Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1844-01-04

enemy, lace To face.
The councilof war presented a singu-
lar spectacle. On one side there was a
prosecutor, who read rs follows
"Piere Pi,ois, you, one of the bravest
Soldiers Of tho army; you, upon whose
breast shines the star of the legion o'
honor /; you, who have never received
either punishment or reproach from your
superiors; I; you have deserted your reg
iment-deserted il almost on The eve ol
battle and that without the inducemen nj
Of any considerable motive. Whatevel
motive you may have had, however, the
council demands to know it for they
would be happy to be abIe-nor to acquil
you-(for they neither ought, nor wish &c
do Mat)-at least Ia recommend you To
the kind consideration Of The Emperor. +"
On the other side the accused replied :
u deserted without any cause-witboui
sny motive and do not regret it. II
il was to do again, | would do it again.
] have deserved death. Lot me be con-
demned."
Some Witnesses came forward, who
said, Pierre Piiois did desert. We
know il +; but we do not know how TO be
Here it, Others said Pierre Pnois is
deraneed The council will not con-
denim an insane man Ii is not death,
tui to the hospital, that he ought TO be
sent
Very little argument was necessary to
commendation for there was not one OF
them who did not consider the desertion
OF Pierre Puois as the result Of one OF
those singular movements Of the human
mind, which j, is impossible tn compre-
bend, but which all at some time see.
Meantime the accused showed himse II
40 simple, SD logical, in his perse yerance,
IN demanding senience-it was with
such an auda cious boldness that he pro.
claimed his crime -repe aiing necessarily
that 'he did not repent Of IT, that he did
not even regret 1.-THE firmness with
which he demonstrated il, appeared so
much like bravado, that II was impossible
TO exhibit the desired clemency, and he
was accordingly condemned to death.
When this sentence was read 10. Pierre,
he did not even frown. lie was earnest
Dy besoughl TO ask for pardon. lie re-
fused il positively.
As every one imag ined that there must
be some mystery al the bottom of all this,
it was resolved to postpone the execution
Of Pierre Piiois for some time. The
prisoner was reconveyed to the military
prison. and informed that, as special
favor 10 him, he would be allowed seven
v-two hours To present his petition for
pardon. Pierre shrugged up his should
eIs, but made no other answer.
About the middle Of the night preced-
ing the day fixed for the execution, the
door of Pierre's cell turned softly on its
hinges a sub-ofiicer ofthe young guard
advanced To the side of the b. d on which
The prisoner lay, and, after having con-
iemplated him for some time, he awaken
ed him. Pierre Pitois stretched wide
open his eyes, and gazcd round. .-'Ah, ;
said he, 'the hour has come very we'll
NO, Pierre answered the sub officer;
ii is not yet the hour, but it will soon
strike
'And what do you want with me p
pierre, you do not know me, while l
know you well. l saw you at AusterIiiz
and you bore youiselflike brave man
From that day, Pierre, have felt for
you lively and sincere esteem. Hap
pening TO arrive at Strasburg yesterday,
j learned both your crime and your SEN
tence. As the iailor is relative, OBJ
tanned OF him permission to come IN TO see
and TO speak to you, Pierre. The man
sbout TO die often regrets that he has not
with him some friend TO whom he may
opep his bear, and impose upon him
some sacred duty to be discharged
Pierre. if you consent, will be that
friend
Thank ye, comrade,' said Pierre,
gruhly
Have you nothing to say to me =
"Noihing.'
'What, not one farewell TO your sweet
heart-your poor sister
'Sweet-heart and sister ] never had
eitheI.'
'For your father p
Il hare no father. Two months ago
he died in my arms
For your mother ::
For my mother y said Pierre, and
his voice underwent deep and sudden
change. 'For my mother All, COM.
rade, do not utter that name. assure
you | never hear it-I never whisper it
in nv heart without being moved to-
tears and at this momest it seems to me,
il ] should speak Of her
'Well, what ?
Il should ,cesp,and to weep is unmanly
TO weep, continued he, with increased
earnest ness, when l have only a few
hours to live, would be cowardly'
You are too severe, comrade | have
thank God, as much courage as any man,
and yet should not be ashamed to weep
in speaking Of my Mother
'You,' said Pierre. seizing earnestly
the hand Of the under officer, you are a
man, you are soldier, and you would
not blush TO weepP
In thinking of my mother No, GER
ianly not; she is so good, she loves me
so much and love her 50 much, too
'She loves you : You love her p
M thon-than I "a n 10 III vo,i every thino