The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1914-10-16
CHAPTER VII.
Close to the White Posts.


On Saturday evening the 128th regi-
ment of the Grays was mustered in
field accoutrements and full supply
Of cartridges. In the darkness the
first battalion marched out at right
angles to the main road that ran
through La Tir and South La Tir. At
length Company B, deployed in line
of skirmishers, lay down to sleep on
its arms. ........
I'VE wait here for the word" Fra
casse, the captain, whispered to his
senior lieutenant IF It comes. our
objective is the house and the old
castle on the hill above the town"
The tower Of tho church showed
dimly when pale moon broke
through q cloud. BY its light Hugo
Mallin saw on his left the Dinched
and characterless features Of Peter
kin. A few yards ahead was Q white
stone post.
That's their side over there!" whis-
pered the bankers son. who was next
to Peterkin.
when we cross var begins" said
the manufacturers son.
II wonder II they are expecting us!"
said the Judges son q trifle huskily.
in an attempt at humor, though he
was not given to humor.
"Just waiting to throw bouquets!"
whispered the laborer's son. He. too.
was not given to humor and he, too.
spoko trife huskily.
"And wen fix bayonets when we
start and they will run at the sight
# our STEEL" said Eugene Aronson.
He and Hugo alone. not excepting Pill
4er. the butchers SON. spoke in their
natural voices. The others were try
ing to make their voices sound natu
raj, while Pliers voice had devel
oped a certain ferocity, and the liver
patch on his cheek twitched more fire.
quently. why. Company B Is in
front! We have the post of honor, ant
maybe our company will win the mos
glory of any in the regiment" Eu
gene added. "Oh. we'll beat them
The bullet is not made that will ge
mel"
Your service will be over in tim'
for you to help with the spring plant
ing, Eugene" whispered Hugo, whit
was apparently preoccupied with man!
detached thoughts.
"And you to be at home sucking
lollipops!" Pilzer growled to Hugo.
"That would be better than murder
Ing my fellowman to get his property,
Hugo answered, so soberly that It di'
not seem to his comrades that he wa!
joking this time. PLIERS snarling eX
clamation Of White feather!" came II
the midst of chorus of indignation.
Captain Fracasse, who had hear
only the disturbance without knowing
the cause, interfered in low. sharl
tone:
silence! As I have told you be
fore, silence! We don't want them II
know that we are here. Go to sleep
You may get no rest tomorrow night!
But little Peterkin. the question II
h.s mind breaking free Of his lips, un
Willingly asked:
| "Shall-shall we fight in the morn
ing?"
II don't know. Nobody knows!" an
swered Fracasse. 1--WE wait on orders
ready to do our duty. There may b.
no war. Don't let me hear anothe
peep from you!"
Now all closed their eyes. In from
Of them was vast silence whicl
seemed to stretch from end to end O
he frontier. while to- the rear was tn
rumble Of switching railway train
and the rumble Of provision trains an
artillery on the roads. and in the dit
tance on the plain the headlight Of
locomotive cut swath in the blac
night But the breathing of most c
the men was not that of slumbel
though Eugene and Pilzer sler
soundly. Hours passed. Occasions
restless movements told of efforts {
force sleep by changing position.
"It's the waiting that's sickening!
exploded tho manufacturers son III
der his breath, desperately. -
80 l say. I'd like to be at It an
, done W, the suspense!" said tn
} Doctors sip
"They '@' il you are shot throug
. the head you don't know what kille
, you it's so quick. Think Of that!
exclaimed Peterkin. budding closer I
Hugo and ivering.