Quasqueton guardian. (Quasqueton, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1856-1858, 1857-10-08

you have not even heard me-
Indeed, captain, heard every word
and | thank You with all my heart fo
your news, which consider very good
thought you would said the off
Ger. s.
But, captain, is there no chance O.
obtaining the leave of absence p .A
Are you mad ?'was the reply. Leave
OF absence the very day before taking thu
field . 'O''' s
- 1 never thought of that, said Pierre
We are then on the point of taking the
held, and at such time, suppose, leave
is not given POI 400
1t is never even asked 81.
1t is quite right--it is never even
asked. 1t would have the appearance Of
cowardice. Well, then, l will not press
it any more l will try and get on with
out it,
And you will do WE'LL replied the
captain, 80 d .-aa Il e o uolI
The next day the twelfth regiment
entered Germany, and the next-Pierre
Pitois deserted 4 - aaa 1a
Three months after, when the twelfth
regiment, having feaped in the field of
battle an abundant harvest of glory. was
making It's triumphal entry into Stras-
burti, Pierre Pitois was ANONYMOUSLY
dragged back to his corps by a brigade
of gendarmes, ..a.
A court-martial was immediately call
ed. Pierre Pitois was accused of having
deserted at that very moment when his
regiment was to meet the enemy face to.
face. On the other, side stood forth the
accuser, who cried, Pierre Pitois, YOU
one of the bravest men in the army, You
on whose breast the star of honor vet
glitters you, who never incurred either
Punishmentor censure from your officers,
You could not have quilted your regi-
ment--quitted it almost on the eve of
battle-without some powerful motive to
Impel you! This motive the court de-
mands of you, for it would gladly haven't
IN Its Power-if not to acquit you, which
1t ought not perhaps either do or desire |
lat least to recommend you to the En-
peror's mercy On the other side stood
the accused have deserted without any
reason, without any motive: do not
raraa,t IL :. -.-~--.o az s'S".n., a "v"iu
do it again. II deserve death, pass the |
aia .'E
Pierre Pitois heard the sentence read
with unhinching nerve. He was warmly
urged to plead for mercy, but he refused.
AS every one guessed that at the bottom
of this affair there was some strange mys
terry, it was determined that the execution
of Pierre should be delayed. He was
carried back to the military prison, and
it was announced to him, that as a mark
of special favor, he had three days given
to him to press for pardon. Heshrugged
his shoulders, and made no reply.
LII the middle of that night on which
was to dawn the day fixed for his execu-
tion,l the door of Pierre's dungeon turned
softly on its hinges, and a subaltern Off
cea advanced to the side of the mp-bed
in which the condemned was TRANQUILITY
sleeping, and after gazing on him some
time in silence he awoke him.
Pierre opened his eyes, and staring
about him, said T.: the hour, then, is at
last come a5I. SIS 9s ii.
No, Pierre, replied the officer, but it
will soon come go .ts4
And what want you with me until
then ? u.gau las sia.aa
Dost thou not know me, Pierre No
matter, know thee we'll | saw thee at
Austerlitz-and bravely did'st thou bear
myself From that day, Pierre, | have
had a regard for thee no less warm than
sincere. Yesterday, on my arrival at
Strasburg, learned thy crime and con-
domination. | have prevailed on the
goaler, who is relation Of mine, to al
low me to see thee And now that have
come | would say to thee, Pierre, it is
often a sad thought for man about to die,
that he has not a friend near him to whom
he might open his heart and intrust with
some secret commission to discharge
when he should be no more. If thou
wilt accept me, / will be to thee that
friend 45
Il thank you, comrade. replied Pierre.
n why, hast thou nothing to say to me-?
Nothing o
What not one word Of adieu to thy
sweet heart-to thy sister p
A sweetheart? sister? l never had
either.'i4 ll60is ae1l i5riph ~