The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-03-27

While the Butler brought his supper he oc-
cupied himself in making his preparations
for comfortable night He lit the candle
labrlum of ten candles upon the center ia
Bile. The fire was already burning up,
cracking merrily, and sending spurts OF
blue. pungent smoke into the room. He
was tired and hungry after his long
tramp, so he threw his sword, his helmet
and his revolver belt down upon a chair
and fell to eagerly upon his supper Then
with his glass of wine before him and
his cigar between his lips, he tilted his
chair back. bordering over the strange
chance which had sent him, man from
the Baltic coast, to eat his supper in the
ancestral hall of these proud Norman
chieftains But the fire was hot and
the Captains eyes we're heavy. His chin
sank slowly upon his chest. and the ten
candles cleaned upon the broad white
scalp.
Suddenly slight noise brought him
to his feet For an instant it seemed
TO his dazed senses that one of the pic
lures opposite had walked from its frame.
There, beside the table, and almost within
arms length of him, was stading huge
man, silent motionless, with no sign of
life save his fierce, glinting eyes. He was
black-haired, olive skinned, with a point
ed tuft of black beard, and a great, fierce
nose. toward which all his features seem
ed to run. His checks were wrinkled like
A last years apple, but his sweep or
shoulder and bony. corded hands told OF a
strength which was unsarped by age.
His arms were folded across his archlng
chest and his mouth was set in a fixed
smile.
Pray do not trouble yourself to LOOK
for your weapons" he said. as the Prus
sian cast swift glance at the empty
chair in which they had been laid Your
have been, if you will allow me to say So
a little indscreet to make your self SO
much at home in a house every wall of
which is honeycombed with secret pas
sages Yuo will be amused to hear that
porty men were watching you at your
supper. All what then1s"
Captain Baumgarten had taken step
forward with clenched fists. The French
man held up the revolver which he grasp
ed in his right hand. while with the left
he hurled the German back into his char.
pray keep your seat said he. you
have no cause to trouble about your men.
They have already been provided for. 1t
is astonishing with these stone floors how
little one con hear what goes on beneath.
You have been relieved of your command,
and have not only to think of yourself.
May l ask what your name it?'
Il am Captain Baumgarten Of the
Twenty fourth Posen Regiment
you know. doubtless. who it Is who
addresses YOU"
1.-The Count of Chateau Noir."
Precisely 1t would have been a mis-
fortune if you had visited M chateau and
| had been unable to have a word with
YOU ] have had to do with many Ger
man soldiers. but never with an officer
before | have much TO talk to you
about
Captain Baumgarten sat still in his
chair. Brave as he was, there was some
thing in this mans manner which made
his skin creep with apprehension. His
eyes glanced to right and to left but his
weapons were gone. and in a struggle he
saw that he was but child to this gigan-
'ic adversary. The Count had picked up
the claret bottle and held it to the light.
Tut! tut" said he. "And was this the
best that Pierre could do for you? l am
ashamed to look you in the face. Captain
Baumgarten. We must improve upon
bis
Hhe blew a call upon a whistei which
hung from his shooting jacket. The cid
was in the room in an in
slant.
"Chambertn from bin 49, he cried
and minute later a gray bottle streaked
with cobwebs was carried in as nurse
bears an infant. The Count filled two
glasses 10 the brm.
Drink" said he. ut is the very best
in my cellars. and not TO be matched be-
tween Rouen and Paris. Drink. sir, and
1e happy. There are cold Joints below
There are two Holsters fresh from Hon
feur. Will you not venture upon a sec
ond and more saVory supper"
The German officer shook his head He
Trained the glass, however. and his host
filed it once more pressing him to give
an order for this or that dainty.
There is nothing in my house which
not at your disposal. You have but to
say the word Well. then, -ou Will allow
re 10 tell you a story while you drink
your wine. have so longed to tell it
70 some German officer. IT is about my
son, my only child, Eustacc. who was ia
ken and died in escaping 1t is a curious
little story and think that l can promise
you that you will never forget it.
You must know, then, that nv boy
was in. the artillery, fine young fellow,
Captain Baumgarten, and the pride of his
mother. she died within week of the
news of his death reachingus. 1t was
brought by a brother officer. who was at
his side throughout, and who escaped
while my lad died. l want to tell you
all .hat he told me-
Eustace was taken at Wcisseburg, on
The 4th day of August. The prisoners
were broken up into parties, and sent
back into ermany by different routes.
Eustace was taken upon the tn to a vii
'age called Lauterburg where he met
with kindness from the German officer in
command. This good colonel had the
hungry lad to supper, offered him the
best he had, opened a bottle of good
WINE, as | have tried to do for you. and
gave him cigar from his own case.
Might l. entreat you to take one from
mine?
The German again shook his head His
horror of his COMPANION had increased as
he sat watching the lips that smiled and
the eyes that glared.
THE colonel. as | say, was good to my
boy. But, unluckiy, the prirenossIo. j.. :.