The Cairo bulletin., 1910-01-18
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THE MESSENGER OF
DEATH.
BY paul Labour.

sion or the village. They nied through
the main street and took up their POI
sitions in the ranks in the November
sleet. November, 1870.
A shed sheltered the officers. Rest
ing upon the handles of their swords
they smoked and chatted The gen
eral aspect of the surroundings was
as cherries as the weather The
poor houses of the large village look
ed uninviting anu deserted
Col. Van Ryden, followed by the
major, entered the town hall to see
The mayor. The regiment was to be
auartered In the $50 houses of Vesly.
Baker Ravard--six troopers.
Gardener Paulmier--twelve troop.
ars and horses.
lnnkeeper Candal-eight troopers
and horses.
Count de Villengiosse?
Let us pass him by" said the
colonel
He is the owner Of the chateau"
The mayor remarked.
Pass him by, l say. and 90 on
The mayor was dumbfounled. To
De sure he had no ill feelings against
he count, but the village suffered I'm
Ter this hostile invasion. II the
numerous apartments and large Is
!ates of the chateau wore not to be
lsed how was the mayor to find quar-
ers for all these men and horses.
The old dungeon In the castle, re.
:ently renovated, contained as much
'ooln az all the rest Of the houses or
he village. The mayor thought, that
he German officer who now treated
The aristocracy with so much consid.
sration, would be furious to hear that
he old count. former army officer.
lad re-entered the service at the out.
break OF the war, leaving his wife
Ind children behind. to defend His
country.
The work went on. When II was
III done the colonel gave his orders
% the major, pulled a map from his
socket. studied 1t for a moment and
I mounted his horse. The major was
surprised to see him leave without
asking any Information, ride down
he main street and turn left with sut
iesitation., There was no doubt, he
vas going to the chateau. eGn'iopihe
asst, the Uhlan indeed rode up the
Dad leading toward the estate OF va
englosse. 5aEg
The eyes, OF the soldier grew aim
md his heart felt heavy. He thought
If corner OF foggy Bavaria where
BELOVED beings we're trembling with
ear every time the door bell rang
some day, perhaps. messenger o.
leath would appear on the threshold
chat would mean one more widow
ind three fatherless children that fal
away, on the field OF honor mar
lad expired without living hand K
lose his eyes.
The colonel was brave. Tn 20 bat
les under fire his heart had felt n,
ear, but here alone in the lonesom,
Dad his thoughts turned to HIS youn,
wife who, with two little daughters
md a baby boy Of 8, were waiting fol
him to come back. The moisture d
lnahed tears Allied his eyes
It was a strange. sacred and painful
mission which was taking him t.
Chateau villehglosse. He had beer
It the side of the dying count, who's,
treast had been pierced BY TN,
,ullet. In voice that was barrel,
tudible. the French officer had whis
,ered into his oar his last will and
ais last thoughts. He had promises
% deliver into the hands of tn,
Countess de Villeglosse a locke
which her husband had carried ant
lone papers among which was an Yin
finished letter begun In the mornini
before his death.
Behind the walls of the chateau
low before him, q wife prays, hopel
and waits--the widow of the hero
lead as the knights. his ancestors
sword in hand. The noble p'oiile
which Baron Won Ryden had seen Il
he locket, the beautiful face on tn
Countess de villengiosse win 500
burst into tears. Ho already suffer
at the thought OF this sight. but h
has Drornisad and he will daliyey M
sacred message; he must In perso
strike the cruel blow.
He had crossed the threshold. H
aas sent In his card, Ia taken into
arge apartment and stands face I
ACE with the Countess de vilicf
Elosse. dressed in mourning. as sh
has been ever since the outbreak 3
he war, her hand resting upon lii
shoulder of n child who looks at tn
strange officer. with big. bewildere
eyes.
At his first words the s3ung vii
guesses everything and her tremblin
fingers close around the iocket an
papers. She masters her etnotio'
however. She must hide her Tea,
from the enemy. and bows hes hes
and kisses the forehead OF her 1T.
son, who shall grow up and be \ ms
when the hour of revenge comes. 81
represses her sobs and raises
proud face. paler than ivory.
a y