Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-14

strong as adamant. After the fight my
general sent for me and said:
"'You are advanced to the rank of
major and will assume command Of
your regiment at once. Go and get on
that of a field officer
do you know what was thinking
about when he said that2 1 was wish
ing my reward had brought me into
the ranks Of the lance-s that might
don a snowy uniform with which to
win back Clochette. However, could
only feel pleased that should at least
equal my rival by being mounted, and,
though my uniform would be much the
same as before, ii would be of finer
texture and more highly decorated.
"As you know, we met with one dis
aster after another, and at last those
OF US who were not killed or captured
were driven back across our country.
the Prussians following U.S. had been
advanced to the rank of general Of
brigade. was very young for such
position-about twenty-one; but, as I
have said, l was born fighter and moth
ing else. I couldn't understand why 50
many of my comrades remained In the
ranks while had been so speedily adj
vanced. 1 didn't value my promotion,
because with all the gewgaws worn by
a general of brigade did. not consider
him q bird OF such fine plumage as a
private of cuirassiers, nor would Clio
Ghetto.
"As luck would have it, we approach
Cd pariS oh tho rac-iop from which
we had marched to the war, and the
worst of 1t was that the Twelfth cui-
rassiers were returning by the same
route 1 still loved Clochette. You
know. the struggle was very brief and
there had been no change in me as the
man-only as the soldier. knew a.
we marched through my native village
the country people would line the way
looking at US and Clochette would be
among them. Though l would ride at
the head of my brigade, with Clochetts
I would not count for as much as Du-
val In his splendor of a private of cui-
rassiers. Something must be done. I
| thought out a plan on which l acted,
and you are the first man to learn Of 1t.
1.-THE evening before we were to pass
| through Fontainebleau l rode over to
the headquarters of General Berrien OF
the Eighteenth corps and told him
that 1 wished to march through the
village with his command. in which l
was not known. told him my secret
and my experience, at which he laugh
| ed heartily. Then / asked him to per-
NIT me to march past my neighbors
at the head of one of the bands of his
command as drum major. When l ex-
planned my reason he embraced me,
remarked that all the world loves
lover said my plan was admirable
and assured me that in the snowy uni
form of drum major would certain
ly win my sweetheart.
"'The leader of the band of the Fiji
ty-third,' he said. wears the most
snowy uniform of any drum major, and
you shall take his place
HE sent an orderly for this man,
who reported at once, and was pleas
ed to see that. though he was tall,
was nearly his height. He was ordered
to send his uniform TO my headquar-
tiers and to turn over the leadership OF
his band the next day to me.
much had happened since we had
marched away that orr friends at
home knew little or nothing about. No
one knew of my advancement When
we marched through the town girls
Joined their fathers. their brothers and
their lovers. marching hand in hand
with them. l had placed myself at
the head of the Fifty-third band and
looked magnificent in my splendid uni
form. While marching through the
town. twirling my baton high above
my head. espied Clochette among the
throng beside the road. She was look
ing at me admirlngly. l smiled at her.
She knew me and in another moment
was marching beside me. -
II had won. And how? By Yielding
to q womanly fancy for display. "a
more intelligent girl would have me
ferred me as general but Clochette
was an embodiment of feminine sim
plicity. AS we marched along side by
side | throwing my staff high In the
air. she was more proud Of me and
herself as my girl than she would have
been rejecting the glory of a marshal
of France"
! The speaker having come to the end
, of his yarn looked at his wife, sitting
at the other end Of the table. aud
said
/ "My dear. haze told the story cor
rectly:"
r Perfectly so far as your own folly
= is concerned"
J Did You not march beside me when
2 I was masquerading as "A drum ma
5 jor. and that after giving my rival a
preference?
II did. That was my folly. It may
be permissible for you to give NJ. Chau-
veteau your feelings. but only l can
express mine"
"Well. then. let US have them
81 married you because you loved
me so well as TO make a fool of your
self on my account
With a burst Of laughter the men
rose from the table.
: Nov IA in u,erican