Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-10-30
1.-THE SGRATIIUDE
4 TALE OF TIE
RRANCO.PRuSSIAN WAR.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Derby. He was finishing luncheon,
when, casting a careless glance at
the paper, he read the news of the
disaster of Reichshoffen.
He drained his glass of Chartreuse,
hung his napkin on the restaurant
table. gave his valet orders to pack;
two hours later he took the Paris ex-
press, and, on arriving. fastened to
the recruiting office and enlisted.
In spite of having led, from nine
teen to twenty-five, the enervating
life OF petit creve-the word then
current-of having brutalized himself
on the race course and In the dressing
rooms of operetta singers, circum.
ltances like these recalled forcibly to
him that Enguerraud de Hardimont
aad died of the plague in Tunis ON
The same day as st. Louis; that Jean
lie Hardimont had commanded the
Hrandes Companies under Du Cues.
IN; and that Francois Henri de Hardi-
mont was killed at Fontenoy, charg-
pg with the Maison.R Rouge. Done up
hough he was by his scandalous and
mbecile liaison with Lucy violette,
The prima donna of the 'Nudites-Pa-
risiennes," the young duke, on learn
ing that battle had been lost by the
French on French soil, felt his blood
rush to his head and experienced the
hideous impression of a blow in the
face.
Thus is was that early in Novem-
Der of 1870, having returned to Paris
With his regiment belonging to the
Vinoy Corps, Henri de Hardimont,
fusileer in the Third of the Second
and member of the Jockey, was on
guard with his company before the
redoubt of the Hautes Bruyeres. a
hastily fortified position, protected by
the gums of the Bicetre fort.
IT was an Unlocking spot-a road
planted with sapllngs, cut up by
muddy ruts, crossing the leprous fields
OF the suburb, and en- this roadside
an abandoned tavern, cabaret with
arbors. where the soldiers had estab.
lished their post. There had been
nghting here few days before; the
srape-shot had broken in two some
OF the spindling trees, all of which
bore on their bark the white scars
1oi tne shot. AS for the house, the
look OF 1t made one shudder: the roof
nad caved In under a shell, and the
] teddish walls seemed sneared with
Dlood. Ihe overturned summer
nses. the Quilted shooting-gallery.
wing with Its etropes creaking
me wind, and the signs near the
d { scratched by bullets: Club-rooms
A.pslnthe-Vermouth-Wine at 60
cent. a htre-which framed dead
RABBIT painted above two billiard-cues
ueo crossWise by a ribbon-every-
tnlns recalled with cruel irony the
popular amusements of bygone Sun.
gays. And over all this an ugly win.
ger SKY covered with rolling leaden
.riouds-iow, angry, hateful.
AZ Tue tavern door the young duke
$1,000 motlonless, his Chassepot slung
over MS shoulder, his KEPT showed
aown on MS eyes. his numbed hands
~ Tue pockets OF his red trousers,
slil'sring under his sheepskin. Yield
..is hllnselt up to his sombre reverie,
.ne soldier OF defeat gazed with heart
broken eyes at the slopes, ha!f-hid-
zen N ZOE, whence rose every second
minute with a sullen defamation the
"i.Ile Dali OF smoke of Krupp gun.
suddenly he discovered he was
hungry. hneeling, he drew from his
naversack, lying against the wall near
Dy' a Dig bunch of army bread; having
lost MS knife, he used his teeth, and
eooK a oite. But a few mouthfuls
were enough; the bread was hard and
pioter' there would be no fresh supply
( .lll tomorrow II then. Allons! sold
.ering was not all play. And, I'M
.ortunateiy at this moment, suddenly
, he was wildly reminded of what he
used 10 cal his hygienic breakfasts,
Wnen on the morning following sup
per OF heating nature, he used to
s't himself near a ground floor win
80 OF me care Anglais. and order.
mon Dleu! the -Hghtest fare!-a chop,
An asparagus omelette-and when the
waiter, knowing his habits. cautious
uncorKed a slim bottle OF old Leo.
vile, comfortably lying in its basket.
flcntre de hchtre!
Good old days! He would never,
never get used to this pauper's fare.
And, IN moment of impatience, the
young man tossed the rest of his
Dread INTO the mud.
Az the same instant. a soldier step
pea out OF the tavern; STOPPING, he
picked up the bread. walked a short
distance, wiped 1t on his sleeve. and
began deyouring 1t greedily. Henri de
Aardimont, already ashamed of his
righteousness, looked pityingly at the
poor devil who showed such a good
appetite. He was long, lank, ILL.,
built young fellow, with fever-hollow-
cd eyes and a hospital beard and so
thln mat MS shoulder-blades stood
on. unaer the cloth OF his Worn ca