The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-03-06

drink before them. And then-would
wonders never cease?-these Ger
mans had actually paid-even over
paid, ma foi-for one Of them flung
golden half ,ouis on the counter and
stalked from the place, refusing
change.
or course at the Hotel de Vile the
invaders behaved differently. There
the mayor was called upon for one
million francs-war indemnity. But
that was a matter for the city's con-
Germ and not the individual. Madame
still had that golden half louis and
would show 1t If we cared to see. Gold
was scarce and exceedingly precious.
The sight of it was good.
unaninity Of the War.
Now the Germans were gone
forced out, grace Dieu, SO the good
citizens no longer lived in the cellars.
They were again in their places at the
Lion dor, slipping vermouth and offer
ing gratitude to the military regime
that had the decency to allow cafes
open until eight O'Clock. Outside the
night was cold and fine drizzle beat
against the windows. Several new
corners shivered and remarked that 1t
must be terrible In the trenches. But
the electric lights, the clinking glasses
on the marble tables, the rafting
coins soon brought them into the gen.
eral line of speculation on how long 1t
would take to drive the Germans from
France.
For a hundred years the cafes have
been the forum of France. The Lion
dor had for that entire period been
the scene of fierce verbal encounters
between members of more political and
religious faiths than exist In any other
nation of the world. Every Frenchman
no matter how humble in position or
purse has decided opinions about
something. But now the voices in the
Lion dor arose only in appellations
concerning les Boches. There was
unanimity of opinion on the absorbing
subject Of the war.
The members Of the American am
bulance column sat at a table near
the door. Our khaki always brought
looks Of friendly interest. Almost
everyone thought US to be English,
and those who learned the truth we're
always distinctly pleased. We finished
the aperitif and consulted about din
ner. We were on duty-we might
either return for the army mess or
buy our own meal at the restaurant.
We paid the garcon and decided upon
the restaurants few doors away.
Several of the men were struggling
into their rubber coats. I told them
that l would follow shortly. / had
just caught a sentence that thrilled
me. 1t held note of mystery-or
tragedy. 1t brought life out of the
commonplace normality of the aperitii
hour at the Lion dor.
Where the Tragedy Comes.
The speakers were two Frenchmen
of middle age-fat and bearded. They
were dressed in ordinary black, but
wore it with ceremonial rather than
conventional manner. The atmosphere
Of the city did not seem upon them
They might rather be the butcher and
the grocer of a small town. One Of
the pair had sat alone for some time
before the second arrived. l had no
ticed him. He seemed to have NJ
acquaintances In the place-whicl
was unusual. He drank two cognac'
In rapid succession-which was still
more unusual One drink always sat
isles Frenchman at the aperiti
hour-and it is very seldom cognac.
When the second man entered tn,
other started from his seat and hel,
out both hands eagerly. $50 you go
out safer" were the words I heard, bu
our crowd was hurrying toward tn
door, and l lost the actual greeting
III ordered another vermouth an
waited.
The two men were seated opposit
each other. The first man nervousl
motioned to the waiter and the new
conner gave his order. 1t was plat
that they we're both excited, but tn
table adjoining was unoccupied, s
they caused no attention. The nois
waiter. Shaping bottles on the tabl,
drowned out the next few sentences
Then / heard the second man: $50
got out first. but you managed to &c
here yesterday-a day in advance
The other replied: Il was luck
enough to get a horse. They wer
Smelling the market place when left
The second man gulped his drink an
plucked nervously at the other
sleeve. MY wife Is at the hotel" b
| almost mumhled the words. 81 mu,