Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-04-12


and old as is this charger he is good
enough for the campaign. judged that
we should be only amusing ourselves
here. and l did not wish to honor the
enemy by riding too fine horse.
The officers saluted smilingly. and
the colonel. wishing to see the marshal,
M. de Coigny, inquired the way to his
quarters. Before going thither he left
his horse with his orderly, who was 60
ing toward the trenches. Bring him
back to me tonight, " said the count,
and the man departed with the horse.
But not more than an hour had pass
ed, and La Puysaye was just leaving
the marshal's quarters, when an attack
was ordered on strong point where
1900 men had been killed the night
before. The trumpets sounded and the
army fastened to respond. All other
tasks We're abandoned and, with the
others, their uniforms in order, their
arms in readiness, the grenadiers fell
into line
Being ordered to hold his regiment
in reserve, M. de la Puysaye conducted
it behind certain embankment, then
sought to go after his horse. But his
friends stopped him. ''Not now, they
said. "The place is exposed. Yon would
be risking your life needlessly.
La Puysaye returned to his place and
gave vent to his vexation "Miserable
orderly" he cried. @My horsel See
what he has done with my horse!"
"Cicl!" exclaimed captain in as
constituent why are you 80 concerned
about the beast? From whom did you
get him.
La Puysaye, tired of keeping his Sc
cret revealed it. "From De Rossue He
was, alas, enc of my old friends.
The news was murmured through the
ranks. while the officers marveled audi
bly,. What an ideal" they said.
"Where is he. that we may observe
him again?'
"In that trench over there, which is
so exposed. My orderly must have been
drunk to leave him in such place. y
"Oh," cried an officer, II have no
fear Bossues horsel The horse of a
coward He'll crouch when the bullets
fly. You'll find him again safe and
sound.
"After ALL" said the other, "the
trench covers him. He's satisfied to
stay in it. He won't come out,
AT TINT moment a bomb came sing
ing through the air, and from the
trench calmly, proudly, detiantly, a
horse emerged. He stood alone in the
middle of the field, in great open
place alone The saddle was on his
back. the bit in his mouth, and, though
he had lowered his neck in the silence
following the first bomb, he seemed
waiting only for signal on his bride.
1.-THE towards horse" thought the
army.
just then the place seemed to fill
with smoke, while the city beyond
trembcd as with an earthquake shock
three more bombs in the ranks OF
France, and Is files were cut down like
so much grain.
The trumpets sounded the attack,
and at that moment suddenly, magniti-
Gently, the last rays of the setting sun
clothed the horse in gold. He raised his
head. AS the brave steed does when the
battle is Oh and the rider encourages
him to advance; then boldly, eagerly,
joyously, he charged on the city at a
gallop Deaf to the thunder of the can
non, Indifferent to the shot that whis-
tied about him, glad to sniff again the
smoke Of powder, to feel once more the
excitement of the combat, the gallant
horse dashed ON and Cha sublime
spectacle for whole army to witness.
What moved him to rush on the enc
my so madly, to atfront death SO grand
ly? Was it the memory of Bossue' $
glorious battles? Was it the force of a
habit acquired after score of engage
ments-the result of lesson learned
on many fields?
They who followed swiftly after him
did not know, but they swore after
ward that they had seen hand on his
bride. feet pressing his sides, shad-
owy form on his back. and for one brief
instant a face, with long scar on its
left cheek and a look such as no coward
ever Wore
The poor beast at length fell, bleed
ing from score of wounds. but he had
done enough In the eyes of the army
he whose horse this had been was vim
dictated Bossue was not coward. -
From the French For Argonaut.