The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-02-16

a knoll above the road he sried the figure
Of Z tall man. clad all in blue. who stond
eiCct. motionless. Ike 4 sentinel. It was too
far 10 d!sccr. the details Of his dress. but
Lincoln caught a CLEAN Of silver streakinG
the blue. and a hint OF tossing feathers
browning n FURNISHED headdress. The face
vas toward him. but the head thrown back.
carried the mans glance upward over LIN
coin TO the mountain tops. and where the
eyes should have been. there gocslel two
great, black disks. as he advanced the fig
ure on the hillside began 20 resolve itself
into its component parts. The blue became
tunic and trousers; the CLEAN Of silver.
facings on the coat; the tossing feathers. 4
plume upon a helmet: the google disks.
the lenses of a pair OF field glasses held to
the eyes by black-gioved hanus, Lincoln
was gazing at a Prussian officer.
The grating of his nailed boots on the
road was carried by n sudden flow CT wind
TO the soldiers ears; he abruptly lowered Eis
glasses. and. dropping his chin. stared
frowninsly down. The Young Englishman
looked calmly back at him. a fash Of re-
sentiment lit The frank Teuton!c eyes. With
an angry wave OF the gloved hand. the Of
ficer signed to Lincoln 10 halt. The imperi-
GUS gesture was unmistakable; but the Eng
lishman ignored 1t and kept on at his
steaGy four miles an hour.
A red spot Glowed suddenly on each cheek
Of the Prussian. Holding himself very stiff
fly, he shouted a peremptory command in
s~taccato German. The intention was clear,
but the precise purport Of the words was
lost on Lincoln. whose knowledge Of the
tongue of the Fatherlard was slight. With
T wave Of the hand. he kept to his stride.
Why should an Enclishman stay upon his
read because a Prussian officer chose TO
shout rudely ut him frcm n hillside"
The officers face Redeemed all over. For
nm instant he seemed undetermined next
moment he was bounding down the slope.
his scahhard clankinC metallically on the
rocks. Taking a diagonal path. he leaped
upon the road and placed himself directly
in Lincoln's way. In a cultural torrent, he
poured ont angry words. The Englishman
listened i%rtently. but could separate only
two Sounds-'maneuverS' and ARTILLERY"
\ light struck into his mind. He knew
that the mansuvers OF the German Army
are carried out on q great scale. and rs
far as possible under conditions of actual
war. He remembered now that at inter
walls. on the road he had Travelled. on the
sides Of houses and barns. he had seen Of
ficiGl-lOoking papers posted NJ: he recalled
the sound of the rhythmical thunder over
which he had puzzled. Things were clearer
now and he no longer wondered at the
empty road.
When the angry officer stopped his ex-
cited speech. Lincoln looked him IN the
eyes. and said simply. In his best German:
81 am an Englishman: l regret that | cam |
not quite understand you"
The Prussian stared his wonder. and
modified his turbulence. Il am a painter
went on Lincoln: Il wish TO so to the Num-
melsee."
The other broke again into voluhle talk.
He pointed up to the mountain tops, where
the sound of the rhythInical thunder still
reverberated: he waved a hand down the
road, another upwards; then described a