Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-02-06
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A few moments later clock in the
hallway struck nine times. At the
same instant deadened cannon-shot
echoed the clamor of the clock. 1t
was the last shot of the battle. And
when the dull reverberations had died
away Alsace was a lost province, Mac
Mahon's army was in full retreat
leaving on the three battle-felds Of
Worth, Reichshoffen, and Froschwei-
ler sixteen thousand dead, wounded,
and missing soldiers of France.
About seven o'clock that morning
a gaunt, leather-faced Prussian officer,
immaculate in his somber uniform, en-
tered the room without knocking.
Monsieur, have the honor to hand
! you a copy of regulations. | am the
provost marshal; all complaints should
be brought to me- A list of the inhab-
itants of Morsbronn will be made to-
day. You will have the goodness to
declare yourself-and you also, mad
anne. There being other buildings bet
ter fitted, no soldiers will be quartered
in this house."
The officer evidently mistook me for
the owner of the house and not a
prisoner. A blanket hid my hussar
trousers and boots; he could only see
my ragged shirt.
"And now, madame" he continued,
"as monsieur appears to need the
services of physician, / shall send
him a French doctor, brought in this
morning from the Chateau of la
Trappe"
He turned his grim, inflexible face
to the Countess and bowed, then he
bowed to me, swung squarely on his
heel, and walked to the door.
admit the French DOCTOR" he said
to the soldier on guard, and marched
: out, his curved saber banging behind
his spurred heels.
| "It must be DIR. Delmont!" said
looking at the Countess as there came
a low knock at the door,
She rose unsteadily from her chair;
, somebody entered the room behint
me and l turned, calling out, "Wel
: come, doctor!"
THANK you," replied the calm voic'
; The Countess shrank aside as Buck
! hurst coolly passed before her. turned
his slim back to the embers of thu
fire, and fixed his eyes on me-thos'
pale, slow eyes, passionless as death
"My friend" he observed in Eng
e lish. "do you think you will know m
again when you have finished you
scrutiny"
The Countess, face averted, passe
. behind my chair
"Wait," said Buckhurst; and turr
: ing directly to me, he added: "Yo
were mistaken for hussar at L
J Trappe; you we're mistaken here fo
a hussar as long as the squad holdin
khis house remained in Morsbronn. !
few moments ago the provost mistoo
you for civilian" He looked acros
at the Countess, who already stoo
with her hand on the door-knob.
3'If you disturb me-" he said, Il hav
only to tell the provost the trutl
Members of Imperial Police caugh
without proper uniform inside Germa
lines are shot, seance tenante."
The Countess stood perfectly still
moment, then came straight to me.
Madame" said Buckhurst, in hi
peculiarly soft and persuasive voice
81 am not here to betray this gentle
man; l am not here even to justif
myself. / came here to make repars
ton, to ask your forgiveness, madame
2 for the wrong I have done you, an
to deliver myself, If necessary, int
/ the hands of the proper French al
thorities in expiation of my misguide
n ZEAL"
r st do not exactly understand" sal
s I, "how you can expiate a crime here.
k 81 can at least make retribution," b
said, turning the paper box over an
l over between his fiat fingers
'Have you brought Ila the diamond
e which belong to the state?" inquiries
;, amused
v eyes," he said, and to my astonisl
|, inent he drew small leather pozc
Q from his pocket and laid it on m
e blanket-covered knees. How man
>. diamonds were there?" he asked.
d zone hundred and three replies
g incredu1ously, and opened the leathe
l. pouch Inside was a bag Of chamoi
., skin. This stretched wide and EN-
n tied.
S Scores Of little balls Of tissue-pape
rolled out on the blanket over m
n knees; l opened one; it contained
n diamond; 1 opened another, anothe
o and another; diamonds lay blazing Q
s my blanket, whole handful, glitte
IF ing in undimmed splendor.
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q. getting some of 1t back, however, an
Is to that end she instructed the littl