Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1857-09-03

anu Olttef was her penltenc6 1Or every f0ii'
which had looked so little till seen under tn
shadow Of death. She felt that she could NEE
her fate more calmly if she could have said on
word to Victor-but whore was he 7 sudden
and more violent movement of the house, con
WINGED her that the time was short, aud shuttin,
her eyes she knelt down and commended hersel
to God.
A strong hand laid upon her shoulder Gale,
her back to life, and starting up, she saw he
lover standing in the boat, keeping il close Il
the window by leaning his whole weight upon
the sill.
.'Quick, quick = cried he "jump into tht
boat God grant that it may not be too ate!'
She sprang lightly down; Victor pushed away
from the house ; the boatmen, who were watch
ing the scene with breathless attention, tighten
ed the rope, and drew them rapidly back.
Scarcely were they at safe distance, whel
the whole building fell with terrible crash, ant
confused heaps of timbers and bricks, rounC
! which the water Kissed and toamed, were al
the remains of what had so lately been her home
Catharine shuddered and hid her face. Victor
who till this instant had been silent. his com
pressed lips and frowning brow alone testifyng
his deep anxiety exclaimed
. Thank God we are safe ~
They We're drawn to the bank, and landed
amidst the cheers of the spectators. When NJ
Lubin saw that Catharine was out of danger
saved by his hated rival he pulled his hat over
| his brows, and spurred his horse away from the
spot
Victor, having thanked the boatmen warmly
for their sympathy and help, took the poor girl
upon his arm, and winding his way by the more
protected streets of Les Brotteaux, got safe
across one of the bridges which yet remained
unhooded
But danger still held her naked sword above
their heads Now they were obliged to fly from
falling houses. as they passed in boat through
some of the flooded streets Then, as they pur-
sued their way on foot, they met fierce current
forcing its way in new channel. Now they
had to thread n terror stricken crowd, so dense
and reck less that it required all Victor's strength
to guard his companion from being crushed
Misery and confusion were on every side-mu-
tilated sufferers were being carried on stretchers
to the hospital, and sounds fgrief and wild des
pair rang in their ears
At last, weary, faint and drenched, Victor led
the poor girl to her aunt's house, and without
waiting to allow her to speak one word of the
love and gratitude which her full heart was
struggling TO express, he left her. And so the
cloud rested between them.
Pierre welcomed his daughter with deep emo
ton; he had scarcely hoped to her again,
and received her almost one given him back
from the dead His leg had been set, and Cath
airline found HIM as comfortable as under the cir
cumstances could be expected. Again and again
ne iltlc tl itlttS tiiC VI liCi iNNCNS' anu
the warm praises he uttered OF Nictor's bravery
were as music to her ears.
The young soldier had gone at once to his
mothers home, to relieve her fears, and get
some necessary food, but he would not stay to
rest
Il No, mother" said he, " have saved Cath
arine, and her life has been granted to our pray
ers; there are thousands of helpless women and
children in danger and distress, and in very
gratitude l must 60 and do my best to succor
them"
Three days and nights did he labor among the
suffering population OF his native city. Where
danger was the greatest and misery the deepest,
there was Victor, battling with the floods, help
ing those who seemed to have none to help them;
cheering the fearful, REFRESHING tho selfish. And
awful were the scenes through wi ich he passed
streets in the most densely populated arts OF
Lyons were flo Ndcd, and in many instances the
houses washed down, oftentimes carrying in
heg.~ruins their wretched inhabitants. -
Boats containing the rescued were dashed tol
pieces by the debris which were carried about
by the raging waters; and those who had just
beOan TO taste the sweetness of hope, We're, with
heart rondinc shrieks, hurried to their death
Cemeteries were flooded, and the graves torn
up gave forth their dead, whose bodies, in every
STAGE ofdecav Hoated in CHASTITY gulse upon the
face of the waters Even with the blessed con-
seriousness of doing his best to lessen the suffer
He had not slept the whole time he only oc- |
casionallv ran home to assure his anxious moth |
er ofhis safety, and take some necessary food
But the fourth evening he walked YEARLY in.
.Mother, dear, ought to be proud and hap
nv. but somehow" said he, putting his hand 10 |
his head, " do not seem to care TOR anything.
The emperor has been down to Lyons had
lust been getting some poor women out OF tot
ferinr house when | was called by agentIeman, |
Jclz t,o | 4gHn1
the presence of his Majesty, who was standing
in the midst of the floods halt way up to his |
waist in water, and by his side was my COM
manding officer, and he spoke few words to |
the Emperor; and then his majesty called me
to him, and decorated me with the Cross of the |
Legion of Honor for what he called my gallant |
nv in saving the iH0Rd{S Suffering from an in |
undation) And he farther said, that, hearing |
of my conduct at the Malakoff, ne would give me
a commission and so your son, dearest mother, |
will be Iieutrnant Chapereau," said he, smil- |
ing; but somehow, do not seem to care for
1t as much as | ought to do. My head is SO
bad, addedhe, throwing himself on the ground, |
and laying his head in his mothers lap, " feel
as if / had no strength left.
She put her hand upon his head-it was burn
ing hot; and she felt his pulso-it was beating
wildly. She saw at once what was the matter
over fatigue, sorrow of mind, the dreadful
scenes he had passed through, and The constant
exposure to wet and cold, had been too much for
him to bear; and her gallant son-her only
stricken with deadly fever.
When Cafharine called an hour afterwards |
she found the anxious mother listening to the
minute directions Of physician, who said it was |
? very serious case. Though JEANNE was rath. |
err disposed to he angry with her, the sight Of
Carharine's misery. when she heard Of Nictors |
Illness and found that he was already uncon- |!
scious. touched her heart and Of her own ac- !
L - Fl to C.,I l11,,
her to nurse him, knowing that j: was what she |
was longing TO do. Catharine thankfully agreed |
10 do So and went home TO tell her father Of this
new call upon her time. He was progressing |
tavorably was in no danger, and having his sis
ter to wait upon him, he warmly approved of
his daughters going to nurse her brave preser-
YER
1t is very sad to watch by the sick bed of a
man in the prime of youth and strength-to see
the body heipless as little chiid-the hands !
vainIy endeavoring to grasp anything-the rest |
less head that losses from side to side the |
marched Inns. But it is sadder far when the pa
;ent is one whom we love best upon Garth |
when on the issue depends our happiness or our
bitterest sorrow Very silent was that sick !
room-few were their words, but constant were
their PRAYERS By turns, JEANNE and Catha-
rine sat up ut night and it was a slight conso-
aton 10 the latter to try by every loving care to
l-aden the bitter thoughts which were throng- |
inc in her mind, and which. when she feared he
might die without hearing her confession of fol-
Iy, and speaking one word Of forgi, eness, were
well nigh insupportable. Day succeeded day,
and still the unconscious invalid tossed to and
fro. every hour becoming weaker; yet the fever
Gid not abate.
At last the night of the crisis came. Victor
had fallen into a heavy sleep-that sleep which
when ended, might reveal the worst. Catharine
had retired from the bed, lest, on first a,yaking
the sight of her might siarte him: JEANNE
knelt by her son. As the morning dawued he
opened his eyes and said, Mother, where am Il
Oh the Joy of that voice II was his own
accent. though weak and trembling. She. gave
linn some nourishment, and with few loving