The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1898-02-19

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Is 1870. a month OF two before the
outbreak Of The Franeo-6ermsn war,
one Of The most promising cadets, or,
as thex are commonly styled. pupils,
Of the military college Of s.. Cgr was
CASTOR &c Lahgeais He was the last
representative OF az ancient family in
Brittany. Whose traditional obsllnacY
and in % tienee oi control be had IN.
herifed 10 an extent which rendered
hin more popular with his comrades
than with the authorities.
Not that he was especially remarka-
bic for turbulence or inbubordinationt
or that bis infraetions q rules were
more frequent than those Of tine major
ity OF his fellows. On one point alone
he was iufractable. and exercised all
his ingenuity In repeated attempts to
escape a regulation which was inexpres-
sibly repugnant 10 him. Gifted BY
nature with an abundance Of lnxnriant-
ly-euriing hair Of which lae was inordi-
nately vain, the prescribed necessity Of
having i cropped short was perpetual
grievance 10 him. and he looked anxious
d forward to his second year al st.
Cyr, and his consequent emancipation
from the too close scrutiny 10 which
be bad hitherto been periodically sub
jected.
In isyo months" be said, exnltingly.
TO one Of his intimates, my time here
will be up. and once named officer
shall be free as air, and no longer
ashamed TO show myself 10 my Cousin
Louise For you see" be added, lifting
his cap, aud displaying thick growth
u short curls carefully hattened down,
u have still some hair left"
Castles IN the air, however, are apt TO
collapse; and Customs visionary prof.
Gets were, to say the least, premature.
A few mornings later, AT the usual
hour Of parade, the corps Of youngsters
mere UNEXPECTEDLY summoned 10 un-
dergo the inspection Of the infantry
Lieutenant, Bouchard, lynx-eyed mar
iient, By no means fayorably disposed
toward pupils destined for cavalry regl.
lnenls, whom he CONTEMPORARY des-
ignated as "coNcombs." DE Langeais.
as The recognized leader of the band,
was particularly obnoxious TO him, and
his keen eyes twinkled maliciously as
he stopped short before the young man
and examined him curiously.
take of your cap" be said.
CASTOR obeyed with ~ inward shlyer
Of apprehension.
~ thought as muchi" grOwled The
Lieutenant II that superfluous hair
has not disappeared by this time TO-
morrow you will pass the next four days
In the sale de police"
"iou are in for IT now" whispered
lis sympathizing eomrade, when the
terrible Bouehard had passed on.
"Not bit d IT," replied de Ian
geals.
"Why, what on earth can sou do?"
81 don't exactly know; but intend 10
put of the evil day as long as possibly
can"
Next morning, with the aid OF a
couple Of brushes well soaked In water.
be succeeded in leyeling the rebelllous
locks SO as 10 deceive even a practiced
eye and appeared on parade with his
wouted jaunty air, although not a little
nervous as TO the result OF his coming
ordeal Presently the lieutenant ar
rived with an ominously slow step, and.
pausing as before, exactly IN front OF
Castor, repeated the order Of the pre-
Yious day.
take of your capt"
For a moment Bouchard seemed puz-
zled By the apparently smooth surface
Of the pupils" head; but, bent on as.
ceriaining the real state Of the case. he
uEcsremoniously lifted portion Of
The aattened hair with his forennger
thereby disclosing substratum Of tiny
curls Then, turning TO the admiani
who accompanied him, be briefly con-
signed the offender for four DAYS 10 the
"salie de police" aud continued his
round Of inspection with a self-satis.
fed grin.
During the last day Of his enforced
seclusion CASTOR practically employed
his leisure in decorating hls knee. b, %
iudicious mixture of blue and green
paint. and with tolcrahy exact imita-
lion OF bruise. which BE- showed % ihc
reglmentai doctor, pretending that The
confusion had been caused by hi- com
ing 90 contact with post in ihc riding
school. Whether be implicitly believed
the statement or not, the good-natured
lnedico put him on the sick list, and
thu "a hours were gained. His reap
pearance on parade, however. became
Al lengia o matter n necessity and