Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1854-11-20
NUMBER Z.
a scENE IN A CoNscRIPTs LIFE.


A SCENE IN A CoNsCRIPTs LIFE.
The sergeant and the priest advanced; the two
friends embraced and kissed each other; Reaumer
retired TO spot where the other soldier was stand
ing and, kneelng on one knee, leant his face on
his hands, still convulsvely and unconsciously
grasping the spade, as II for support; the other
twelve men had formed a double line, about four
teen PAGES to the front of Jean, who was between
them and the embankment, his white-clothed fig
ure, thus set in relief by the dark ground beyond
presenting clear aim to their muskets. He knelt
down on his right knee, resting on the other his
left arm: he said in firm voice, ~ am ready"
| The priest was about to bind handkerchief about
his eyes; but he said, "No-I pray / may be
| spared that let me see my death; am not afraid
Of It," The priest, after consulting the sergeants
looks, withdrew the handkerchief Colon retired
| to the place where Reaumer and the other soldier
were; and the priest, after having received from
his penent the assurance that he died Gin charity
with all mankind" and having bestowed on him a
last benedicton, and laid on his lips the kiss of
Christian love, also retired on one side. Colon
gave the word Of command" Prepare, tho
twelve mrskets were brought forward" Present."
they were levced. The sergeant was raising his
cane the last signal to spare the victim even tie
short pang of hearing the fatal word, "Fire"
when Rolo, with loud yell, sprang to his mas
ter's side.
He had been startled from his slumbcr by the
roll of the drum and, looking up at what was 60
ing on, perceiving jean left kneeling all alone, and
all silent, except Reaumers, taintly-heard sobs,
his instinct seemed to tell him his master was in
some danger his whining was unheard, or un-
needed he felt this too, and ceased it, but made
desperate effort to break the rope that held him,
which, weakened as it was by his late gnawing and
tugging at II when In the outhouse at CharolIc,
| soon gave way, and as above mentioned he sprang
l wit n, vail In hto rto c1a n,,k r.. ",
thoughts at that moment were too seriously en-
gagged to heed even Rollo he only raised his right
arm, and gently put the dog aside, his own mild,
unfinching gaze still fixed on the soldiers before
him. But the dog was not checked by the move
ment Of his master; still whining, and with his
ears beseechingly laid back, he struggled hard to
get nearer to him. Colon felt for Jeans situation
and made sign to Reaumer (who, wondering az
| the pause since the last word of command, had
| raised his eyes, that he should try to coax the
dog off; he did SO by whistling and calling but of
course, quite in vain 1t win be at once seen that
though this has taken some time in the telling, all
that passed from the time Of Rollo's arrival was
| little more than the transaction of moment.
| Still it was delay; and the men we're ready to
fire; and Colon, not thinking the incident Of suf-
cient weight to authorize suspension OF the execu-
ton, however temporary, muttered, "Great pity
! the poor fellow will die, too" He turned his face
to his men and was again about to give the signal,
when he was second time interrupted by hearing
loud shouts from behind him, accompanied by the
discharge ofa park of cannon He glanced towards
the opposite hill at his back, whereon the village
stood, and there he saw all was confusion and bus
tle--oficers gallopng to and fro, and the men
forming hurriedly into line; he hastily gave the
word, "As you were !" for along line of road to
the northeast of the hill he saw thick cloud of
dust, from which quickly plunged out group Of
horscmen, evidently officers the foremost, not so
tall most of them nor 80 graceful rider as many
of them, though he sat firmly too, was recognised
by Colon and his men (ong before he was near
enough for them to distinguish single feature in
his ace by his grey frock coat and small fiat three
cornered cooked hat. Colon gave the word Of COM
mand the soldiers shouldered their muskets and
prepared to salute and, in another minute, Napo-
leon at the head Of his staff reincd up on the top
of the hill. lie had left the march of the grand
army some leagues behind and ridden on towards
Labarre, in order with his wonted watchfuness, to
take the detachment by surprise, and see what
they were about. His eagle eye, whose glance saw
everything like anothers gaze, had at once detect
ed the party on the hill, and he had ridden from
the road at full speed up the slope to discover what
| the object of the meeting was; gance, too, told
him that and while he was yet returning the salute
of the men and their sergeant, he said, in voice
painting after his hard gallop, "Hey! what's this
a desertionY"
lon"
"Not exactly! what theng" asked Napoleon, In
a rather peevish tone, his face assuming more than
its usual sternness for hardly anything more pro-
| yoked him than hesitation the part Of those he
| addressed.
"Absence against orders, SIRE" replied Colon.
| "Ahal for how longY Is that his dog"
| "Yes, sire only few hours"
a few hoursi Who gave this order, then y
aGeueral s. sire "
| "What character does the man bearf"
Gle IL brave man. sire"
"He Ia a Frenchman, retorted Napoleon, proud
| ly;n but is he honest and sober, aud generally
obedientY'
"Yes sire this IL his first fmltlr
Hem how long has he servedT
"Three years last March, sire"
A louder and higher toned "Heml" escaped Ma
| poleon; and his attention at the same moment
attracted by Reanmer, who, with timid STEP had
approached the Emperor; and, kneelng on one
knee, With clasped hands and broken voice, cried,
|" OH sire, if you-if you would spare his hfc--hc
is innocent of-any intention to desert-that
I" Are you his brother?" interrupted the Empe.
ror.
"No, sire" answered Reaumer-his friend--his
dear friend"
"And how know you what bis intentions
wcreg"
| He told them me, sire ; he only went last night
to see his friends, and would have returned the
same night, but that IL advised him TO meet the
regiment at Labarrc and know"
"And what business hadst thou 10 advise q CON-
rade in breach Of dutyy Standback to thy place"
And Reaumer retired covered with shame Ma
poleon beckoned Jean TO him. He came and Rol-
10 with him and the latter as though understand
ing the power and authority Of the man bis master
thus obeyed, put his forepaws against his strrup,
and whimpcred implonngly up to him. Jean
looked for moment in the Emperor's face but his
gaze dropped, though without quailing, beneath
that of the piercing large gray eyes that were fixed
on him. After short pause, Napoleon asked,
"Thinc agcy Lie down; down, good dog ~ for
Rolo was getting importunate.
twenty-five years, src,n jean answered.
"Why hast thou disobeyed orders 2"
~ could not help il, sire.n
Couldn't help IL How dost thou meanp