Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1898-03-31
A Hair Escape.
BY CHARLES HERvEY.
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outbreak Of the Franco-German war
one of the most promising cadets, or
as they are commonly styled, pupils.
of the military college of st. Cyr wa.
CASTOR de Langeais. He was the last
representative of an ancient family in
Brittany, whose traditional obstinacy
and impotence of control he had in
herited to an extent which rendered
him more popular with his comrades
than with the authorities.
Not that he was especially remarka.
Bile for turbulence or INSTRUMENTATION,
or that his infractions of rules were
more frequent than those of the major
ity of his fellows. On one point alone
he was intractable, and exercised all
his ingenuity in repeated attempts to
escape regulation which was inexpres-
sibly repugnant to him. Gifted by
nature with an abundance of luxuriant-
ly-curling hair, of which the was inordi-
nately vain, the prescribed necessity of
having it cropped short was perpetual
grievance TO him, and he looked anxious
~ forward to his second year at st.
Cyr. and his consequent emancipation
from the too close scrutiny to which
he had hitherto been periodically sub
jected.
I'm two months" he said. eVultingly,
10 one of his intimAtes. my time aere
viii be up, and once named officer l
shall be free as air, and no longer
ashamed TO show myself to my Cousin
Louise. For you see" he added, lifting
his cap, and displaying thick growth
OF short curls carefully flattened down,
81 have still some hair left"
Castles in the air. however, are apt to
collapse; and Gaston's visionary prof
Gets were, to say the least. premature.
A few mornings later, at the usual
hour of parade, the corps of youngsters
were unexpectedly summoned to un-
dergo the inspection of the infantry
lieutenant, Bouchard, lynx-eyed mar
tient, by no means favorably disposed
toward pupils destined for cavalry regi
ments, whom he CONTEMPORARY des-
ignated as "coxcombs" De Langeais,
as the recognized leader of the band,
was particularly obnoxious to him, and
his keen eyes twinkled maliclously as
he stopped short before the young man
and examined him curiously.
take off your cap" he said.
CASTOR obeyed with an inward SILVER
Of apprehension.
Il thought as much!" growled the
lieutenant. IF that superfuous hair
has not disappeared by this time to-
morrow you will pass the next four days
in the sale de police"
"You are in for it now" whispered
lis sympathizing comrade, when the
terrible Bouchard had passed on.
Not bit of it, replied de Lam
geais.
Why. what on earth can You do?''
Il don't exactly know; but intend TO
put off the evil day as long as possibly
can"
Next morning, with the aid of
couple of brushes well soaked in water,
he succeeded in leveling the rebellious
locks so as to deceive even practiced
eye and appeared on parade with his
wonted jaunty air, although not little
nervous as TO the result of his coming
ordeal. Presently the lieutenant ar
rived with an ominously slow step, and.
pausing rs before, exactly in front of
CASTOR. repeated the order of the pre-
vious day.
Take off your cap."
For moment Bouchard seemed puz-
lied by the apparently smooth surface
Of the pupils" head; but. bent on as
the real state of the case, he
lifted portion OF
The fattened hair with his forefinger,
hereby disclosing a substratum of tiny
urls. Then, turning to the adjutant
who accompanied him. he briefly con-
signed tine offender for four days to the
sale de police" and continued his |
'ound of inspection with self-satis-
led grin.
During the last day of his enforced |
eelusion CASTOR practically employed |
is leisure in decorating Ihis knee, bv a |
udicious mixture of blue and green |
,aint, and with tolerably exact imita-
ion of bruise, which he showed to the
egimental doctor. pretending that the
ontusion had been caused by his com
ng in contact with post in the riding
chool. Whether he implicitly believed
he statement or not. the good-natured
nedico put him on the sick list, and
hus "a hours were gained. His reap
earance on parade. however, became
I length a matter of necessity: and
his time his continued disobedience
ntailed on him a weeks further con-
nement, at the expiration of which he
5as again consigned TO durance vile for
n entire fortnight.
This will never do" thought de Lar
eais. "The earthenware pot must, in
he long run, be smashed by the iron
ne, and ! shall have to give in at last.
had better try old Grisou once more"
Whsreupon, having previously, by
'ay Of rsecaution. added few artistic
ouehes 10 the pictorial establishment
( his knee, helimpeo into the consulting