The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-04-25

The Mouse's eyes filed with tears;
his lips Quivered.
Honesty is often clothed in rags"
he snivelled. drawing himself up. Il
thank you for your courtesy. l VIII
CO."
He moved away, furtively brushing
a tear from his cheek. Yolette stepped
across the threshold and touched his
ragged elbow impulsively. He turned
with dramatic start, accepted the
small silver coin. then stalked across
the street, his head on his breast, his
arms folded. Presently the stalk re-
lapsed into a walk, then into shuttle,
warm on the grass grown Notifications.
Where it lay warmest the Mouse sat
him down and crossed his legs.
When he had lighted his pipe he
stretched out at full length. both arms
behind his head. cap tilted to shade his
single eye. Under the peak of the cap
ne could see the pipe smoke curl. He
could also see the long, yellow road.
stretching away into the country from
the Porte Rouge. Out there some
where-perhaps very far. perhaps very
near-the Prussian armies were moving
across France toward Paris. The
thought amused the Mouse. He
scratched one large ear and speculated.
With the Prussians would come bonn
bardment. with bombardment would
come panic, with panic might come an
archy, and with anarchy would come
pillage.
The Mouse smacked his lips over the
pipe stem. He reflected that the revo-
luton, accomplished five days previous
had brought with it no plumber so far
as he was concerned. 1t had been a
stupid Notwithstanding jostling
the bourgeoise, rush at the TuillerieS,
whack over the head from a rifle
stock, but no pillage. In vain had he,
the Mouse, in company with two am
bilious companions, Biba Ia Goutte and
Mon Oncle, descended from the shady
hooks of Montparnasse with the frank
intention of rummaging the Tuilleries--
and perhaps some houses of the stupid
citizens. In vain had Bib Ia Goutte
bawled anarchy and treason: in vain
had Mon Oncle demanded to be led to
the sack of palaces. The brutal guards
had thumped Mon Oncle with their
rifle butts; the imperial police had
mauled Bib la Goutte, and as for the
Mouse, he had gained nothing but an
abrasion of the scalp from contact with
an officers sword hilt.
But now the Mouse truly hoped that
with the advent of the victorious Prus-
sian armies before the walls of Paris,
things might be different. When the
big shells began to sail over the Seine
and knock houses and churches into
kindling wood, the Mouse intended to
do little exploring on his private ac-
count, and he acknowledged with en-
thuSfasm that it would be degenerate
knight of leisure who should fail to
amass pretty competency.
So the Mouse lay musing and smok-
ing in the warm September sun, one
eye half closed. but still fixed upon the
yellow road which crawIed across the
plain at his feet. He was absolutely
contented; he had tobacco, sunshine,
and so centimes in silver in his pocket,
to spend on food or drink, as he chose
Once he thought of the lion, and shud-
dered at the thought. Some day when
he had time he would find a way to
poison the creature, he hoped, and in
cidentally to rob the bird store
AS he lay diverted by these pleasant
thoughts, he became aware of cloud
OF dust on the road below He
watched it. 1t came nearer and nearer.
He could distinguish the red trousers
OF French infantry. gun doomed
from some distant bastion. Another
still more distant, answered the signal
The Mouse sat up. He could see that
the dust cloud enveloped heavy moving
columns or troops, moving slowly
toward the walls of Paris At the Porte
Rouge drums were beating.
The Mouse rose, stretched. yawned
TO the street. AS he passed the bird
store, Yolette and Hide came to the
door gazing anxiously toward the for
tihcations.
The Mouse leered at them. removed
his cap, laying a dirty hand on his
heart. Always the ladies' slave he
called across the street, and shuff1ed
on toward the Porte Rouge
AT the gate, he showed and elbowed
his way through the increasing thrcng
until he reached the pont-levis The
line SentinelS drove him back again
but he managed to crawl up to the grill
and hang on to the steel bars Here
he found himself in company with two
bosom friends, Bila la Goutte and Mon
Oncle
"Mincer' observed Bib, as a column
of dusty hussars galloped up to the
drawbridge and drew bride, they've
seen uncomfortable things out yonder,
those hussars. Its Vinoys Thirteenth
corps back from Badinguete's fete
champetre."
Mon Oncle sneered and mimicked the
Of infantry came plodding through the
gate haggard, CHASTITY beneath their
coat of tan and dust.
'Bigrer observed Bibi under his
breath, but the Mouse climbed up on
the grille and hurled insults at the ex-
hauSted troops: Malheur, 81 ca fait
pas gueler! On dirait des chaouchs de
Biribii All! mince. on prend des airs
dejai Mort aux cretinsi On nest pus
sui PDave de Badinguet, tas de ser
gotsr'
Then he spat upon the ground shook
his fist at the sky, shrugged and
slouched out Of the crowd, followed
closely by Bib la Goutte and Mon On
Gle.
The latter was somewhat puzzled at
the Mouses sudden Outburst, and look
ed doubtfully at Bib.
THE Mouse is capriciOus,' he OBJ
served.
NO" said Bib, scornfully. 1.-The
Mouse doesn't care. except that there's
another army corps in Paris now, and
when the hour comes to do a little pill
Laying, these imbeciIe soldiers may an
noy U.S.
The Mouse remained mute, but as he
trudged over the glacis he cast a
glance of horrible malignity at the bat
tered, sun-scorched soldiers, toiling
across the drawbridge below.
Then. with a gesture, he turned his
back, closed his sightless eye, and sat
down on the grass. Bib regarded him
in breathless admiration, his lean jaws
working with admiration.
What a general he would maker
he whispered to Mon Oncle.
"Or what an assassin replied Non
Oncle aloud, hopping his fat face.
The Mouse felt the compliment, but
said nothing. The drums beat contin-
uously down by the gate, the dull cries
the or! r. cGi.,c UP to them from
below, mingled with the murmur of the
thrOuR at the DOnt-leViS