Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-12-18

tenders, cned, You see it is impossible
chose, for do not wish to be q subject
dscord between you. But will do bette
she hastened to add the war is about to b.
gin; tine little corporal has sworn that befol
d The end of the month he will enter Vienn
if 1t Is then at Vienna that will become I'll
i wife of him who, during the campaign, sha
u have performed the most brilliant action. M
!. :. heart, my life, the only treasures Of the poe
il orphan, shall belong TO him without division
= Let all 10 whom this decision is acceptabl
e touch that"-and she held out her littl
e white hand.
). AT these chiralrous words, thunder Q
r applause burst forth hands were shaken a
t round, and the corks sprung from the bottle
j; which had been brought for the occasion
! They drank to glory, and to love, henccfort
inseparable. At Vienna, the soldiers one
more shouted, and then separated.
, Three months after this scene, the Crane
! army made its triumphal entry into the capi
tai of Austria but the rs had paid will
blood lis prodigies of valor. The young
quarter-master, one of the ten lovers O
Constance, had both legs carried away bu
in falling beneath the eyes, and almost in the
arms Of the beautiful vivandierc, he had
erie (: "Of the nine lovers who remain foi
thee, eight will be more piticd than ], for
they will live" These simple words, CON-
prlsing whole drama of love, did not es-
cape the young girl She saw him safely of
the field and carried 10 the hospital.
a few days after that, a table for eleven
persons was spread in a little restaurant of
the taubourgs of Vienna. Faithful to her
engagements, Constance, more beautiful than
ever, from secret sadness, which vcilcd her
regard, had invited her lovers to meet her
there. She was the first to arrive and to
salute. with q tear, and regret, the unoccu-
pied place of the brother in arms who had
fallen in the battle. When the rest were as
sembled, they went over, together, the cpl
sodes OF the campaign,-so short, yet 80
glorious, and then they discussed their hopes
and the rights of each one to favors and re-
wards, for each thus hoped to rase himself
in the eyes of the young girl.
But spirit was wanting to the scene. Con-
stance had lost her gaiety, her repartees.
generally so lively, so jovia and SO quick,
languls'led, and were given slowly and with
difficulty. At last came the dessert. With
out waiting for the others to speak, Con-
stance, after having filled her glass, arose
!" Brothers" said she, "you are all young and
brilliant officers Of fhA-s-~------T''r~-'' .'t
the, ir.rr77.---~--geiT. Let us speak WIN
open hearts, what would be for you with
the title of wife, the poor uncducated young
girl? An obstacle to your fortune more
than this, humiliation and remorse.
have seen my mother weep, and remember
it, This haud, which you have done me the
honor to seek, give it to him who will have
need of it to sustain him, and perhaps to
earn his bread The choice of Constance is
We, an homage to the fraternity of arms, for
it fixes itself upon the most unfortunate
among you; let US drink then to the poor
mutia,ed comrade, extended on his bed OF
pain, at the hospital Of Vienna, where | am
going TO shut myself up, to die Sister OF
Charity. or TO leave it the wife of the wound
ed soldier"
She put her glass to her lips, but bending
under tho weight Of her emotions, tor III
this sublime decree she was pronouncing an
eternal separation from the regiment she
loved so well, she fell fanling in her chair.
Not'a single voice protested against her no
bic devotion sobs alone replied to her.
When she recovered her consciousness, she
found her nine lovers, their bayonets on
their shoulders ready to conduct her to the
hospital. Arrived there, she placed herself
by the bed side of the invalid soldier, and
renewed the VOW she had made at the res
taurant. Ten days afterwards letter with
the imperial seal was placed in the hands OF
the cy-vivandiere of the 10th. He OF the
eanle-eye, who knew how to find out and re.
ward every virtue, endowed the young girl
with an annuity of 1900 francs, reversible to
her children, for, said the latter, you deserve
TO be mother"
Five months later Constance left the hos
pital the wife of the mutilated quarter-mas.
ter, and during the eleven years they lveo
together, she never had cause to regret the
choice she had made. Her ancient lovers
often came to see her, and though they nae
become officers and had nearly all marrlee
rich wives and lived in luxury, they spen
MANY pleasant hour in the vivandleres cot
tane. The nine became each in his turn
godfather to the nine children OF whom
Constance bccame the happy mother, a
last her husband died, blessing her with hi
last breath: then one after the other ne
, children passed away, also. Two died figt
, inc for their country. Three, two dangh
tiers and a son, were killed by dreadful
railroad accident, which occurred som
5 twelve years ago, and within two years alter
. wards, the unfortunate mother buried he
] other four, and WAS thus left alone upon ID
I! earth. But her noble courage did not toI
sake her She turned her thoughts to Goe
and gave her occupations to the poo, an
!" sick. 1t was principally among the soldier
!" that she exercised the most good, and with
G the last few years. her little house in the fal
bourg Mont-martre had become averitab
!. private military hospital. Here many poe
!, soldier without parents, friends, or none
a came to receive the mothcrly cares al
y counsels Of widow Constance. She pr
If served all her faculties to the last, and dIt
:" as beautifully as she had lived, leaving h
:, annuity to her "childrcn," the sick soldiers
"a "a the French army.
= "A man on being told by generous farm
= that he would give him barrel OF cid'
\ L