twilight stories-第15部分

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One　of　the　deepest　seasons　of　gloom　was　when　the　French　Emperor；

Napoleon；　had　conquered　one　country　after　another；　until　there

was　scarcely　anything　but　England　left　to　attack；　and　one　of　the

proudest　times　of　rejoicing　was　when　the　〃Iron　Duke〃　Wellington；

and　the　bluff　old　Prussian；　Blucher；　met　him　at　Waterloo；

defeated　his　armies　and　drove　him　from　the　field。　　There　were

bonfires；　and　bell…ringings　then；　and　from　that　day　onward

England　loved　and　cherished　every　man　who　had　fought　at

Waterloofrom　the　〃Duke〃　himself　down　to　the　plainest　private；

every　one　was　a　hero　and　a　veteran。



In　one　of　the　humblest　houses　of　a　proud　nobleman's　estate；　a

low；　whitewashed　cottage；　one　of　these　veterans　lived　not　so　very

many　years　ago。　　He　had　fought　by　his　flag　in　one　of　the　most

gallant　regiments　until　the　last　hour　of　the　battle；　and　then　had

fallen　disabled　from　active　service　for　the　rest　of　his　life。



That　did　not　seem　to　be　of　so　very　great　consequence　though；　just

now；　for　peace　reigned　in　the　land；　and　with　his　wife　and　two

beautiful　daughters　to　love；　his　battles　to　think　over；　and　his

pension　to　provide　the　bread　and　coffee；　the　old　soldier　was　as

happy　as　the　day　was　long。　　It　made　no　difference　that　the　bread

and　the　coffee　were　both　black；　and　the　clothes　of　the　veteran

were　coarse　and　seldom　new。



〃Ho；　Peggy！〃　he　used　to　say　to　his　wife；　〃my　cloak　is　as　fine　as

the　one　the　'Iron　Duke'　wore　when　they　carried　me　past　him　just

as　the　French　were　breaking；　and　as　for　the　bread；　only　a　veteran

knows　how　the　recollection　of　victory　makes　everything　taste

sweet！〃



But　it　seemed　as　if　the　old　soldier's　life　was　going　to　prove

like　his　share　in　that　great　day　at　Waterloosuccess　and　victory

till　the　end　had　nearly　come；　and　then　one　shot　after　another

striking　him　with　troubles；　he　could　never　get　over。



The　first　came　in　the　midst　of　the　beautiful　summer　days；　when

the　bees　droned　through　the　delicious　air；　the　rose…bush　was　in

full　bloom；　and　the　old　soldier　sat　in　the　cottage　door　reveling

in　it　all。　　A　slow；　merciless　fever　rose　up　through　the　soft

airit　did　not　venture　near　the　high　ground　where　the　castle

stood；　but　it　crept　noiselessly　into　the　whitewashed　cottage；　one

night；　and　the　soldier's　two　daughters　were　stricken　down。　　This

was　the　beginning　of　terrible　trouble　to　the　veteran　of　Waterloo。　

Not　that　he　minded　watching；　for　he　was　used　to　standing　sentry

all　night；　and　as　for　nursing；　he　had　seen　plenty　in　the

hospital；　but　to　see　his　daughters　sufferingthat　was　what　he

could　not　bear！



And　worst　of　all；　between　medicines　and　necessaries　for　the　sick；

the　three　months'　pension　was　quite　used　up；　and　when　the　old

soldier's　nursing　had　pulled　through　the　fierceness　of　the　fever；

there　was　nothing　but　black　bread　left　in　the　houseand　black

bread　was　almost　the　same　as　no　bread　at　all　to　the　dainty

appetities　the　fever　had　left；　and　that　was　what　he　had　to　think

of；　and　think　of；　as　he　sat　in　the　cottage　door。



〃Bah！〃　said　the　old　soldier；　with　something　more　like　a　groan

than　was　ever　heard　from　him　while　his　wounds　were　being　dressed；

〃I　could　face　all　the　armies　of　Napoleon　better　than　this！〃



And　he　sat　more　and　more　in　the　cottage　door；　as　if　that　could

