La Junta tribune., 1899-01-07
A CRUST OF BREAD.


cold she had taken at the Derby, He was
finishing luncheon, when, casting a care
less glance at the paper, he rad the news
of the disaster OF Rcichshotfen
He drained his glass of chartreuse,
flung his napkin on the restaurant table.
and gave his valet orders to pack. Two
hours later he took the Paris express and
on arriving hastcned to the recruiting
Office and enlisted.
In spite Of having led from 10 to 90 q
life of dissipation, remembering that
EnHucrraud de Hardimont had died OF the
plague in Tunis on the same day as st.
Louis: that Jean de Hardimont had COM
manded the Grandes compagnies under
Du Guesclin, and that Francois Henri de
Hardimont was killed at Fontcnay, charg
ing with the Maison Rouge, the young
duke on learning that battle had been
lost by the French ON French soil felt his
blood rush TO his head and experienced the
hidcous impression OF "A blow in the face.
Thus IL was that early In November of
1870, having returned to Paris with his
regiment belonging to the vinoy corps
Henri de Hardimont, fusilccr in the Third
of the Second and mem bcr of the Jockey,
was on guard with his company before
the redoubt Of the Hautes Bruyeres. II
hastily fortified position protected by the
guns of the Bicctrc fort
1t was an i'll looking spot-a road plant
ed with saplings, cut up by muddy ruts,
crossing the lcprous fields of the suburb,
and on this roadside AN abandoned tavern,
u cabaret with Arbors, where the soldiers
had established their post. There had
been fighting here few days before The
grapeshot had broken in two some OF the
spindling trees, all of which bore on their
bark the white scars of the shot. As for
the house, tho look of 1t made one shud
der The roof had cavcd In under n shell,
and the reddish walls seemed smeared
with blood The overturned summer
houses; the gutted shooting gallery; tho
swing with its wet ropes creaking In the
wind, and the signs near the door scratch
ed by bullets" bsinth," 'Vermuth,'
"Wine at go Confines Liter"-which
framed dead rabbit, painted above two
billiard cues tied crosswise by Ribbon
everything recalled with cruel irony the
popular amusemcnts of bygone Sundays.
and over all this an ugly winter sky, COW
cred with rolling. leadcn clouds - low,
angry, hateful.
AT the tavern door the young duke
stood motionless his chnssepot slupg over
his shoulder. his KEPT showed down on his
eyes, his numbcd hands in the pockets Of
his red trousers, shivering under his
sheepskin. Yielding himself up to his
somber revcrie, the soldier Of defeat gazed
with heartbroken eyes at the slopes, half
hidden in fog whence rose every second
minute with u sullen detonation the white
ball of smoke of Krupp gun.
Suddenly he discovered he was hungry
kneeling, he drew from his havcrsack,
lying against the wall near by, big
hunch of army bread. Having lost his
knife, he used his teeth and took u bite.
But few mouthfuls were enough. The
bread was hard and bitter. There would
be no fresh supply till tomorrow, II then.
Allons soldering was not all play. And
unfortunately at this moment suddenly
he WAS vividly reminded Of what he used
to call his hygicnic breakfasts, when on
the morning following n supper Of heat
ing nature he used to seat himself near n
ground floor window of the Cafe Anglais
and order, mon Dieul the lightest fare-a
chop, AN asparagus omelct-and the wait.
er, knowing his habits, cautiously un-
corked slim bottle OF old LeOville com.
fortably lying in its basket
Good old days! He would never, never
get used to this pauper's fare. And In "a
moment Of impatience the young man
tossed the rest of his bread into the mud.
At the same instant a soldier stepped
out of the tavern. STOPPING, he picked
the bread up, walked short distance.
wiped it on his sleeve and began devour-
ing 1t greedily Henri de Hardimont, nj
ready ashamed OF his fastidiousness, looked
pityingly at the poor devil who showed
such good appetite. He was long,
lank, i'll built young fellow, with fever
followed eyes and a hospital beard and so
thin that his shoulder blades stood out
under the cloth of his worn capote.
you are hungry. colnrade?" said Henri,
drawing nearer.
AS you see, returned the fellow, with
his mouth full
Excuse me. II had known my bread
could have been Of use to you. / would not
have thrown 1t away"
There's no harm done," replied tho
soldier. ''I'm not SO particular.
IAN the same" said the gentleman. at
was stupid Of me, and / am sorry for It.
But you mustn't carry away a bad opin-
ion Of me, and as have some good cognac
In my flask. parbleul Well drain 1t to-
gether.'
The man bad finished eating. The duke
and he drank q swallow. The acquaint-
anoe was an accomplished fact.
And your naInef"
"Hardimont," replied the duke. sup
pressing title and particle. "And your"
jean Victor. I've only lately been
transferred to this company. I'm just
out Of the ambulance. was wounded at
Chatiilon. All, was we'll oH at the hos
pital. What good horse meat broth they
give you therel But 1t was only scratch.
The major signed my dismissal, and here
am. The starving begins again, for,
believe me II you like, ocmrade, I've been
hungry all my born days"
The speech startled the voluptuary, who
had surprised himself moment before.
regretting the cuisine Of the Cafe Anglais.
The duke gazed at his companion in hor-
rof stricken amazement The soldier
smiled awkwar'ily, showing his wolfish
teeth, white in the midst Of his earthly