Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-08-18
THE END OF THE SKIRMISH.

bitter frost was hardening the snow that
had fallen all among the naked woods,
and the Swiss patrols were out and
about, determined that no armed parties
either of the French or Prussians should
cross over into their free cantons. And
because her father was among them, Jul
lie, daughter of the postmaster of the
little village on the hills above the fort
Iress, was alone in their hostage. Far
off she could hear the drone of the guns
and the crackle of broken musketry that
sounded almost at hand in the frost
bound air.
That meant-ah that meant many
things. But chiefly it meant that Henri
Martin was being driven back defeated,
perhaps wounded or killed. He was
among the French of course. All the
Vaudois that went out had joined the
French. But Henri should not have gone
if he loved her as he said. But, then, he
was so gay and heedless-curly hair
and blue eyes and the merries3 heart in
the world-all made for the trial of
girl. Even now he might be flying before
the PrIlssians.
The guns droned on, and Julie dropped
her knitting. If the Germans had al
ready won, there would be a panicsome
flight into the woods and hills. 1t might
be that such was already the case. In
that event Henri, unless a bullet were
already in him, would have a better
chance than the rest. He knew the
woods and where the snow was likely to
lie deepest, and he knew the cow tracks
N toe open meadows. If he were I'M
wounded, perhaps he would come tonight
But if not? In her anxiety the girl got
up and went to the door. The air was
of the sharpest. Overhead the stars were
beginning to be bright enough to show
the lights and shadows among the trees.
Westward there was a gray overmantle
of snowcloud. Julie could hear the
musketry a little more clearly now,
coming up from the valley, but it told
her nothing. And she must know-she
felt she must know. For a moment she
looked about her to see if any one were
stirring, but except for the lights in
cottage or two, the village might have
been asleep. Then she went back into
the cottage, took down the postman's
great blue cloak and cap that hung over
the door and belonged to her brother
who was away, and put them on. She
flung a log on the fire, and the blaze of
it showed her brothers musket and ban
dolier slung between nails on the wall
She took them down and slung the BAN
Idolier round her. Then, with the gun
in her hand, she went out into the crisp
snow. She was going to see what was
happening by Lacluse.
A thousand scamperers would fly by
the road in the event of suave qui pent,
but Henri" the girl thought to herself,
will take to the woods whic.. he knows.
There will not be so many bullets flying
in the woods"
She pictured him to herself and won
dered in what guise he would return to
her. Would she know him again. or
would he have grown out of recognition,
into a fierce, mustachiod soldier in his
blue and red? Not that she ever be-
lieved for moment that she would not
know him. But would he know her?
That was the important question. And
Julie, in her postman's coat and cap,
was very doubtful of the answer. And
her heart failed her little to think that
he might have foargotten her by now
among all those French solders-and
never even want to come back to the
little Swiss village from which a girl
was going out to meet him through the
night and the snow.
The snow was a great trouble indeed.
In some parts the wind of the morning
had drifted it deep, and the frost had
not yet crusted it, so that one sank
floundering along. Once the girl went up
to her waist, and could hardly get out, so
great was her concern to keep her musket
dry. She held it over her head and set
her teeth and heaved her way through.
She took more care to avoid the deep
places after that
She had gone three miles now, straight
ahead and downward through the woods,
and in a minutes or two would reach a
clearing which she knew of Once across
that, and through the little stretch of
frs beyond, she would be able to get a
view of Lacluse across a deep, narrow
valley. That she was not far off the
rattle of musketry told her. but she had
not realized how near she was to the
scene of action. Just as she was step
ping out from shelter of the trees some
one fired hard by. Julie shrank back and
hid herself behind q tree trunk
The man who had fired was running
now across the clearing That he was
4 soldier seemed plain. for, though he
was bareheaded and tattered enough, he
carried a rifle, smoking still from the
last shot, and bayonet that hung at
his side cleaned in the starlight. He
ran zig-zag, easily enough, and now and
again he turned his head and looked
back. Who was he Julie could not
tell, but even as she watched some other
men come out of the trees opposite.
There were four of them or more and
two knelt down. The Others ran on
after the first man. Suddenly the two
who knelt fired, and Julie shut her ewes.
They were shooting at the first man.
Evidently. then he belonged to the
French, and was escaping-trying to
and these others were Germans after him.
] n ...L-. n-,.ll a. g. 49,. !