leave　the　trouble　behind；　but　it　stood　staring　before　him；　all

the　same；　till　it　almost　shut　the　rosebush　and　the　bees　out　of

sight。　　But　one　morning　a　tremendous　surprise　came　to　him　like　a

flash　out　of　the　sky！　　He　heard　the　sound　of　galloping　troops；

and　he　pricked　up　his　ears；　for　that　always　made　him　think　of　a

cavalry　charge。



〃Who　goes　there？〃　he　cried；　but　without　answering　his　challenge

the　sound　came　nearer　and　nearer；　and　a　lackey　in　full　livery

dashed　up　to　the　door；　and　presented　him　with　a　note　sealed　with

the　blood…red　seal　of　the　castle　arms。　　It　was　an　invitation　to

dine　at　the　castle　with　a　company　of　noblemen　and　officers　of　the

army。　　His　lordship；　who　had　also　fought　at　Waterloo；　had　just

learned　that　a　comrade　was　living　on　his　estate；　and　made　haste

to　do　him　honor；　and　secure　a　famous　guest　for　his　dinner　party。



The　old　soldier　rose　up　proudly；　and　gave　the　lackey　a　military

salute。



〃Tell　his　lordship；〃　he　said；　〃that　I　shall　report　myself　at

headquarters；　and　present　my　thanks　for　the　honor　he　has　done

me。〃



The　lackey　galloped　off；　and　the　veteran　pushed　his　chair　over

with　his　wooden　leg；　and　clattered　across　the　cottage　floor。



〃Ho；　Peggy！〃　he　cried；　〃did　I　not　say　that　luck　comes　and　trouble

flies　if　you　only　face　the　enemy　long　enough？　　This　is　the

beginning　of　good　things；　I　tell　you！　　A　hero　of　Waterloo；　and

fit　to　dine　with　lords　and　generals；　will　certainly　have　other

good　fortune　coming　to　him；　till　he　can　keep　his　wife　and

daughters　like　princesses。　　Just　wait　a　bit　and　you　shall　see！〃

and　he　turned　hastily　away；　for　his　heart　came　up　in　his　throat

so　that　he　could　not　speak。



All　the　rest　of　that　day　he　sat　in　the　door；　brushing　and　darning

and　polishing　his　stained　uniform。　　It　had　lain　abandoned　on　the

shelf　for　many　a　year；　but　before　night　every　button　was　shining

like　gold；　the　scarlet　cloth　was　almost　fresh　once　more；　and　the

old　soldier；　wrapped　in　his　faithful　cloak；　was　making　his　way

joyfully　across　the　heathery　moors　to　the　castle　quite　at　the

other　side。



But　when　he　had　fairly　reached　it；　and　the　servant　had　shown　him

into　the　drawing…room；　his　heart　almost　failed　him　for　a　moment。　

Such　splendor　he　had　never　seen　beforea　thousandth　part　would

have　bought　health　and　happiness　for　the　dear　ones　he　had　left

with　only　his　brave　goodbye　and　a　fresh　rose…bud　to　comfort　them！



However；　what　with　the　beautiful　ladies　of　the　castle　gathering

round　him　to　ask　questions　about　the　battle；　and　with　a　seat　near

his　lordship's　right　hand　at　dinner；　he　soon　plucked　up　again；

and　began　to　realize　how　delightful　everything　was。　　But　that　was

the　very　thing　that　almost　spoiled　the　whole　again；　for　when　he

saw　his　plate　covered　with　luxuries　and　delicacies　more　than　he

could　possibly　eat；　the　thought　of　the　black　bread　he　had　left　at

the　cottage　brought　the　tears　rushing　to　his　eyes。



But；　〃Tut！〃　he　said　to　himself　in　great　dismay；　〃what　an

ungrateful　poltroon　his　lordship　will　think　he　has　brought　here！〃

and　he　managed　to　brush　them　off　while　no　one　was　looking。



It　was　delicious；　though；　in　spite　of　everything；　and　after　a

while　the　wine　began　to　flowthat　warmed　his　very　heart　and

then　he　heard　his　lordship　calling　to　a　servant　to　bring　him

something　from　his　private　desk；　saying：



