The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-08-27
tflis1cllanfous department.
II Is ].


The prettiest girl in the whole village, or in.
She had hundred lovers, all of whom express
ed themselves ready to die for her; though she,
cruel thing, would not give more than a smile
in return. Her heart was free she said, and
hoped it would ever be; she had no notion of
making herself u slave by marrying.
So spoke Nannette, Just as hundreds have
spoken before her. and she really believed for
Il while all :ha said. No foot was lighter ut
the guinsaei!c than hers; no jest was mcrrier
than that which fell from Nannette no maiden
curled her lip more saucily when her name was
And yet, all this while, she WAS in love with
Pierre Latour, the handsomest, bravest and
blthest of the village lads. She found it out
too, but not till he was levied for the conscrp-
ton, when the certainty of his long absence,
aud the probability that he might never return,
reveal d % her the secret,
Poor Pierre loved her as his own lie and
now,' on the cave of leaving her, uncertain
whether she returned his love, he was nearly
beside himself with despair. He rallied cour.
are, however, aud resolved to tell his tale, for
dffidence hitherto had sealed his tongue, though
his eyes had long since spoken his alteration in
more eloquent language. He found Nannctte
in tears. twas an u guarded moment for her,
and Pierre had no difficulty in winning an ac.
acknowledgements that she returned his affection.
"And will you be mine when return Pro-
mise me this he said, 'and will strive to be-
come great, aud will win, if bravery can do it,
Il, o.,c, Of 40 I orr;n, IF Honorp
Nannette promised-how could she hclpit ?
and the young soldier departed. The secret
was to be kept between them, so the villagers
were none the wiser; and, as Nannette seemed
as gay as ever, no one ever suspected that her
heart was far away in Russia, whittier the I'm
perial army had gone.
But this secresy proved most unfortunate for
the yonng men, ignorant Of her engagement,
were attentive .as, ever; indeed more so, for she
grew prettier daAy. Pierre, even before the
army had reached the frontiers, heard from
those who had left the village later than him.
self, that this or that gallant was always with
Nannette, and the gossips said it would be IL
match. How could he help being little ieal-
Gus? And when, later by six months, and just
before the Russian territory was invaded, he
met an old acquaintance from the village, and
heard that the son of the rich notary was dying
for her, is it strange he began to fear he would
loose his beautiful Nannette? He had heard so
much of woman's Inconsistency, especially when
young and wealthy suitor was the rival, that
he trembled for her fidelity.
All know the horrors of the campaign in
Russia OF the half million who followed Ma
poleon into the hostile territory not tthe came
back alive Yet he almost wished he had per-
iseg in the fatal SHOWS, for he had lost an arm
and that, too. without gaining the cross of the
Legion of Honor. Not that he did not deserve
it; but in that awful retreat. there was no time
for the Emperor to think of bestowiug iavurs.
Slowly, and almost in rags, like thousands
Of others, Latour begged his way back to his
native village.
1t was bright morning in autumn, more
than year after Latours departure, when one
of the village gossips stopped minute at the
window of the cottage, where Nannette and
her mother dwelt