Polynesian., 1844-12-14

was bent double in the midst of the straw, so
that only her two knees were seen out Of it,
on which she was playing dominoes all by
herself. She looked at us for a moment,
trembled for a long time, smiled a little at
me, and went on with her game. She SEEM
ed to be trying how her right hand could
beat her left.
"You see, she has been playing that game
for a month, " said the chef de battalion, "to-
morrow it will, perhaps, be another game,
which will last a long time. It's queer, ell ?"
AT the sam time he set about arranging
the oil-cloth of his shake, which the rain
had somewhat disordercd.
"Poor Laurctte :" said l, "ah, you have
lost the game forever !"
l neared my horse to the wagon, and
stretched out my hand to her; she gave me
hers mechanically, and smiled with a great
deal of sweetness. | observed with surprise
two diamond rings on her long, thin fingers.
| supposed they were still her mothers rings,
and wondered how their poverty had leA
them there. For the world | would not have
made a remark upon it to the old comman-
dant, but as he followed my eyes, and saw
them fixed on Laurette's fingers, he said,
with a certain air of pride:
"They are pretty large diamonds, are
they not /? They might bring a good price,
if necessary. But | was never willing that
she should part from them, poor child =
If you but touch them she weeps; and she
never leaves them off. Otherwise she never
complains; and now and then she can sew.
l have kept my word to her poor young hus-
band; and, to tell the truth, l have never
repented it. | have never left her, and have
always said she was my crazy daughter.
AS such she has always been respected.
These things are managed better in the army
than they imagine in Paris. She went thro'
all the wars Of the Emperor with me, and l
have always kept her out of harms way.
She has always been kept warm; with straw
and a little wagon that is never impossible.
She has had pretty comfortable things about
her; and as / was a chef-de-baiaillon, with
good pay, my legion of honor pension, and
the Napoleon month, the pay of which was
double in those times, | was always we'll off,
and she gave me no trouble. On the con-
trary her pretty childish ways often amused
the officers Of the light 7th."
He then approached her, and slapped her
gently on the shoulder, as he would have
done to his little mule.
"Well, now my daughter, talk a little
W SNS OObLiS Y . SCC"o ~
sign Of the head
She busted herself anew with her domi-
noes.
"Oh !" said he, "she is a little cross to-
day, because it rains. However, she never
takes cold. Crazy people never get sick,
you know;-it is very convenient in that
the retreat from Moscow, she went bare
h..l,l T>,,o r,, I.on ,hll ,lr,, 49,
play on-dont let us disturb you; take your
W way, then, Laurette."
She took hold of the coarse, black hand,
which he rested on her shoulder, and car
ricd it timidly to her lips, like a poor slave.
| felt my heart sink at that kiss, and turned
my bride quickly away.
"Shall We not resume our march, com-
mandant;" said |, cit will be night before
we reach Bfthune."
The commandment carefully scrapcd the
mud from his boots with the end of his
sword; he then mounted on the step Of the
wagon, drew forward over Laurette's head
the hood of a little cloak she had on, took
off his own black silk %cravat, and put it
round the neck of his adopted daughter;
after which, he gave kick to his mule, and
saying,-"Get along, you lazy beast - we
continued our journey.
The rain was still falling gloomily; we
found on the road only dead horses, aban-
doned, with their saddles. The grey sky
and grey earth stretched out without end;
a sort of dead light, a pale wet sun was
sinking behind some large windmilIs, which
did not turn, and we fell back into n long
silence.
| looked at the old commandment he
walked on with long strides and untiring
energy, whilst his mule could hardly keep
along, and even my horse began to droop his