〃Gentlemen；　I　am　about　to　show　you　the　proudest　treasure　I

possess。　　This　diamond　snuff…box　was　presented　to　me　by　the　stout

old　Blucher　himself；　in　remembrance　of　service　I　was　able　to

perform　at　Waterloo。　　Not　that　I　was　a　whit　worthier　of　it　than

the　brave　fellows　under　my　commandunderstand　that！〃



How　the　diamonds　glistened　and　gleamed　as　the　box　was　passed　from

hand　to　hand！　　As　if　the　thickest　cluster　of　stars　you　ever　saw；

could　shine　out　in　the　midst　of　a　yellow　sunset　sky；　and　the

colors　of　the　rainbow　could　twinkle　through　them　at　the　same

time！　　It　was　superb；　but　then　that　was　nothing　compared　to　the

glory　of　receiving　it　from　Blucher！



Then　there　was　more　wine　and　story…telling；　and　at　last　some

asked　to　look　at　the　snuff…box　again。



〃Has　any　one　the　snuff…box　at　present？〃　asked　his　lordship；

rather　anxiously；　for　as　he　turned　to　reach　it　no　snuff…box　was

to　be　seen。



No　one　said　〃yes；〃　for　everyone　was　sure　he　had　passed　it　to　his

neighbor；　and　they　searched　up　and　down　the　table　with

consternation　in　their　faces；　for　the　snuff…box　could　not　have

disappeared　without　hands；　but　to　say　so　was　to　touch　the　honor

of　gentlemen　and　soldiers。



At　last　one　of　the　most　famous　officers　rose　from　his　seat：



〃My　lord；　he　said；　〃a　very　unlucky　accident　must　have　occurred

here。　　Some　one　of　us　must　have　slipped　the　box　into　his　pocket

unconsciously；　mistaking　it　for　his　own。　　I　will　take　the　lead　in

searching　mine；　if　the　rest　of　the　company　will　follow！〃



〃Agreed！〃　said　the　rest；　and　each　guest　in　turn　went　to　the

bottom　of　one　pocket　after　another；　but　still　no　snuff…box；　and

the　distress　of　the　company　increased。　　The　old　soldier's　turn

came　last；　and　with　it　came　the　surprise。　　With　burning　cheeks

and　arms　folded　closely　across　his　breast　he　stood　up　and

confronted　the　company　like　a　stag　at　bay。



〃No！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃no　one　shall　search　my　pockets！　　Would　you

doubt　the　honor　of　a　soldier？〃



〃But　we　have　all　done　so；〃　said　the　rest；　〃and　every　one　knows　it

is　the　merest　accident　at　the　most。〃　But　the　old　soldier　only

held　his　arms　the　tighter；　while　the　color　grew　deeper　in　his

face。　　In　his　perplexity　his　lordship　thought　of　another

expedient。



〃We　will　try　another　way；　gentlemen；〃　he　said；　〃I　will　order　a

basket　of　bran　to　be　brought；　and　propose　that　each　one　in　turn

shall　thrust　his　hand　into　the　bran。　　No　one　shall　look　on；　and

if　we　find　the　box　at　last；　no　one　can　guess　whose　hand　placed　it

there。〃



It　was　quickly　done；　and　hand　after　hand　was　thrust　in；　until　at

last　came　the　old　soldier's　turn　once　more。　　But　he　was　nowhere

to　be　seen。



Then；　at　last　the　indignation　of　the　company　broke　forth。



〃A　soldier；　and　a　hero　of　Waterloo；　and　willing　to　be　a　thief！〃

and　with　their　distress　about　the　affair；　and　his　lordship's

grief　at　his　loss；　the　evening　was　entirely　spoiled。



Meantime　the　old　soldier；　with　his　faithful　cloak　wrapped　closely

round　him　once　more；　was　fighting　his　way　through　the　sharp　winds

and　over　the　moors　again。　　But　a　battle　against　something　a

thousand　times　sharper　and　colder　was　going　on　in　his　breast。



〃A　thief！〃　he　was　saying　over　and　over　to　himself；　〃me；　who

fought　close　to　the　side　of　the　'Iron　Duke'！　　And　yet；　can　I　look

one　of　them　in　the