Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1899-05-03

ton given had been found in field in
Artois. lie went 10 the place and
bought the animal at once. 1t was, in
deed. Bossue's extraordinary beast, the
friend OF his friend. old and thin. worn
by the hard service before the pillow and
the ill-treatment OF the farmhands.
There were the white legs. still fine as
those of rdcer. the long. black tail
and name, and those eyes. dark, cold.
clear, and fixed. that made one uneasy.
Strange animall' thought La Puy-
sage.
lie had IL fed. groomed. and saddled.
and set out for Paris at q rather halt
ing gallop. Much fatigued he arrived
at length. But tired as he was, there
was TO be little rest for him. y note
from the bureau of war awaited him.
informing him that his request for a
regiment had been granted; that il was
10 be known as the "Grenadiers Puy-
saye;" and that he must join it near
Fribourg as soon as possible. Taking
hardly time for the writing of letter
and the saying of an adieu, be departed
for that place; and. gratifying his own
wish, he went there on Bossue's horse.
His new grenadiers grumbled among
themselves. as it with that plug"
they said, that he means to lead us?"
La Puysaye's friends looked at the
beast critically. An ensign lifted its
lip. "No USE" said The count. hes an
old horse. and his teeth no longer mark
his age"
but why didn't you come on your
black fellow?"
"Oh. Constantine broke his leg, and
but do not laugh, messieurs; poor and
old as is this charger, be is good
enough for the campaign. ] judged
that we should be only amusing our
selves here. and did not wish to honor
the enemy by riding too fine horse"
The officers saluted smilingly. and
The colonel. Wishing 10 see the marshal,
NJ. de Coigny, inquired the way to his
quarters. Before going thither, he left
his horse with his orderly. who was go
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
passed. and La Puysaye was just leav
ing the marshal's quarters when an at
tack was ordered on n strong point
where ] 500 men had been killed the
night before The trumpets sounded
and the army FASTENED to respond. All
other tasks were 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, NJ. de Ia puysaye conducted it
behind a certain embankment. then
sought to go after his horse. But his
friends stopped him. Not now" they
said; 1.-THE place is exposed; you would
be risking your life needlessly."
la Puysaye returned to his place and
gave vent 10 his vexation. Miserable
orderlyl" he cried; my horse! See
what be has done with my horsel"
"Ciel!" exclaimed the captain. In as
constituent, why are you so concerned
about the beast? From whom did you
get him?"
La Puysaye. tired Of keeping his
secret, revealed it. "From De Bossue
He was. alas, one Of my old friends"
The news was murmured through the
ranks, while the officers marveled audi
bly,. What an ideal" they said. "Where
is be, that we may observe him again y
I'm that trench over there, which Is
so exposed. My orderly must have been
drunk, to leave him in such a place"
"Oh." cried an officer, 'have no fearl
Bossue's horse! The horse of o coward
He'll crouch when the bullets fly; you'll
find him again safe and sound"
TAfter ALL" said another, "tbe trench
covers him; he's satisfied to stay in It;
he won't come out"
At that moments bomb came singing
through the air. aud from the trench
calmly. proudly, defantly. a horse
emerged. He stood alone in the middle
Of the field, in a great open place-
alone. The saddle was on his back, the
bit 10 his mouth; and, though be had
lowered his neck in the silence follow
ing the first bomb. be seemed waiting
only for q signal on his bride.
"The towards horse!" thought the
army.
just then the place seemed 10 MI WIZ
smoke, while the city beyond tremblet
as with an earthquake shock; three
+ more bombs in the ranks Of France. anC
Is files were cut down like so muei
grain.
The trumpets sounded the attacks
and at that moment, suddenly. mag
niicently, the last rays of the setting
sun clothed the horse in gold. III
raised his head, as the brave steed doe
when the battle is on and the rider en-
courages him to advance; then, boldly
eagerly. joyously, be charged on th
city at a gallop. Deaf 10 the thunde
Of the cannon, indifferent to the sho
that whistled about him, glad 10 sniff
again the smoke OF powder, to feel ono
more the excitement of the combat
the gallant horse dashed on and on
sublime spectacle for a whole army Il
witness.
What moved him to rush on the en-
envy so madly, TO affrout death s.
grandly9 Was IT the memory of Bos
. sues glorious battles? Was it the fore
of a habit acquired after a score Of en-
. | Of lpCcnl