The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-10-09

they were greeted with shouts of joy.
They delivered their papers TO the en-
envy. They were given wine TO drink ]
that their tongues might be loosened.
The large boy amused them by his odd
language and his lowwit. They laughed
boisterously, repeating his express
sions, fairly rolling in the Partisan
mire that was thus brought to them.
Little Stenne would have liked TO
talk, too, to show that he was not
stupid, but something seemed to choke
him. In front of him, standing apart
from the others, was an old Prussian
who seemed to be trying TO read his
thoughts, as the soldiers eyes never
left his face. There were tenderness
and reproach in the gaze, as II the man
had boy about Stenne's age, and as
II he would have said:
'I would rather die than see my
son in such businessl"
The poor boy felt as il a hand
elutched his heart SO that it could no
longer beat. To escape from his tongue
be drank a great deal of wine. Soon
everything seemed to be going round
and round. In the distance ne heard
his companion ridicule the national
guard, mimicking their drill and go
ing through other drollery. At last the
boy lowered his voice, the officers clus-
tered around him and their faces be-
came serious. The wretch was about
to forewarn them of the attack to be
| made that night. Stenne suddenly re-
! allied what was going on and called
I out:
mot thati Not thatl"
The large. boy replied with a loud
laugh and went on. Before he had fin
/ ished al the officers were on their feet
J One of them showed the door to the
boys and exclaimed:
Leave at once"
Once outside, the boys began TO run
to get back as soon as possible. Their
sacks were filed with potatoes which
the Prussians had given them; they
passed the French post without being
I molested. There everything was be-
ing got in readiness for the night at
tack Troops arrived silently and
inassed themselves behind the bank.
How happy the old sergeant seemed as
he placed his menl When the boys
passed he recognized them and smiled
kindly at them.
Oh, how that smile hurt little Stennei
He wanted to cry out:
Don't go down there; you have been
betrayed"
The older boy had said to him: "If
. you tell we shall be shot," so he was
afraid. On reaching the city they went
into a deserted house to divide their
money. This was honestly done, and
when little Stenne heard his gold pieces
!. rafting in his blouse and thought OF
the games and galoche in store for him
his crime did not seem so very serious
. But when he was alone, poor child
When the large boy had left him out
side his door, then his pockets began to
, feel heavy, and the hand which held his
/ heart frightened its grasp. Paris nc
longer seemed the same place. People
passing looked hard at him, as if they
knew where he had been. He heard
the word spy" in the noises of the
! street, in the beating of the drums
J along the canal. He entered the house
, and was glad that his father had not
: yet returned. He went at once to his
room and hid the crowns, which were
so heavy, under his pillow.
His father had never seemed so kind
; and so cheerful as on this particular
evening.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS from the province:
: had been received, things locke d
brighter. While eating his supper, tn,
: old soldier looked at his gun hanging
! on the wall. and said to Stenne, witt
, his honest laugh: Hey, my boy. how
! you would fight the Prussians if yoJ
t were only big enough"
. Abouteig o'clock theywere startled
{ by the sound of a cannon. THAT is a
Aubervillers; they. are fighting a
: Bourget," said the good man, WHIT
? knew the names of all the forts. Little
Stenne grew pale, and, pretending to b,
! tired, went to bed, but not to sleep
/. The cannonade continued. The boz
, pictured to himself the French soldier.
Y going at night to surprise the Prussian!
and falling into an ambuscade. Fl,
!, thought of the sergeant who had smiled
e upon him, and saw him stretched GU
dead in the snow, and many, many
t others with him. The price of all thi
t blood was hidden there under his pill
> low, and it was he, the son of soldier
who He stified hisosobs. Fl,
e heard his father walking about in tn,
1 next room, and, at last, open q window
: Down below in the square the call t,
e arms was sounded, and regiment wa
forming to march to the scene of tn,
r firing. 1t was battle, then; the mis-
( cradle boy could no longer restrain hi
e sobs.
E What is the matter?' asked Per,
a Stenne, going into the room. The chill,
t slid out of bed and threw himself at hi
fathers feet. At the motion tn
: crowns rolled out on the floor.
e what is this? Have you been steal
: ing?" said the old man in a trembling
e voice.
Then, in breath, little Stenne tolt
S him that he had been TO the Prussiar
camp, and that they had given him tn
: money. AS he talked his heart grew
4 lighter and he felt copnforfad HE g.,