The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1909-12-22


up by grape-shot, in fact, the history
of the Siege of Paris, when Just be-
fore we got to the Place de l'Etoile
the doctor stopped, and pointing out
one of those handsome corner houses
grouped around the Arc de Triomphe,
said:
do you see those four closed win
dows up there, over the balcony? In
the early days of the month of Au-
gust-that terrible August in the
year '70-so charged with storms
and disasters, was called in there
to frightful case of apoplexy. 1t
was to Colonel Jouve, a cuirassier of
the First Empire, an old man infat-
uated with patriotic pride who, at
the commencement of the war, had
come to lodge in the Champs Elysees.
in balcony apartment. Guess why!
To be present at the triumphant re-
turn of our troops! Poor old man!
The news of Wissembourg came to
him as he was rising from table On
reading the name of Napoleon at the
foot Of that bulletin of defeat he fell
thunderstruck.
Il found the old cuirassier
stretched at full length on the car
pet, his face bloody and lifeless, as
If he had been struck a blow on the
head with club. Standing, he must
have been very tall; lying, he looked
immense. With beautiful features.
superb teeth, and fine head of curly
white hair, though he was nearly
eighty, he looked like sixty years
old. Near him, on her knees, was his
granddaughter. She so resembled
him that, seeing them side by side,
you would have been reminded of
two beautiful Greek medals struck
from the same stamp; only the one
was old, dull, and rather indistinct
In the outlines; the other was re-
splendent and clean cut, with all the
brilliancy and smoothness of a new
impression.
The grief of this child touched
me. Daughter and granddaughter
OF soldiers her father was at MacMa-
hons headquarters, and the sight of
this grand old man stretched before
her brought another no less terrible
image to her mind. l endeavored to
reassure her, but, in reality, | had
little hope. We had to deal with a
severe case of hemiplegy, and recov-
cry was scarcely to be hoped for at
eighty. For three days the patient
remained in the same state of motion
'ess stupor. In the midst of all this
the news of Reischoffen arrived in
Paris. You remember in what a
strange fashion. Until evening we
hil believed in great victory, twen-
ty thousand Prussians killed, and the
Crown Prince a prisoner! know
not by what miracle, or by what mag
netlc current, an echo of the national
Joy penetrated to our poor deaf-mute.
even to his paralyzed limbs; certain
IL Is that, on approaching his bed
that evening, found him a different
man. His eve was almost clear, his
tongue less stiff. He had strength to
4AAN, anu " Twice
'Vic-to-ry!'
Yes, colonel, a grand victory,'
And as / gave him details of Mac
Mahon's brilliant success. I saw his
features relax and his face light up.
When went out, the young girl was
waiting for me, standing pale and
sobbing at the door.
But he is saved!' said I, taking
her hands.
The unhappy child had scarcely
courage to answer me. They had
Just posted up the true version of
Reischoffen-MacMahon put to fight
the whole army crushed. We looked
at each other in CONSERVATION. She
was distressed in thinking of her
father. ! trembled for the old man.
1t was very certain he could not re-
slst this new shock. And yet, what
could we do? Leave him his 10Y
the Illusions which had called him
back to life? But then it would bc
necessary to lie!
Very we'll, then, l shall lie.' said
the heroic girl, quickly drying her
tears, and she returned radiant to
ner grandfather's room.
She had set herself a hard task
The first few days were got through
without much difficulty. The good
mans head was weak, and he allowed
himself TO- be deceived like a child
But with returning health, his ideas
became clearer. We had to keep him
acquainted with the movements of
the armies and to draw up for him
military bulletins. 1t was a sad pity
to see that beautiful girl, night and
day, over her maps of Germany.
marking out the battles with little
flags, and trying to invent a glorious
campaign: Bazaine descending upon
Berlin, Frossard in Bavaria, MacMa-
hon on the Baltic. For all this she
asked my advice. and l helped her
as much as could, but 1t was the
grandfather himself who served us
best In this imaginary invasion. He
had conquered Germany so often