The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1898-03-24
MY INVINCIBLE FOE.

At the close of the memorable year of
1871 | found myself quartered at Fort
Mont Valerin under General Noel We
had been shut up inactive for several
days. and very trying it was, knowing,
as we did, that those cursed Germans
were making steady advance on our
beloved Paris At last an order came
that a accommodating party was to be
sent out in the direction of Longboyeau,
small village some six miles distant
The prospect of a possible sklrmlsh
raised our spirits very considerably NO
one was more excited than myself, hear
ing. as did, shortly afterward that
was to be put in command
We started the following morning at
break of day For more than an hour
we tramped along with eyes and hear
ing alert, but saw no sign OF the enemy
until we arrived at point where the
highroad branched off into innumerable
pathways through large wood.
had paused to consider which was
the most advisable route to follow
when | beard coming toward us the
sound of horses feet the unmlstaka BILE
tramp. tramp of cavalry
1t was the work of moment for me
to post my men behind the shelter OF
hedge, and there we waited Parbleu
How my comrades eyes cleaned when
out of the depths of the forest there filed
two by two some 20 Prussians, headed
by an officer | can shut my eyes and
see that young man now as, panslng,
he gave the word to advance IN tours
He was magnificently built young fell
low, with steeIy blue eyes and long, fair
mustache-a typical looking soldier.
God knows that during the last few
months enough French blood has been
spilled to make US all burn for venge-
ance Nevertheless. as l raised my mus
ket to my shoulder my hand shook /
was not an old soldier in those days l
had never shot any one before at such
close quarters, and this seemed to me
almost like murder, for he was So igno-
rant of all danger Yet | knew it be-
hooved me to be steady, for they out
numbered us by some half a dozen.
| gave the signal, and we all fired in
unison. every bullet going straight
home In the stampede of horses which
ensued only four out of the 20 of the
enemy escaped death and they, unnerv-
ed by their loss, turned tail and gallop-
ed back into the depths of the forest.
Their leader lay his full length on the
ground, staring up into the cold winter
sky with wide open, rapidly glazing
eyes, one hand still grasping the bride
of his charger The poor beast stood
piteously looking down at his dead mas
| ter AS tried to seize him he reared,
and in doing SO the corpse moved.
Could it be possible, asked myself,
that he was still alive?
Kneeling beside him, tried to force
some brandy down his throat, but found
it was useless He was dead-stone
dead
Some few days later, in one of oul
many sorties. received a slight scratch,
which was followed by a bad attack Of
fever On recovering a weeks leave
was granted me in which to recruit
Ny regiment was at that time quarter
ed in Paris, circumstance determin
ed to take advantage of in looking NJ
an old comrade who. had heard, haC
been badly wounded at Bondy
My inquiries led me to the Val de
Grace am bulance. where found Legras
The poor fellow was delighted at seeing
a familiar face, and staid and talked
to him for some time In his rambling
account of how he had received hi
wound my attention strayed to the oc
cupants of the other beds One in par
ticular fascinated me 1t was the liner
figure of man lying in cot facing
Legras'
asked Legras if he knew who the
poor fellow was He answered i'll a tone
of mingled pity and satisfaction
"A Prusslan officer He was brough
IN some two days ago The doctors mar
vel how he has fingered for SO long bu
they say now he is dying The sooner
the better say |.
Hardly were the words out of Legras
mouth when the sick man suddenly
raised himself. gave one choking sol
and fell backward LII that brief mo
ment our eyes met What | saw Their
made me shrink back III my chair witt
a sense of bewllderment-l may say ter
ror That motlonless figure was tn
same young German officer whom
week ago had shot down with my owl
hand Oh the road to Longboyeau.
Trembling like leaf l bent owe
him He was dead
Before leaving | learned what partic
uIars 1 could He was t'russlan office
who had been mortally wounded whel
leading the attack Oh the nelghborln
village OF Bondy
This information restored my nerve
somewhat to their proper balance. or. t.
say more truthfuIly tried TO think /
did. OF course 1t could only have been
chance resemblance. and yet
But III those days one had little lei
sure III which to puzzle out mysteries
Following ChIs event came the battle O
Montretout
Ii had rained almost necessarily tn
night before and the early mornin
gave no promiSe OF any cessation OF tn
heavy showers which had fallen for tn
prevlous four and twenty hours Tn
fog and vapnrs of drifting rain were 8
thick as morning broke that one coul
scarcely see yard in front Of one A
J length the fog lifted and pale. water
looking sun shone out, disclosing to GU
view the Germans strongly intrenche
position Our orders We're to support on
leading column The bugles had jus
sounded the advance when. without an
warning, three German squadrons c
cavalry, led by an officer. made a sud
den furious descent on our left flank
Under cover of the fog they had crer
up unnoticed close to our lines. Had nc
the clouds lifted when they did W
should have been taken completely
surprise
It was an exciting moment as, quick
ly forming square, we received the1
with fixed bayonets A breathless tie
minutes ensued as we fought desperate
~ for our lives.
saw two of our officers fall mortal
~ wounded. but the enemy's leade
seemed TO bear charmed life.
l.