The Sierra citizen., 1854-07-15
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! NC UEOheu.
ltisI. M
The prettiest girl in the whole village,
or indeed four miles around. was Nanette
La Croix. She had hundred lovers, all
OF whom expressed themselves ready to
die for her, taou sh she, cruel thing. would
not give more than smile in return. =
Her heart was free, she said, and hoped it
ever would be; she had no notion of ma
King herself slave by marrying.
Sospake Nanette, just as hundreds have
spoken before her, and she really believed
for a while all she said. No foot was
lighter at the ginsuette than hers; no jest
was merrier than that which fell from
Nanette; no maiden curled her lip more
saucily when her name was linked with
that OF any of the beaux. And yet, all
this while, she was in love with Pierre
Latour, the handsomest, bravest and
blithest Of the village lads. She found it
out, too, not until he was levied for the
CONSUMPTION; when the certainty of his
long absence, and the probability that he
might never return, revealed to her the
secret.
Poor Pierre loved her as his own life,
and now, on the eve Of his leaving her,
uncertain whether she returned his love,
Was nearly beside himself with despair. =
He rallied coura re. however, and resolved
to tell his tale, for diiTilence hitilerto had
scaled his tongue; thong his eye had long
spoken his alteration in more eloquel
language. He found Nanette in tears
1t was an unyuarded m)m.nt for her, and
Pierre had no difficulty in winning an ac-
knowled sm-nt that sac returned his aiftc-
ton.
"And You will be mine when return !!
Promise me this::' he said, land | viii.
strive to become great. and will win if
bravery can do it, the Cross of the Legion
Q
OF Honor"
Nanette missed; how could she help
it? and the young soldier departed TIL
secret was to be kept between them, so tn.
villagers were none the wiser; and as
Nanette seemed as gay as ever, no one
suspected that her heart was far away in
Russia, whittier the Imperial army hal
gone.
But this ecstacy proved most unfortu-
nate, for the young men. ignorant of her
engagements, were as attentive as ever;
indeed more so, for she grew prettier daily.
Pierre, even before the army had reached
the frontier, heard from those who had
left the village later than himself, that this
or that gallant was always with Nanette,
and the gossip said that it would be
match. How could he help being little
jealous? 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
that he began to fear he would yet lose
his beautiful Nanette! He had heard SO
much of womah's Inconsistency, especially
when young and wealthy suitor was the
rival, that he trembled for her fidelity.
All the horror of that campaign in
Russia. Of the half million that followed
Napoleon into the hostile territory not
1.-THE came back. Of these, however, La
tour was one: Yet he almost wished he
had persisted in the fatal SHOWS, for he had
lost an arm, and that. too, without gaining
the Legion Of Honor. Net that he did
not deserve it, but in that awftfl retreat
there was no time for the Emperor to
think OF bestowing favors. 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 Latour's departure.
when one Of The village gossips stopped q
minute at the window OF the cottage where
Nanette and her mother dwelt.
"Who do you think has come back1'
she said. "Latour himself. He arrived
yesterday"