Military life in Italy : sketches - Societa italiana di storia militare

268 MILITARY LIFE.
" I do understand ;
but ..."
At that moment they heard the distant sound of drums, and
all the people who were in the square turned in that direction.
" Here is the regiment," said the soldier. The old woman felt
her heart throbbing wildly, stood quite perplexed for a moment,
and then suddenly tried to dash toward the regiment. " "
Wait !
shouted the soldier, seizing her by the arm, and making a motion
with his hand to keep her "
quiet. Wait ;
do me that
favor ; if he sees you we shall get into trouble. Do you wish
to have him put in prison
? It does n't take much to do so.
If he should turn his
head to the left when he ought to turn it
to the right."
" " That 's true !
w
murmured the woman, and she controlled
herself.
You will only have to wait a quarter of an hour ;
that 's
not much, when you have waited two years."
The woman raised her eyes to heaven, sighed,
and then fixed
them motionless on the opening of the street where the regiment
was to appear.
The roll of the drums approaches ;
the crowd divides into
two wings ;
here are the sappers, the drummers, the band, the
colonel on horseback.
" And the soldiers ? " asked the old woman anxiously.
" One moment. There are only about ten paces between
the colonel and the soldiers. Here they are !
The woman dashed forward again, and once more the sol-
" Oh, for heaven's sake do be sensible !
dier held her back.
Do you want him to be thrust into prison at any cost " ?
The regiment
is drawn up in line.
" I have seen him
"
! I have seen him ! shouted the old
woman, clapping her hands, " Look at him !
"
"