The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-09-13


sitting in my big leather armchair. Hc
rose gravcly and imprcssiyely. I was
waiting for you.' he said. You are go
ing to fight tomorrow with Command
er Bernard de Ris, who is blade.
Youneglect practice too much Georges
leaned against the wall, and l saw
that he had sword in his hand.
took down foil and fell into position.
Look out said Georges. I am going
to give you what Grisier used to call
so gallantly lesson in duelng. ITEMS,
here is an irresistible thrust. Engage
your sword, bring back the left foot
while you toy with your adversary's
blade. One, two, forward! Good! But
you didn't lunge enough
ga pale smile fitted over Georges
lips. We started afresh, and this time
I lunged so violently that my sword
snapped against the wall. 1t had
passed clean through Georges body.
But, strangely, or rather naturally
enough. my foil had encountered no
resistance. 'Bienv cried Georges. "A
keen eye, a steady wrist, cool brain.
and you will have him.
Georges cried reproachfully,
you are going to leave me! What is
there up there that keeps you away
from me?' Georges shook his head,
and I cried out passionately, viii you
come back soon?'
"'I will come back only once more,
Etienne, and then we will 60 away TO-
gether,' and the vision vanished like
bubble.
81 have all my wits about me-" the
general went on. with increased ex-
altation, "but I am sure Of what tell
you. I. vergnmier, took lesson with
ghost, and the next day killed my
man! Major, that's long time ago.
I am waiting for Georges third visit"
Bnnis could not conceal a nervous
movement; the generals feyerish state
alarmed him.
"voyons, General Etienne; be yourself
again. You've been telling me dreams
strange fancies. Pray don't lay any
more stress on them. You need calm,
sang froid."
"Major," returned the general, a prey
to deep depression, sit is a long while
since saw Georges"
The whole troop had struck to the
left to avoid the torrentlike wady that
bordered the plain. General Vergamier,
shivering under his caban, broke 81
lence only to give an officer few brief
orders. At daybreak fires were made
out on the sides Of Djebel-Ammer.
These fires showed the bivouac Of the
first scouting coldmn that yergamier
had orders to join. The junction was
quickly effected and arms were stack
ed.
The little army was encamped on the
mountains flank. At its foot streamed
a vast plain covered with rich grain
fields cut by narrow irrigating bitches
fed from the neighboring wady. On
the other side Of the mountain rose q
large Arab village, whose irregular
houses, built in zigzag line, seemed
to be tumbllng down the valley, for on
that side, too, ran triple belt Of
golden millet and corn fields. Huge
powders of trachytic porphyry. blue.
black and white, hung over in topping
masses as IL ready to fall. A dense
forest of cypress, figs and giant tur-
pentine trees crowned the summit.
General Vergamier had dismounted,
and. after having turned his horse over
to chasseur, It had pleased his fancy
to ascend the Djebel by steep path
that called for keen eye and an agile
foot. Lost in thought, Vergamier did
not observe that on his right stood per-
pendicular rocks rising like a wall be.
tween him and his troops, but went on
climbing, leaning on his sword. At
last he reached great plateau covered
with vegetable mold, the edge Of the
Ammer forest. Nothing more melan-
choly, more imposing can be imagined
than the dense masses Of dark green,
gray trunked expresses. Vergamier
plunged with hasty step into the
black stiffness. The ground was strewn
with fragments Of sharp feldspar, the
debris of rocks ground into pieces in
some primeval cyclone. His boots were
soon cut through as cleanly as by
razor. But vergamier seemed to have
grown insensible to physical pain. FL
Tally he halted near a torrent vomited
from the top Of tremendously high
cliff and drank swallow Of water
froy,, h;c ho11owo1 po1rn ThaO no SQt
down on q messy root and fell into
deep meditation.
AS If this were q solemn momen-
tous epoch in his life, he called up all
his past. He saw once again the white
plains of his native Champagne and
st. Cyr, with its cloisterlike streets;
Sidi-Ferruch and his feat Of arms;
then Paris, wrapped in it's blue mist,
giant Paris, illuminated Paris, and the
Tuileries, where his valor had been
recognized and rewarded, and the
Palais Bourbon, where enthusiastic ap.
pIause had greeted his entrance. anu
the little Nanteuil drawing room, the
poet surrounded by an artistic luxury
In a gentle atmosphere Of home, Ill
those that he had loved, and Georges.
He suddenly raised his head. Above
him naught but rock wall hundred
fathoms high and spirals of blacH
trees, no sky. By his side. stan0lnG
near cypress, man.
"Georges!" he cried and hid his heac