Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-09-07
GAZETTE.
A SCENE IN A CoNsCRIPr's LIFE.

I
Reaumer retired toa spot where the other soldier
was standing; and kneelins on one knee, eant
his face on his hands, still convulsivey and un-
consciously grasPing the spade, as if for a sup
port: the other twelve men had formed double
line about fourteen PAGES to the front of Jean.
who was between them and the embankment, his
white clothed figure, thus set in relief by the
dark ground beyond. presenting clear aim to
their muskets. He knelt down on his righ. knee,
resting on the other his left arm: he said in firm
VOICE am ready The priest was about 70
bind h. ndkerchief about his ewes: bat he SAID
| No--i pray NAV be spared that:-let Inc sec
death: am not afraid Of it, rhe priest. after
consulting the serseant's looks, Withdrew the
ndkerchef: Colon retired to the place where
Reaamer and The other soldiers were: and tie
priest, after having received from his pentent the
assurance that he died : in charity with all man
| kind, and having bestowed on him last bene-
d!ction, and laid un his lips the Christian love, al
| So retired on one side Colon gave the wcrd Of
commando Prepare:'-the IL muskets were
brought forwar,l:-s Personal---very. we're leveIled.
The sergeant was raising his cane as The last sir
/ nal. TO spare the victim even the short par. ct
hearing the fatal word Fire. when Rolo, with
IL
been startled from his s'nmber by the roll of the
drum; aud locking up at what was going. on per-
cevng Jean left kneelnS all alone, and all so
silent. except Rcumers family heard sobs, his in
! stinct seemed to tell his master vas in some dan
sct: his whining was unhcartl, or unhee1ed; he
felt this too. and ceased IT, but made desperate
effort To break the rope that held him, which,
weakened as it was bv his late gnawing aud tug
sins at it when in the clubhouse at Charcllo, soon
gave way. aud, as above mentioned. he sprang
with yell 10 his masters side. But Jeans
In, gifts II thai none NJ were toe seriously
gagged to heed even Rollo: he only raised his right
arm. and gently put The dog aside, his own mild
un!linching gaze still fixed on the soldiers before
bim.
| Bat the dog was not checked by the move
ment of his master; still whining, and with his
ears beseechiusly laid back, he struggled hard to
get nearer to him. Colon now felt for JEAN
situation, and he made sign to Reaumrr (who.
wondering at the pause since the last word OF
| command had raised his eyes,} that he should
try to coax the dog oil; he did so by whisling
aud called, but, OF course, quite IN vain. 1t will
be at once seen that, though this has taken some
time in the telling, all that passed from the time
Of Koli0's arrival was little more than the trans
action OF a moment. Still it was delay; and
the men were ready to fire; and Colon, not
thinking the incident of sufficient weight to au-
| thoriZe a suspension of the execution, however
temporary. muttered. Great pity-the poor fell
| low will die too'-He turned his face again
TO his men; and was again about to give the sig
nal. when he was second time interrupted by
hearing loud shouts from behind him, accompa
MED by the discharge of park OF cannon lie
glanced towards the opposite hill at his back,
whcreon the village stood, and there he saw all
was confusion and buste-oflicers galopng TO
and fro, aud the men forming hurriedIy INTO
| line: he hastily gave the word, AS YOU were,
lfnr alung line of road to the northeast OF the
hill he saw a thick cloud OF unst, IRON which
quickly plunged out group OF horsemen, EVIL
IDENTITY officers; the foremost not so tall as most
of them, uor so graceful rider "a many of them,
though he sat firmly TOO. was recognized by Co.
Ion and his men Gong before he was near enough
lor them to distinguish single feature OF his
facel by his gray frock coat, anu small Hat three
| cornered cooked hat. Colon gave the word OF
command: the soldiers shouldered their muskets
and prepared 10 salute: and, in another minute,
/ Nanoleon at the head of his staff, refined up on
the top Of the hill. He had left the march Of the
grand army some leagues behind. and ridden on
towards I.abarre, ia order, with his wonted
watchfulness, to take the detachment by sur
prise, and see what they were about.
! His eagle eve, whose glance saw every thing
like anolEer's gaze. bad at once detected the par
ty on the hill, aud he had ridden from the road
at full speed up the slope to discover what the
object of The meeting was: glance told him that;
and uhlle he was yet returning the salute OF the
nea and their sergeant. he said, in voice pant
Ing after his hard gallop. Hey what's this! a
deser,ion!' Yes, sire--no, sire; not exactly,
stammered Colon. Not exactly! what them
asked Napoleon, in rather peevish tone, his
face assuming more than its usual sternness; Tor
hardly anything more provoked him than beslta-
ton on the part of these he addressed. ABB
sence against orders, sire, replied Calon. Aha!
for how ionsa Is that MS doss' Yes sire: on
lly few hours "A few hours! Who gave
this order, then:' General s., SIRE -
What character does the man beari' He is q
brave man. SIRE He is Frenchman, retort-
ed Napoleon, proudly; but is he honest, and So
Der, and generally obedient!' Yes sire; this
is his first fault Pm! how long has be serv-
eds' Three years last March, sire A loud.
er and higher.toped IN" escaped Napoleon;