Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1898-10-07
A PIECE OF BREAD.

TN 1870 tue young Duke de Hardi-
montw at AK. taking the waters
He had tiRGshed his luncheon, when
throwing a careless glance over the
paper. he read the news Of the disa ster.
of the French arms at Keichshofen.
He e,nptied bis glass OF chartreuse,
threw his serviette on the restaurant
table. sent word to his valet to pack up.
and having caught the express to Paris.
rushed OF to the recruiting Office. and
enlisted iu, u regiment OF the line. -.
And this is why. In the early days OF
Noyemper, e NV having 4re-enterrsNqs
Paris with his regiment, when was
attached TO the corps of General Ninoy.
Henri deraHardirpont private ia the
Third Rattalfuh ~of- the secead-of the
aine, "A nd a member Of the Jockey CLUB,
was on outpost duty with his company,
before the redpubt. sf- ii outes7Brpyeres,
a hastily fortified position Protected
by the cannon of the fort Of Bicetre.
The place was forbidding, ROAD
broken into muddy ruts and planted
with, broomsticks, running through the
polluted fields OF the Paris outskirts'
on the edee>E this roadia deserted lit
Tile cnbaret-a cabaret with trellised
houers, where the soldiers had estab-l
Aished their post. A few days before
shere had hee.psome lighting there. ana
several OF the broomsticks by the road
side had been snapped In two, while
those left still showed on their park
she white sears of the bullets. The as
spect of the house. itself ma de one, shiv-
ar. The roof had been ripped open by
m she'll the .wine.staiued walls seemeg
bespattcred with blood.
AT The door Of the cabaret the young
duke WAS standing hts chassepot slung
across. hn.& his. kept over his. eyes, his
numb sliands in the pockets Of his red
trousers. shvering under his sheepskin.
An nj once he felt that he was hun
He knelt. down and drew from his
knapsnels, which rested against the wall
near by, lump of regulation bread.
which, having lost his knife, he bit
Snto a nd began slowly ITO eat. 1872 .
But after few mouthfyls he had had
enough the bread was hardss and had
a,bittei> esste- AmissS think there was
mo getting any fresh before tomorrow s
distribution, and then only at the good
will of the cOmmissary! All. well! there
was n deal just now that was pretty
rough to bear. and. with q leap of mem
ory, he recalled what In past days he
had beeis wont 20 term his hygienie
luncheens, when, on the morrow, after
n supfytr a trihe too exciting, he would
alt down near some window on the
ground floor of the Cafe Anglais, and
have served to him the veriest trifie-
u cntlet, perhaps-and the waiter
KNOWING his habits would my on TN
sablecloth. and car'Nflflly open b0ttl'
of fine old leoville, which he then Sc
down to reposss NO Ia SwickerIcradle
Deuce take 1t! tthose-were good tinse
MI the same: he should never get uset
TO this bread of poverty. And In
moment of impatlence the young mai
funx his lump Of bread into the mud.
u "tSEi sHslI'r tn'A
Aesthat same moment private WA
Aeavlhg the cabaret; he stopped. picke'
up the bread, and, going On a few steps
wiped 1t with his sleeve, and began t
Sevour 1t ravenousiy.. Sn'1 R"h"ih'
Henri de Hardimont was alread
ashamed of his action, and was, lookin
with pity on the poor wretch who CAV
PROOF of such a good appetite. He wa
n tall. gaunt fellow. III made, wit
feverish eyes and a hospital beard, an,
so thin that hts shoulder blades stue
out under the cloth OF his worn grea,
coat.
art thou then so hungry. comrade !?
he said. approaching the soldier.
"As thou seest." he answered wit
his mouth fun. ....,l.tu|- "
Excuse me. then. II had know
that thou wouldst have cared for 1t
would not have thrown the brea
,away.~ ~ ~ ~ " ~ ~ - W y
'"Itis not the worse for that" reptile
The soldier 81 am not so particular.
mo matter" said the gentleman
''What did was wrong and Ilreproac
myself for 1t. but do not wish the
10 carry away a bad opinion, Of m;
and as have some good old cognac |
my can. Wen have a drep together"
The man had finished eating. Th
duke and he took a mouthful each {
the brandy: the acquaintance wa
made. .5-4tH. 4.4. sr -Ip., 90.
And thou art called?" asked the pr
waite
'Hardimont." replied the duke, SUI
pressing his title and prefix. 49,.
.And thou?' ...-..,. o.,
"Jean Victor I've only tu
Joined the company. I came from Il
ambulance | was wounded
Chatillon. All, one Is well o
:at the ambulance and doesn't the nur'
give you good horse soup? b
mine was only a scratch the maj
signed NY discharge. and, worse iIuc
out / bad TO go to~begfh' again 10 d
of hunger. :. :. For. believe me II "
VIII comrade. but, as stand befo
you, nave been hungry ar my life. '