The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1910-05-11

Suddenly there appears on our right
in the downtrodden fields squadron
of dragons. Then, we are panic-
stricken and think of nothing but to
get away in mad flight which nothing
can stop, away from this terrible am
bush, and our men run hither ana
thither right and left without de-
Tending themselves
Only the first company and the
color guard remain cool and hurried
ly form themselves into hollow
square.
The fight begins, furiously, desper-
ately in the growing darkness. Every
man of us has made up his mind to
die has said goodbye to those he
loves, and our only aim is now to de-
fend unto death the sacred eagle of
our regiment. The colorbearer, Mar
ius Barachous, has dropped shot
through the heart, but Captain de
Corniere has picked up the colors and
holds the eagle high and dehnatly
above our heads. He totters and falls
but his place is Immediately taken by
Lieutenant Vareilles.
Keep it up boys, he cries. "Do
not let our eagle fall Aim low and
right into the center of them Short
ly afterwards he, too, falls, a bullet
through his forehead.
OF seven officers / am the only ono
left I am trembling with fever bleed
Ing from two wounds, one in the
shoulder and another in the left arm,
and when take hold of the colors,
/, the "baby" of the regiment, who
have only down where my moustache
be and am still wearing the
pale blue stripes of the school of
Saint-Cyr, 1 feel my heart swell with
pride.
The decimated Dragons, surprised
at this unexpected Resistance, have
turned back, but are they not going
to come back with reinforcements to
give their prey the coup de grace?
There are hardly more than two
scores of us left and the majority OF
us hard wounded and ready to drop
from loss of blood and exhaustion.
What is to become of the colors ?
Where shall 1 hide It? Where shall I
bury 1t? 1 turn the soldiers over 10
old Sergeans Raffanael, a veteran OF
three wars. I order them to reach the
woods as quickly as possible and try
TO join the rest OF our brigade by
path made by the wood cutters.
Then with my sword 1 detach our
beloved colors from the pole and hide
it to my bosom before begin TO
look for house. Very soon 1 reach n
water mill on the bank of n crock
There is light from one of the win
dows. l knock at the door. but NJ
first there is no answer, then soma
one cries: who is there" II is tho
voice or woman, and L answer: "a
wounded French officer"
She opens the door quickly and
leads me into a large room illuminat-
ed by lamp. A tall old man. with n
herce moustache jumps and salutos
me gravely.
In front of the fireplace a young
peasant woman is sitting clad in
deep mourning with an expression OF
sorrow In her beautiful face which I
have never forgotten. Next to her Is
cradle with white lace curtains.
1 have not moment to lose.
Surely you have served in tho
army" 1 say to the old man.
Fourteen years, lieutenant" he
answers, "and If IL was not for this
cursed rheumatism which sits in my
arms and legs would not be wearing
my old uniform"
Listen, my friend, for every mo-
ment is dangerous to the treasure I
4
showed him the tattered trl-colored
silk, with che names and dates Of
our victories upon 1t.
The old soldier turns pale, he takes
off his cap as IL the Host mad come
under his roof, and says: "Rosalie,
lock and bolt the DOORS And when
he hears the sound of hoof beats out
side, he sobs: "Oh my God! Where
am 1 to hide it, so that they will not
find. They searched everywhere, tho
scoundrels, from cellar to loft"
l was leaning against the walls, my
eyes staring wildly. my brain in a
whirl. Then with a simple and proud
movement the young mother takes
her baby from the cradle, places it on
her lap, takes Off it's swaddling clothes
and wrappes the tri-colors around it's
little chest
Then she puts II back into the cradle
and whispers while she starts to rock
1t to sleep you nav be sure, lieu
tenant. they will not find your colors
now"
i embrace them both, as If they had
saved my life. "My name is George
de Ravlgnas," say perhaps / shall
not live through this terrible war, but
II 1t please God to spare my life, I
shall come back here some day, and 4
shall then give back to you and to
this little boy all that you have lost"
Then 1 fled through the orchard.
have held my word. The colors have