Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1852-05-15

at that very moment when his regiment
was 10 meet the enemy face TO face. The
court presented singular spectacle. Or
the one side stood forth the accuSer, who
cried:
"Pierre Ptois, you, one of the braves,
men in the army you on whose breas
the star of honor yet glitters; you, who
never incurred either punishment or even
censure from your officers; you could moi
have quilted your regiment-qutted it al
most on the eve of without some
powerful motive TO impel you, This mo-
tive the court demands Of you for it would
gladly have it in its power-if not to ac-
quit you, which it ought not, perhaps, ei-
ther TO do or to desire-at least 10 recon-
mend you to the Emperor's mercy"
On the other side stood the accused, who
answered
81 have deserted without any reason,
without any motive: il it were TO do again,
would do it again. / deserve death
pass sentence"
And then came some witnesses who de-
posed
"Pierre PitoS is deserter. We know
it is fact, but we do not believe it,"
And others averred-
"Pierre Pitos is mad the court cannot
condemn a madnan. He must be senten-
ced, then, not to death, but to the lunatic
asylum"
This alternative had very nearly been
adopted, for there was not one person 10
the court who did not consider the descr-
ton of Pierre Pitos as one of those singu-
lar occurrences beyond the range of human
possibilities, which every one is forced to
admit as fact, no one can account for, or
comprehend. The accused, however, plead
ed guilty most positively, and was most
pertinacious in his demand Tor the just pen
atty of the law to be inflicted on him. He
so boldly and fearlessly avowed his crime,
continually repeating that he did not regret
it, that at length his tirmness assumed the
character of a bravado, and left no room for
clemency. Sentence of death was there
fore pronounced.
Pierre Pitois heard his sentence read
with the utmost unhinching gaze. They
warmly urged him to plead for mercy, but
he refused. As every one guessed that at
the bottom OF this affair there was some
strange mystery, it was determined that the
execution of Pierre should be delayed.
He was carried back to the military pris-
on, and it was announced to him that, as a
mark of special favor, he had three days
given him to press for pardon. He Shrug-
ged his shoulders and made no reply.
In the middle of that nj ght on which
was to dawn the day fixed for the eXecu-
ton, the door of Pierre'S dungeon turned
softly on its hinges, and suba;ern officer
advanced TO the side of the camp-bed in
which the condemned was TRANQUILITY
sleeping, and after gazing on him some
time in silence, awoke him.
Pierre opened his eyes, and staring about
him, said: "The hour, then, is at last
| come"
"No, Pierre" replied the officer, sit i;
not yet the hour, but it will soon come"
Sand what do you want with me unit
then 2"
"DoSt thou not know me, Pierre? Nc
matter-l know the well. ! saw thee a,
Austerlitz-and bravely didst thou beal
thyset. From that day, Pierre, have hac
for thee regard no less warm than sin.
cere. Yesterday, or my arrival at Stras'
burg, learned thy crime and condemna.
ton. / have prevailed on the gaoler, who
is a relation Of mine, TO allow me to see
thee. And now that | have come, | woult
say 10 thee Pierre, it is often a sad thought
for man about to die that thee has not {
friend near him to whom he might oper
his heart, and intrust with some sacred com
mission TO discharge when he should be NJ
more. If thou witt accept me, | will be to
thee that friend"
81 thank you, comrade," replied Pierre
"Why! hast thou nothing TO say to me q
"Nothing."
"What not one word OF adeu to Thy
sweetheart ito thy sister!"
"A sweetheart! a sister! ! never hat
either"
"To thy father!"
"He is no more. Two years ago he die'
in my arms"
"Thy mother, then 2"
"My mother l"-and Pierre, whose voic
suddenly and totally changed, repeated
"my mother! All, comrade do rot ute
that name, for have never heard tina
name-I have never said it my heart
without feeling melted like child an
even now, methnks, if were TO spea
her -o
"What then"
"The tears would come-and tears woul
not become man. Tears" con
tinued he-"tears when / have but fe,
hours to live All there would not b
much courage in that !"
"Thou art too stern, comrade. / thin
| have, thank God, as much courage a
other people and yet / would not b
ashamed OF weeping, were | to speak {
my mother"
: "Are you serious ?" said Pierre. eagerl
seiziug the officers hand. "You, a ma
and soldier, and not ashamed to weep
: "When speaking of my mother? CeI
tainly not My mother is SO good, SO kin,
she loves me much; and /, too, love h,
dearly"
"She loves you and you love her ?
On! then may, indeed, tell you all. M
: heart is full-it must have vent; and, hov
s ever strange my feelings appear TO you,
am sure you will not laugh at them. Ii
h ten, then; for what you said jus. now