Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-12-06
NUMBER 49.

this, making pointed word for q good
cause, felled by . thrust from some
brave adversary sword Thus would ]
die-upon the blood stained eartb-s
point within my heart, o point upon
my lips. p"
They did not care for that, the Gas.
cons Their answer was:
"We're hungry"
Then Cyrano babe the fifef play and
do the work his wit had failed In do
ing.
"Play not the calls to BATTLE" be
commanded, "but simple things they
heard Of in old Gsscony-each piping
note like tho call Of little sister. Let
them rise slow. like the slow rising
smoke that ourls from out our chin
neys there. Play the tunes the goat
herds play-now heard, now lost down
In the valley. Hear you it not! See you
not your country-the evening purpling
on the river the woods, the hills. with
huddling sheep tie shepherd drivesf
See you not Gascony."
The men sat staring-not at the
camp, not the arms, the sentinels, the
srappings Of war. but far past all thsse
into far Gascony. The higher love had
killed the lower. Homesickness drove
out hunger.
IL was thus that DE Guiche found
.hem-Gascons again, who could laugh
at starvation a. they would laugh at
whistliny bullets. They were ready to
bear themselves before him with their
customary air Of insolent high spirit
He did not like their manner. He,
too. was hungry. Their eyes seemed al
ways to challenge his courags. Today
he even went SO far as TO boast Of his
strategem Of the day before, when.
dropping the white scarf that showed
his rank, he had escaped from detach-
ment Of the enemy, only TO return later
and rout it,
"Ah" said Cyrano. The white
plume Of Henry Of Navarro had not been
dropped thus Some would not 30 light
ly abdicate the honor of serving for
target. Had been there, I would have
picked il up and put il on.
a Gascon boast" Sneered De
Guiche.
"Nay, give IL me and I will wear it. T"
"Another boast It's Roue-dropped
in the Spanish lines where none may
venture-as You knew"
From his pocket Cyrano drew forth
the scarf.
IL found it there this morning." said
he, bowling. Permit that return IL. p"
The rage on the commander face
gave place to an uglier look.
IL thank you. he said. "I'll use IL
for signal. See. Here upon the ram.
parts wave IT, A man below there
runs-a false Spanish spy. He came TO
warn me that the Spanish will this
day attack us, for our force is weak
ened. Perhaps you did not know il. but
the marshal secretly has gone with
strong escort TO Dourleus, where the
kings provisions are. Our camp being
thus made vulnerable, the Spanish will
attack il. And with the scarf You very
kindly gave to me have just signaled
to the false spy to tell his general that
this is the weakest spot to fall upon.
Here the attack will begin. You II have
chance to prove your boasted courage,
sirs The marshal will return in time
to save the day for Us, but not to ave
the men who are first assaulted. Brave
Gascons, who complain Of paltry odds
b. good enough TO let yourselves be
killed.
He finished with his sneer. Carbon
was already forming his men in line OF
resistance Cyrano with all his sold hight
hearted insolence bowed low TO De
Guiche in thanks, and to the cadets he
cried:
$50 we shall win for the Gascon coat
Of arms, with its six bars OF blue and
gold, the blood red one it lacked.
And to Christian he said:
my heart misgave me this would be
today. Here is the letter that ] wrote
for YOU to send Roxane. A farewell let
ter, it il sad. Death matters not, bot
not TO look upon her face again-for
you. mean-oh, that is terrible"
fTo he continual