New Britain herald., 1918-09-18
CHATTER \.

Copyright, 1918, by William Fox) \ BOY on a galloping plough horse A dashed from the market square and down the narrow street.
 A shot rang out above the cries of women and the angry shouts of men In the square. The horse lurched. but recovered and kept his pace. Just ahead a squad of Landwehr wheeled into the street. They were too close for the boy to turn; so he used his heels vigorously on the sides of his horse and plunged at them.
 Before the bewildered Landwehr could collect their wits the heavy horse was on them, and sent them sprawling in the dust One, quicker than his fellows. ran at the fleeing boy, reaching out to drag him from his seat. Just in time the boy, a husky lad. turned and with all his strength struck the soldier a stagger ing blow in the face. Now free, he bent over the horses neck, expecting 3 volley from the enraged LandWehr.
 An old bewhiskered Sergeant, less hasty than his men, restrained their fire.
 "A fine young cockerel that! He'll make good cannon fodder for Maria Theresas guns. Wait until tomor- row, when we gather him in, and then, I promise. you will see some sport"
 With threats that boded ill for the boy the men returned to their work and the boy. now at the end of the street, turned into the open road that ted down the valley of the Rhine.
 Between the sweet-smellng fields and the river, across an old bridge that spanned the stream, and over rolling hills the good horse, near ex- haustion, galloped on. The road turned abruptly into the square of small hamlet, f1anked by low, stone houses.
 Just opposite a sign that bore a weather-stai legend, "The Golden Crown, the old horse staggered, dropped to it's knees and rolled over. dead. The boy managed to fall clear of the animal, and in a moment was surrounded by the venerable inn keero' the village loungcrs.
 'ement had not stirred the l7.lu Charles had been chosen I'm, the Cerans. The news apvcHd '3t, and already the priest and the Mayor were hurrying to the scene,
 The fugitive boy, well nigh breath less, had told his brief story in hys- terical haste:
 "The Landwehr are coming!
 Maria Theresa has defeated the Emperor and he is calling d new draft!
 "In Kehl they are taking every one from sixteen to ffty
 They will be here .tomorrow!"
 At these dread tidings a silence fel upon his hearers. Too well they knew the meaning of the draft.
 For centuries each new king and emperor had drawn the inhabitants ot the valley to i'll the ranks Of his armies Only q year ago there had been Il draft. Then they had taken only the cream of the cOuntry's man hood This time they were to take the children and the fathers Of faml- Hes It struck terror to the hearts Ol all who heard if.
 With 8 sinking heart the Mayor urged a respect for the supreme law of the land which he was far from feeling himself He knew we'll thar man who believed that those who in habited his dominions were created for the special purpose of gratifying his ingIorious desires.
 The smiling valley in which these people lived was a part of beautiful Alsace-Alxace, the battle ground O the centuries.
 The Teuton hand still lay heavy or Ehat part of thes falr province -whicf