The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-03-27
THE LORD OF CHATEAU. NOIR

creep with apprehension. His eyes glanced
to right and to left, but his weapons were
gone, and in struggle he saw that he
was but child to this gigantic adver-
sary. 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? am
ashamed to look you in the face, Capt.
Baumgarten. We must improve upon
this
He blew call upon whistle which
hung from his shooting jacket. The old
man servant was in the room in an IN;
slant. ~ II - 8. s:
Chambertin from bin 15!', he cried and
a minute later a gray bottle. streaked with
eobwebs was carried in as a nurse bears
an infant. The count filled two glasses to
the brim.
Drink p said he s.It is the very best in
my cellars. and MOTTO be matched be-
tween Rouen ard Paris. Drink, sir, and
be happy! There are cold joints below.
There are two Holsters fresh from HON
ffeur. Willyou not venture upon second
and more savory supper?'
The German officer shook his head. He
drained the glass; however, and his hosL
filled it once more, pressing him to give
an order for this or that dainty.
There is nothing in my house which is
not at your disposal. You have but to say
the word. Well, then, you will allow me
to tell you a story while you drink your
wine. 1 have so longed to tell it to some
German officer. It is about my son, my
only child esEustace, who was taken and
died in escaping is a curious little
story, and / think that can promise
you that you will never forget it.
90 on must know. then, that my boy was
in the artillery, fine young fellow, Capt.
Baumgarten, and the pride of his mother.
She died within a week of the newsgyof
his death reaching us. 1t; was brought
by a s brother officer, who was at MS
side throughout, and who escaped While
my lad died. l want to tell you all that
he told me.
: 'Eustace was taken at Weissenburg, on
the 4th- of August The prisoners were
broken up into parties, and sent back into
Germany by different routes. Eustace was
taken upon the 5th to a village called
Lauterburg, where he met with kindness
from the German officer in command. This
good colonel had the hungry lad to, sup
per- 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 entreat you to take one
from miner
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.
1.-THE colonel, as I say, was good to my
boy. But, unluckiy, the prisoners were
moved next day across the Rhine to Eft
lingen. They were not equally fortunate
there. The officer who guarded them was
ruffian and a villain, Capt. Baumgar-
ten. He took a pleasure in humiliating
and ill-treating the brave men who had
fallen into his power. That night, upon
my son answering fiercely back to some
taunt of his, he struck him in the eye,
like thiSi
The crash of the blow rang through the
hall. The Germans face fell forward, his
hand. up and blood oozing through his
fingers. The count settled down in his
chair once more.
My boy was disfigured by the blow,
and this villain made his appearance the
object of his jeers. By the way, you look
little comical yourself at the present
moment, captain. and your colonel would
certainly say that you had been getting
| into mischief. To continue, however, my
| boys youth and his destitution-for his
| pockets were empty.moved the pity, of
| a kind hearted major, and he advanced
| him ten napoleonss from his own pocket
| without security of any kind. Into your
L
| ten gold pieces, since cannot learn the
name Of the lender. I am grateful from
my heart for this kindness shown to my
| boy. 49,
| 1.-The vile tyrant who commanded the
escort accompanied the prisoners to Dur
| ZACH and from there to Carlsruhe. He
| heaped every outrage upon my lad be-
| cause the spirit of the Chateau Noir would
not stoop to turn away his wrath by
feigned submission. Ay, this cowardly vii
| lain, whose hearts blood shall yet cfot
| upon this hand. dared to strike my son
/ with his open hand to kick him, to tear
| hair from his must ache-to use him thus
! and thuS-and thus!
The German writhed and struggled. He
/ was helpless in. the hands of this huge
i-giant whose blows were raining upon him.
When at last, blinded and half senseless,
| he staggered to his feet it was only to
! be hurled back again into the great oaken
| chair He sobbed in his impotent anger
and shame.
MY boyswas frequently moved to tears
| by the humiliation of his position, con-
/ tinued the count. You. will understand
| me when I say that it is bitter thing to
be helpless in the hands of an insolent
| and remorseless enemy. On arriving at
| Carlsruhe, however, his face, which had
| been wounded by the brutality of his
| guard was bound up by a young Bavarian
| subaltern, who was touched by his ap-
/ pearance. regret to see that your eye is
| bleeding so. Will you permit me to bind
| it with my silk handkerchief
He leaned forward, but the German
| dashed his hand aside
| 81 am in your power, you monster he
cried; Il can endure your brutalities, but
| not your hypocrisy
| The count shrugged his shoulders. 81
am taking things in their order, just as
4 they occurred" said he. 81 was under
| vow to tell it to the first German officer
with whom could talk tete-a -tete Let
| me see, I had got as far as the young
| Bavarian at Carlsruhe. l regret extreme
| ly that you will not permit me to use
such slight skill in surgery as 1 possess
| At Carlsruhe my lad was shut up in ar
| old caserne, where he remained for 8
fortnight The worst pang of his cap
tivity was that some unmannerly ours II
| the garrison would taunt him with his
| position as he sat by his window in the
evening. That reminds me, captain, thai
| you are not quite situated upon a bed Of
roses yourself, are you. now? You came
! to trap wolf, my man, and now the
beast has you down with his fangs il
your throat. A family man, too, shoulc
judge. by that weIl-filled tunic. Well
| widow the more will make little matter
and they do not usually remain widows
| long Get back into the chair, you dog
well, to continue my story-at the enc
| of a fortnight my son and his friend es.
capped 1 need not trouble you with the
dangers which they ran or with the prl
yations which they endured. Suffice i
that to disguise themselves they had t.
-INrarr