaf 8 continued refusal 70 conform .
tie general custom must inevitably en-
danger his popularity. and thai the only
way 70 atone for this obnoxious singu-
laFisy was 10 distinguish himself y
some exploit which might obtain foi
nm an honorable mention in ihd order
Of the daY.
IA opportunity soon came. Or tie
18th Of August his regiment. posted
near St. Prisaf. behind an avenue q
poplaHs bordering the road 10 saar-
Bruek. Lad been exposed for several
hours 10 . CALLING fire Of the German az
afI1erT. ard bad suffered severely from
"a ineessant Storm Of shells. which
sere beginning 10 sci The trees on fire.
The position q The French corps be-
81 49, a ~ a5v.Hf.slaa fHess-F
ing that the enemx's guns must al any
aasf he sileneed. ordered a small eefaeh-
mem Of Dragons commanded by de
Lanseais 70 charge, and cat them OF
from he main body. The Germans.
taken bf surprise. ard Imagining they
arene about n lie attacked bY the en-.
ira regiment. ceased firing and hastily
neareafed. leaving enc Of their guns on
fhe fed. which Castor. al the head o.
3 men. bore dom upon. and. saberiBg
the gunHers. carried il friumpbantly
into the French lines.
sBrzro.~ cried the colonel, warmly,
graspiug the young sub-Iieutenant's
hand: "yon have deserved the cross
for this. and will take care that you
get it,
Stimulated bg this first success. and
eager to justify. by some further act of
daring. the good opinion of his chief, de
Langeais neglected no opportunity of
proving himself worthy Of 1t. Dis
patched on a forage expedition, and
attacked by an outpost Of infantry, he
completely routed them, and brought
ten prisoners into the camp; and a
few days later held his ground for half
an hour, unsupported, save by his own
men, against an entire corps of
the enemy. His gallantry did not
pass nnrewarded. Not only was
the cross of the Legion Of Honor con
ferred on him, but his name was three
times mentioned for exceptional
bravery in the order of the day. and his
speedy promotion to the rank of leu
tenant was generally regarded as a Ger
tainfy.
At this juncture the unexpected cap
itulation Of Metz was a severe blow 4
him. and. unwilling 10 accept compare
tive liberty on parole. he conceived a
project, which. although extremely haz-
ardons, might possibly enable him 70
join the army Of the Loire. His design
being approved Of By the general com
manding under Bazaine, wh1 Entrusted
linn with letter to his colleague, Au-
reile de Paladines, informing him tia:
the army of Prince Frederick Charles
would shortly march toward the Loire
CASTOR exchanged his uniform for a
blouse and peasants straw hat, and,
carrying basket of eggs, pursued his
way coolly In the direction OF the en-.
emy's lines.
at is terrible risk" he thought,
"but better be shot at once than rot
in German prison"
Challenged by the first sentinel he
met, and arrested on suspicion, he was
taken before the colonel of the regi-
ment. who, surrounded by his officers in
council, scrutinized the prisoner at.
teniiyely.
Where do you come from?" he in.
quired in tolerable French.
From Landonchamps. Oh lny way
with these eggs TO Grigy, was the
young mans reply.
Are you aware that you run the
risk Of being treated as spy" pur.
sued his interrogation.
Necessity has 10 choice" reIorted
de Langeais, with a perfectly indiffer.
ent air.
During this brief colloquy the officers
glanced curiously at The stalwart indi-
yidual before them, whose appearance
and manner contrasted so strangely
with the homely dress he wore; and
were almost unanimously of the
colonies openly expressed opinion, that
he was no peasant, but an officer in dis
guise, and consequently a spy. \
pause boding no good to the accused en-
sued, and in another moment his fate
would have been sealed, when a gray.
haired major, who had been intently
gazing al de Langeais, suddenly arose
from his seat.
STAY" he exclaimed, with all sub
mission. think you are mistaken. This
man. whoever he may be, is no officer.
All those we have taken prisoners
have been close cropped, and no one
ever heard Of French soldier on active
service with such head of hair as
that"
"True-the major is right" assented
several OF those present.
I'll may be Sc" said the colonel, only
half convinced, land in that case he
is entitled TO the benefit of the doubt.
Give him a pass, and let him go and he
banged somewhere else"
~ narrow escape," muttered Castor
to himself as he left the camp. 81 won