Washington sentinel., 1899-04-22
DUR FOR EIeN NEWS
Translated and Selected from leading
hHrobsaHSGbsT5[0y the SENTINEL.
ENGLAND.
How Metz Was Taken.
81 Peters for February.

Otto Won ARM was led into his guar
dams presence the day after HI
mothers death. Two privates wer,
posted outside Col. de Breteuils door
The French colonel was pacing his room
when Otto entered; he sat down tC
catechise the boy, his brows lowered
over his grey eyes. Come here" he
said, II have undertaken your charge
He scanned the we'll grown lad and hi.
singularly determined face. II shall
consider you my care. You will continue
to live with me, and / will provide for
you"
Otto did not speak Col de Breteuil
leaned back in his chair and continued
indifferently. Now" he said, "I ask
you to tell me If your mother entrusted
any papers your care before she died"
For the first time the boy raised his
eyes to his questioner's face. but
answered nothing. De Breteuil began
to understands strange grey hue stole
across his face. He waited a moment
or so, you heard what said, boy7"
he asked, raising his thick eyebrows.
There were some papers which my
mother enTustedto me alone, answered
the lad.
Nevertheless, require them"
Otto did not move.
"Silly boy" exclaimed the colonel
contemptuouslY striving to hide some
hidden passion. "Give up what is IN
your possession before submitting to
the indignity Of being forced to do so"
NO" replied the child,
"Search him2"
Otto's eyes were blazing, but he did
not utter a sound. Presently some
papers were taken from the boys breast.
De Breteuil fixed his eyes on Otto.
"What are these" he asked, striving to
speak steadily.
Suddenly the boy began to whimper.
81 had to take them to the Prusslan
campP he began to breathe in quick,
short gasps. "She told me the Prussiaus
would take the cityp'
Little fool" muttered de Breteuil,
"Swear you do not know the contentsn'
"Oh! let me go" painted the boy in
agony. ooh let me gol"
When Otto Won ARM came to his
senses, he was laying upon bare boards,
with the moon shining through a little
wrdow near the floor His arm was
twisted beneath him; he lay as they had
thrown him. but his hand had ceased to
bleed Rising to his feet, he swayed
against the window. There was a wild
light Of triumph shining IN his black
eyes. He climbed out on to
the windowledge. He measured the
jump. There was quick hutter. Otto
lay tor over an hour unconscious on the
hay, his arm broken beneath him. He
gazed round him in wondering bewilder.
ment on first recovering, the PAIN
revived his senses, he clambered up and
slid down the haystack. He found il
easier to crawl across the field to a far
corner, where a great elm tree cast a
deep shadow. He began scratching
franticallY at the earth beneath the tree
until a sentry's tramp sounded IN the
lane beside him, when he lay motionless
listening till the man had passed,
An hour later there stood in the Prus-
sian Generals tent, before the General
and one Of his aides, a white faced lad
with a broken arm and a hand half
severed at the wrist. In the other hand
he held some papers covered with mud
and earth. He was guarded by two
Prussian soldiers. The papers were
taken from him and laid before the
General, who looked at them aud turned
them over half ruriously, half contempt.
uousIy, till his face changed. He
clutched them in a nervous manner, and
his forehead contracted. Great
Heavens" he muttered. His aide de
camp real them also, and then IN
amazement they both looked at the boy
before them,
You ere very young spy," said the
General. "Your name"'
lotto Won Arnz."
The officer standing behind the
General gave great start and put out
his hand, but checked the impulse; he
watched the child, half fascinated,
"Your story"
Those papers belonged to mother
the story wa repeated as a lesson learnt
many times. "My mother married q
Prussian; she was OF Alsace. He was
strict man. After her marriage an
enemy told my father what he did not
know, as my mother had feared to tell
him-thet she bad been a dancer on the
stage; but he also told my father many
lies about her which were believed,
because my father proved TO himself that
she had danced for her living, and tc
support her sister, who was II. He cas-
her of before / was born, twelve years
ago"
Otto's eyes we're attracted to tn,
Prussian officers white, disturbed face
He went on haltIngly: THE evil mar
had loved my m ther, bur she woulC
h ave none him. He kept her prisone
alter my father had cast her off, becaus,
he had once told her a great secret o
Metz and its Qualifications My mothe
had drawn them one day when sh
could use her hands, but since my brit
she has been helpless. My mother 1
dead. Those are the papers. mad
others to belOol the officer"
|
The following evening strange rumor
and fears disturbed the besieged city
There we're whispers Of unfamiliar face
seen and new voices heard One Of tn