The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1915-03-05
CHAPTER VIII.
Close to the White Posts.

On Saturday evening the 12Sth 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 1t comes, our
objective is the house and the old
castle on the hill above the town"
The tower OF the church showed
dimly when a pale moon broke
through cloud. By its light Hugo
Mallin saw on his left the pinched
and characterless features OF Peter
kin. A few yards ahead was white
stone post.
That's their side over there!" whis'
pered the bankers son, who was next
to Peterkin.
when we cross war begins" said
the manufacturer son.
IT wonder II they are expecting u.s.!
said the judges son tride huskily
In an attempt at humor, though be
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
spoke trine huskily.
And wen fix bayonets when W.
start and they will run at the sigh
of our STEEL" said Eugene Aronson
He and Hugo alone, not excepting Phi
ger, the butchers son, spoke in theil
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 live
patch on his cheek twitched more FIRE
quently. why, Company B is Il
! 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, well beat them
J The bullet is not made that will &c
mel"
, Your service will be over in tim
for you to help with the spring PLAN
: ing, Eugene" whispered Hugo, VIII
, was apparently preoccupied with man
detached thoughts.
"And you to be at home suckin
lollipops!" Pilzer growled TO Hugo.
THAT would be better than murde
ing my fellowman to get his property,
Hugo answered, SO soberly that 1t di
not seem to his comrades that he wa
ioking this time. Pliers snarling e.
clamation of white featheri" came
the midst of a chorus Of indignation.
Captain Fracasse, who had hear
! only the disturbance without KNOWN
the cause. interfered In low. shai
tone:
"Silencel As l have told you b
: fore, silence! We don't want them
know that We are here. Go to sleel
You may get nc rest tomorrow night
But little Peterkin. the question
his mind breaking free Of his lips. u
/. Willingly asked:
"shall-shall we fight In the NOR
a ing"
!. 81 don't know. Nobody knovs!" a
= swered Fracasse. I'VE wait on order
, ready to do our duty. There may
no war. Don't let me hear anoth
!, peep from you'll"
!, Now all closed their eyes. In mo
OF them was vast silence viii
- seemed TO stretch from end to end
= the frontier, while to the rear was {
: rumble OF switching railway trai
= and the rumble of provision trains a
!, artillery on the roads. and in the d
tanee on the plain the headlight Of
= locomotive cut q swath In the bla
- night But the breathing Of most
= the men was not that Of slumb
- though Eugene and PilIer SD
!. soundly. Hours passed. Occasion
~ restless movements told Of efforts
force sleep BY changing position.
~ ITS the waiting that's siekenini
AZ exploded the manufacturers son
az der his breath, desperately.
81 $50 ] say. I'd like 70 Be 1t u