Waterbury Democrat., 1901-05-27

N the straw she saw the exhausted lan- guor of his regard, the heavy darkness under his eyelids, the effort with which his lips moved as the faint words came broken through theR.
 "Not very much, nay dear, l thank you. shall be ft for harness in day or two. Do not let them send me into hospital. I shall be perfectly we'll soen.''
 Cigarette swayed herself upon the wheel and leaned toward him, touching and changing his bandages with clever hands.
 "They have dressed your wound i'll. Whose doing is that?"
 Ut Is nothing. have been half cut to pieces before now. This is mere bagatelle It is only''-
 That it hurts you to breathe? know. Have they given you anything to eat this morning?''
 s'No. Everything is in confusion. We'--
 She did not stay for the conclusion of his sentence. She had darted off quick as swallow. Of the few hun dreds that had been left after the ter rife onslaught of the past day some were employed far out thrusting their own dead into the soil; others were re- moving the tents and all the equipage of the camp; others were busied with the wounded, of whom the greatest suf- ferers were to be borne to the nearest hospital that nearest many leagues away over the wild and barren coun- try), while those who were likely to be again soon ready for service were to be escorted to the headquarters of the main army. Among the latter Cecil had passionately entreated to be num- bered. His prayer was granted to the man who had kept at the head of his chasseurs and borne aloft the tricolor through the whole. of the war tempest on which the dawn had risen and which had barely 1ulled and sunk by the set ting of tie sun. Chateauroy was away with the other five of his squadrons, and the zouave major, the only officer of any rank who had come alive through the conflict, had himself visited Bertie and given him warm words of eulogy and even of gratitude that had soldier ly sincerity and cordiality in them.
 "Your conduct was magnificent" he had said, as he had turned away. Ut shall be my care that it is duly re- ported and rewarded"
 Cigarette was but few seconds absent; she soon bounded back like the swift little chamois she was, bring ing with her huge bow1ful of red wine with bread broken in it.
 .'This is the best could get" she said; it is better than nothing. It will strengthen you.'
 What have you had yourself, little one?"
 "Ah, bah! Leave off thinking for others; breafasted long ago. she. answered him. (She had only eaten biscuit well nightas hard as a fiint.) Take it-here, will hold it for you"
 She perched herself on the wheel like bird on tWig; she had birds power of alighting and sustaining her self on the most difficult and most airy elevation; but Cecil turned his eyes on the only soldier in the cart besides himself, one of the worst men in his regiments murderous, sullen, black browed, evil wretch, filter for the bench of the convict galley than for the ranks of the cavalry.
 Give half to Zackrist," he said. sI know no hunger, and he has more need of it."
 seZackrist! Thatcis the man who stole your lance and accouterments, and got you into trouble by taking them to pawn in your name, year or more ago."
 "Well, what of that? He is not the less hungry
 What of that? Why, you were going to be disgraced for the affair, because you would not tell of him, if Virehou had not found out the rights of the matter in timer
 "What has that to do with it?"
 ''This, M. Victor-that you are fool.''
 'I dare say am. But that does not make Zackrist less hungry
 He took the bowl from her hands, and emptying 8 little of it into the wooden cup that hung to her belt, kept that for himself, and, stretching his arm across the straw, gave the bowl to Zackrist, who had watched it with the longing, rayenous eyes of a starv- 1AS WOll, duu NSClA0u IL WILL TdDlu ayidity.
 A smile passed over Cecirs face, amused despite the pain he suffered.
 t'That is one of my sensational tricks, as M. de Chateauroy calls them. Poor Zackrist! Did you see his eyes?'
 Cigarette shrugged her shoulders in. silence; then, poising herself on the wheel, she sprang from thence on to the back of her little mare which she had brought up, having the reins in one of her hands and the wine bowl in the other, and which was fresh and bright after the nights repose.
 'I will ride with you, with my spa his," she said as Q young queen might have promised protection from her es- cort. He thanked her and sank back among the straw, exhausted and worn out with pain and with languor. The weight that seemed to oppress his chest was almost as hard to bear as when the actual pressure of his dead chargers body had been on him.
 Four other troopers were placed on the straw beside him, and the mule carts. with their. rn0I1rufll1 loads rolled