Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1899-02-25
THE OLD UNIFORM
By Francis copPee


the ministry OF war was an eN-non-
Commissioned officer. Henri Vidal. He
had lost his left arm in the Italian cam
paigu. but with his re usiniug hand be
executed marvels OF csligrap hy-down
10 drawing with one peu-s,roke bird
in The flourish OF bis signature.
A good fellow. Vidal: the type OF the
uprigh; old soldier. hardly 80. with
sprinkling OF gray in bis blonde i'm
perial-he had been In the ZoUaves We
all called him Pere Vidal. more respect
fully than fsmiliarly. for We all knew
his lie OF honor and devotion. lie lived
in a cheap little lodging az Grcnelle.
wherein the money 90 bis cross. his
pension. and bis salary mana ced 20
support his widowed sister aud her
three children. Three thousand francs
for Eve people. No matter. his
redingote. the empty left sleeve caught
50 The third button. was always brushed
asif fer parade. and SO seriously did he
take his red ribbon. invariably fresh.
that he took 10 out or bis button hole
whenever he carried a pair OF boots or
trousers or went on any commonplace
errand
As az that time I. TOO. was living in
the southern suburb so Paris. ! often
walked home WITH pcre Vidal. aud
used 20 make him tell OF his campaigns
as we passed near the military school.
meeting az every step-it was az the
close OF the empire-the splendid uni
forms OF the imperial guard. green
chasseurs. white iaucers. and thc do
and magnificent artillery officers. u.acn
and gold a costume worth while GET
ting killed in. Sometimes. OF hot
evenings. I treated my companion 10
absinthe. out OF economy be never
drank. On these occasions the x col
der. who had become q sober pater-
famiiias. and had lost tie habit of the
parrot. would rise from the table with
touch % heroic drunkenness ia has
brain. and the rest OF the way I Va al.
most certain 70 hear some tale % war.
One evening I believe tha, Per'
Vidal had bad two glasses OF absiuthe-
as we walked along the hidcous Bouie
ward de Greneiie. he stopped sudden
before military oid-ciothes shop
there are many .ilse 10 iu that quarter
a dirty. sinister den. showing III it'
window rusted pistols. bowls full @
b. buttons. and farnished epaulets. IL
'front.' we're hung. amid sordid rags.
few old officers uniforms. rain-rotie.
D. and sunburned; with the siope-in az th
b waist and the padded shoulders. the.
a had ST almost human aspect.
e Vidal. selling my arm with his RICH
e hand and turning his slightly tips
j. gaze on me. raised his stump TO po.n
q out one % the uu forms. an African o'
b fcer's tuuic. with the killed skirt an
the three gold braids making a agur
2 eight on the sleeve
e Look be said; that's the uniforT
-e OF my old corps. a captains tunic."
be- Drawing nearer. be made out th
d. number engraved on the buttons. AZ
c. went on with enthusiasm:
d my regiment! The First Zouaves!
ID Suddenly bis hand shook. bis fa'
e. darkeued; dropping bis eyes, be mu
ia INJURED 10 a horror-s,ricken voice;
mon Dieu. what II IL were his!"
be Then brusquely turning the co
be- about he showed me in the middle
e. the back a little round hole. border'
I'd by 3 black rim blood. OF course
- made one shuddeT. AXE the sight OF
re wound
on a nasty scar" I said 20 Pere Vid
li- who had dropped the garment and "
I'M Fastening away. And. foreseeiLg
tale. ! added. 10 spur him on; 1t
not usually ia the back that bulie
III strike captains OF the zouases."
&c He apparently did not hear me;
mumbled 20 himself: How could
get there? It's long way from 1
battlefield OF Melegnano TO the bou
AR ward OF Greneile. Oh yea. I know
OF hecarrion crows. that follow the arm
on the strippeTs OF the dead But "
rn' just there. two steps from the N
DO tary school where the other feuo'
c. regiment b. stationed? lie must h'
me passed. be must have recognized
.he What a ghosii"
-see here Pere Vidal" said !. vioie
" interested. STOP your muttering. 8
me tell me- whaf ;he viddled tunic reci
are 20 sou"
md Except FOR The two ahsiuthes. DO
A II be would have spoken for be loo
4 al me timidly. almost suspicious
de- Suddenly. with great effort. he
d. gan;
uce Well. then. here goes for the ste
50 can trust you. you will tell me fra
Ma IS or your honor y you think my c
red duet excusable. Where shall ! beg
nix All. ! can't give you the other m'
Ties surname. for re 10 still living. bs
,sm will call him By the name be went
Kin der in the regiment Dry-Jean--an'
*. deserved IL. with bis ~ drinks az
a 10 stroke Of noon.