The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1914-06-04

glad of the lettuce, for had not his
rather said yesterday that it was the
pest ever grown, that he would wager
there was none such in the village, no,
not even in the garden Of the chateau.
He filled his mothers basket so full
that he staggered, and climbed the
slope and made his way past the ruins
to the left around h lift of LIE Rose,
across the Pre- du Sac, on to the new
chateau to the great paved courtyard
ioo Feet square, past the stables at the
lett M on to the door. There a big
man, dressed beautifully in violet,
had refused to let him in, had ven
refused to take his lettuce to the
selgneur, and the boy was about to go
OFT grieved when a wonderful little
girl. also in beautiful clothes, but less
lovely than the violet ones, had APP
peared. Like a fairy she looked, he
thought. and like a fairy she had
was in the presence of the seigneur,
accepting thanks, looking about as
much as he might and yet be polite, at
the unknown splendors of a room in
the chateau itself.
General Gourgaud brought down his
fist on the table so that 1t ratified and
FRANCOIS started-but not Alike.
Sabre de bois!" he threw at the
two children. You have ruined my
morning between you. I meant to fin
lsh those cursed chapters this morn
Ing. But let them wait. Having the
honor to receive a visit from an officer
OF high rank. the least 1 can do Is to
entertain him. What amusement do
you prefer. M'sieur the Marshal? 1 am
at your service"
1t was natural to Francois to be-
lieve every n kindly; he accepted
with simplicity, If with slight surprise,
the generals speech.
Does the seigneur mean it?" he
asked.
But yet" the general shot at him.
If the seigneur means it," Francois
went on promptly, u know what I
WISH
"Parbleu! you do" General Gour-
saud was surprised in turn at this
readiness. "What then?'
The %seigneur has fought battles UNI
DER the great emperor himself? 2" the
boy asked in al awed tone.
Yes" came the abrupt answer
again.
Think" whispered the French boy.
TO have fought under the emperorl"
ana the OLD soldiers heart thrilled
suddenly. The child went on. IF the
seigneur would tell me a story Of one
flght-of just one!"
"Ratisbon, Ratisbonl" clamored
AiiXe, and she scrambled over the arm
OF MS chair to her fathers knee and
her hand went around his neck. Tell
o Ratisbon and the ditch and the
at FRANCOIS, encouragingly. TITS real
ly true; he was right there" And she
went on. addressing the general. And
When hat Is done, tell about Austen
iitz and the soldiers drowning under
the ice. And when that is done tell
ABOUT Wawram and"
Halt" ordered the general. 81
| VIII tell about Ratisbon If you
wish, He settled himself into
his deep chair and drew the little
girl closer; a dark curl caught on
the rough cloth Of his Goa and lay
across his square shoulder; she held
ms numb tightly with one hand. The
pog stood erect in front Of them, his
knitted peasant "a in his hand, h!s
luminous eyes not stirring from the
generals face; outside the hot stiffness
over he park and over the wide
nelds-Where thousands of peoples
stretched scarlet heads higher than the
wheat; one heard the trampling of
castle where the red-roofed stables
stood. the distant voices Of grooms;@ In
dim room there was no sound.
one lived in those days. my chill
dren," the abrupt strong voice broke
quiet. War Is terrible. but after
one lives-if one is not killed at
1t happened so to many that |
day of Ratisbon; many were killed |
that day. The deep voice stopped. |
then went on again. 1.-THE Austrians |
held Ratisbon and the bridge across the
Danube river. The emperor wished to |
the town and that bridge. Marshal |
Lannes was ordered to do it. You sea.
my children, the walls were very old
but filed with Austrian artillery. and
mere was infantry on the parapets. An
Did ditch lay under the walls, a large
ditch, dry, but 20 feet high and so feet |
All the bottom of 1t was 3
vegetable garden. To AXE that town
L was necessary to go down into that |
ditch and climb up again to the walls
and all the time one would be under |
Ire from the Austrians on the walls
you understand that, children? Very
we'll. Twice the marshal asked for 80
volunteers to take the ladders and
place them In h ditch. Twice 100 men
forward, and 1t was necessary
% choose the so. Twice they dashed
carrying the ladders, from behind
ne great stone barn which had covered
hem. and each time the detail was
typed out-50 men wiped out. 1t was
IKE that, my children, the light at
iatisbon." The brown curl lay un-
'tirred against the dark coat; the
mining eyes Of the boy held, as It
astened there, to the face Of the story-
eller. Into the silence came a chokinp
Ugh.
0NnnfinJ1aH nov% x,oaIS 5sa&-I