Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-16

tAiphonse Daudet. 1s4O-lso7 wss
fairy well knowr rrencn a W yr n. stang.
short stories today
The soldiers are completely exhaust
ed, for they have been fighting two
DAYS and have passed the night wear
Ing their knapsacks. Yet no orders
have been Forthcoming from the head.
quarters of the marshal, in the beau
tiful villa on the hill Rain, mud. no
IRE, nothing to eat. low, black sky.
and the enemy in the air about-and
still no orders.
The rain. which fills the roads with
disgusting mud, Is nothing more than
an elegant shower in the gardens OF
the marshaIss headquarters. His ban.
ner raised over this appropriated es.
tate has protected 1t from the raw.
ages of the so1diery. Everything
gl:stens and everything seems peace
full.
The dining room shows a half.
cleared table, uncorked bottles. soiled
and empty glasses on the rumpled
cloth. In the adjoining room one may
hear loud voices, laughter. the click
ing of balls and the clinking OF
glasses. The marshal is playing his
game of billiards. and that is why the
army is waiting for orders. For when
the marshal once begins his game,
the heavens might fall, but nothing In
the world can prevent him from nm
ishing 1t.
Biliiards-that is the one weakness
of this great warrior. He stands
there, as grave as in battle, in full
uniform, his breast covered with med
ais, his kindled eyes alert with the
excitement Of theg anne. His aide-de-
camp rush around him, uttering adj
miring ordinations at each OF his
strokes. When the marshal makes
point they all hasten to mark 1t.
The marshals opponent Is a young
captain Of the staff. also In full uni
form. He is in the first rank of bill.
lizard players and he could easily beat
all the marshals on earth. But he
Is tactfu1 and keeps a respectful num-
her OF points behind his chief. The
captain. indeed. is using his skill to
keep from winning, and yet not to
lose too easily. He is what Is called
an officer with future.
The marshal has Is and the cap
tain 10 The point il to keep the
game i'm that condition to the end,
for the captain will have done more
for his promotion than IL he were
outside with the other soldiers in the
rain.
The game is really a very inter-
esting one. The balls roll and clash
and mingle their colors. The cush.
ions send them merriy back. The
cloth grows warm.
Suddenly the fash of a cannon ball
1zn ulx A Ay,l1
sound rattles the windows. Every
body starts and all look at one an.
other anxiously.
Only the marshal seems not to have
seen or heard anything. He is lean
ing over the table husily enga ged
in planning a magnificent draw shot
Draw shots are the naarshal's strong
point.
But there comes another flash, and
then another. The cannon shots fol.
low one another with alarming rapid.
ity. The aides-de-camp all rush to
the windows to look out. Can It be
that the Prussians are attacking?
Very well, let them attack" says
the marshal, chalking his cue. IFS
your turn. Captain" ~
The staff quivers with admiration
at this supreme ealmness This mar
shall is a wonder who can play bill
liards so TRANQUILITY at the moment oil
going into action.
Meanwhile. the uproar grows louder
End louder. The roar of the cannon
IL now mingled with the tearing sound
of smaller shots and the rattle ol
musketry. A red stream, black at the
edges rises around the lawns. Tbs
whole park is on Are.
The terrified peacocks and pleas
m aNriu fsxf. h<
Arabian horses, smelling the powder
rear in the stables. The people Al
headquarters begin to get excited. Dis
patch after dispatch arrives. Courier
come In at full speed They ask fol
the marshal. So
But the marshal cannot be seen. II,
must not be disturbed. for he has no
finished his game of billiards.
sit is your turn. Captain" he says
as calmly a. ever. 20
- But the csrtain Il becoming nsry