Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1850-09-18

Francois should find her still spins.er, and
very much a, his service.
"Bu,. if lose limb 20 said francois.
"Beleve, shall not love you less" re-
Piled Marie,e.
They par.ed-and, first to follow the lady
Maret,e wept great deal, but soon af'eI-
wards she appeared calm again, went about
her usual work sang her songs, danced al the
village fete, talked with the takers, laughed
with the gay, and won the hearts of all the
youths in the place, by her unadorned
beauty and native grace. But, still francois
was no, forgotten end when several came,
different times, to ask her in marriage, the
good dame, her mother, referred them dl-
rectly to MaIiette. who bad always her an
swer ready, sen. them away, refused but OF
offended At length good old Monsieur
La,oussefort presented himself. with all his
money bags, declaring that his only wish
was to enrich his gentle Mariette; but she
was steady, and so touching did she talk to
him about her poor Francois, that the old
man went away with tears in his eyes,
Six months afterwards he died, when to the
wonder of the whole place, he left his large
fortune 10 Marie,e Duvsl
Meanwhile, Francois, from light hand
some conscrip,, became u brave steady SOL
der. Attached to the great N or.hern army,
he underwent all the hardships Of the cam
paigns in Poland and Russia, but still he
never los. his cbeerfnlness, for the thought
Of Mariette kept his heart warm, and even
Russian winter could not freeze him. All
through that miserable re,rea. he made the
best Of everything. As long as he had a
good tender piece of saddle. he did not wan,
dinner. and when he met with comfort
able dead horse TO creep into, he found
board and lodg ing combined. His courage
and his powers Of endurance called upon
him, from the first. the eyes Of one, whose
bes. quality was the impar,slity of his re-
compense. Francois was rewarded as well
as he could be rewarded; but at length. in
one Of those unfortunate battles, by which
| Napoleon strove in vain TO retrieve his for
tunes, the young soldier, in the midst of his
gallant daring, was desperately wounded in
the arm.
Pass VIC over the rest! Mulila!ed, sick,
weary, ragged, Francois approached his ma
tive valley and, doubtful ofhis reception
WI tHiSc'y "ohCo "dh oI1dhtb' 'PCS-uC
| sought the cottage Of Madame Duval. The
cottage was gone; and on inquiring for
Madame Duval he was directed TO fine
farm house by the banks Of the stream. He
thought there must be some mistake but
yet he dragged his weary limbs ,hilher and
knocked timidly against the door.
"Entrez,' cried the exceedingly good hu-
mored voice of the old dame. Francois
entered, and unbidden, toltered 10 chair.
Madame Duval gazed for moment, and
then rushing 10 the stairs, called loudly,
Come down, Marielle come down, here is
Francois reiurnedn'
Like lightning, Marieue darted down the
stairs, saw the soldiers old grea. coat, and
flew towards it-slopped-gazed on his
haggard face, empty sleeves and gasping.
fixed her eyes upon his coun,enance. Twas
for moment she gazed on him thus in 81
lence bu! there was no forge,fulness, nor
coldness, nor pride about her hearl-lhere
was sorrow and joy, and love and memory
in her very glance. "Oh Francois ! Fran
co.'s % called she at length, casting her arms
round his neck, show thou has, suffered -
AS she did so, the old great coat fell back
and on his breas, appeared the golden cross
Of the Legion of Honor. N'importe cried
she, as she saw it, 'sVoila la recompence"
He pressed her fondly TO his bosom. "My
recompence is here ~ cried he, my recon-
pence is here!'