The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-04-24
The Citadel
OF Troyes.
A WAR STORY OF FRENCH
AND CoSSACK.
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The disastrous campaign Of 1914
was drawing to close. The allied
forces covered France like q cloud
Of fiocusts, and Il. : wild Cossack who
Ind marched from the banks Of the
Borysthenes was soon to slake his
courser's thirst I'M the waters Of the
Seine. Napoleon was winning des-
neratc victories against terrific
odds. but the sun of Austerlitz was
doomed to near and total eclipse.
Tic Russians had gained possess
sion of the city of Troyes, and witls.
out its walls they lay cncamned Il
overwhelming numbers. The troops
Of the French emperor, too few and
feeble to contend against such
crushing odds, had disbanded, yet
,hc remnant of heroic band. lay
;na aside their uniforms, still lurked
about the city, sleeping and feeding
where they could, the bolder Of
them seeking every opportunity to
nick quarrels with the Russians and
engage them in duels, glutting that
hate in single combat which they
could no longer slake upon the field
Of battle.
Among these dangerous and in
yeteratc enemies of the Cossacks
was certain Caesar Pompon, a ser
gcant of tho Imperial guard, who
lodged at little inn kept by u lit
tic black eyed Frenchwoman who
lad made the campaign Of Russia
and lost her husband, one eyed
voltiguer, in the passage Of the Be-
rezina.
Fanchette would willingly have
married the sergeant and even offer
cd herself to that valiant warrior,
but he would hear of no such ar
rangement till peace had been re-
stored to his distracted country.
Another inmate of Fanchette's lit
tie hostelry was Captain Bonvillc,
who was waiting for better days and
an opportunity to strike a blow
Eanchette did an excellent business,
having no scruples about selling
beer, brandy, tallow candles, lamp
oil and other refreshments to the
Cossacks, but she never gave them
credit, and they dreaded her sharp
tongue almost as much as they did
the thongs Of the knout.
Sergeant Pompon was very regu-
lar in his habits, but he would often
absent himself for hours together
without telling either Fanchette or
Captain Bonyille where he was go
ing. a.
When he came back after one of
these mysterious absences, he would
generally bring with him bundle
and, saying ssThat makes so many"
make chalk mark on the score he
kept behind the bar. After this
ceremony he would march up and
deposit his bundle in his little attic
room, Of which he kept the key, for
he took care of it himself and let no
one enter.
Fanchette often teased him about
these mysterious proceedings, and
his invariable answer was:
'Fanchette, when this is all over
and the cursed Cossacks are driven
out of the country and the Little
Corporal is firmly established on
the throne and you and I-are mar
ried ! am going to Paris to set up a
ready made clothing shop, and I
shall have a stock in trade on
hand"
His fair hostess was forced to be
content with this explanation.
One night when Fanchettc had
closed her doors and was sitting
with Captain Bonvilie talking over
the events Of the, campaign and the
prospect before them Sergeant
Pompon entered in state of. great
excitement and, dashing his hat up-
on the floor, marched to and fro
with enormous strides.
'What is the matter? e. exclaimed
Fanchette.
"Matterl A thousand bayonets! |!
Matter eHoughl Bonlbsheils and
rocketsl In o French townl In q
French cafel Millio..s Of E,elocks r.
ANY i'll news from the cnper-
orr" asked Captain Bonville.
"No, no, captain, !" Answered Pom
pom; che is beating the villains in
every engagement and fighting his
way step by step to Troyes. Saper-
lotee! We shall soon hear his guns,
/ nope, and then he'll lead these
Cossacks an Internal dance, the
murderous villains io
We'll, something has Aappened,
know" said Fanchette-
''Of course it has" replied the
sergeant. sitting down and wiping
nus brow. You know, captain, the
Cafe de Ia Victoire ?,'' 4
Certainly. It is q cafe theater; :
they act little vaudeYilles there in
the refreshment saioon to attract