The Van Buren press., 1859-09-14

had already become accustomed. that had
not the wary officer struck it aside with his
sword, it must have felled him to the earth.
1t was his closing effort, however; /; in the
next instant he fell, and the apartment was
invaded by the French soldiery.
Major L., who had never during his
ID years of military service, given quarter
to an enemy, was already advancing to-
ward the veteran to complete the work of
blood, when a young and beautiful woman
rushed out of a neighboring chamber, and
falling at his feet, and clinging to his
knees, pale, disheveled, writhing and al
most insane, shrieked out in voice of ter
ror and despair, from which all the tender
ness of the woman and the wife had disap-
peared:
Mercy Mercy! Do not kill him -
He is my husband, and father of my child !!
The Republican officer looked down upon
her without pity or emotion.
Whist had he to do with the agonies and
thrust her violently from him, and taking
one step forward, had fred his pistol at the
head of the gray haired veteran.
George, my child, where are you? Your
mother calls you. Come
At the well known voice. lovely boy,
scarcely three of age, who, as he saw his ia
ther fall, had concealed himself, pale and
trembling, beneath the fathers bed, ap-
preached his mother, and having reached
her side, buried his face in the folds of her
dress, so as to shut out the frightful scene
around him. But frenzied by despair, she
plueked him from his new hiding place, and
leading him to Major l., said in tone
as hard and emotionless as though it had
proceeded from lips of stone:
Coward your work is not yet done !;
you have still his son to murder!'
At this moment loud accIamations were
heard from without, and French general,
surrounded by a group of officers, appeared
upon the threshold of the blood stained a.
partment.
Major l. turned pale as their eyes
met; but the young widow suddenly in
spired, rushed towards the new conner, ex-
claiming:
Revenge him-revenge mel
'Calm yourself, madam said the gener-
al in accents so low and gentle that it thrill
ed every heart must understand what has
taken place before can pledge myself to
anything War is fearful ordeal for wo-
man, and doubly so for one so young and
helpless as yourself
He had hardly ceased speaking, however,
when heavy frown gathered on his brow,
and a dark light shone in his eyes. All he
saw revealed the truth at once the disfig-
ured corpse, with its white hairs dabbled
in blood-the frantic woman, careless of all
the conventionalities of her sex, though
surrounded by horde of ruthless soldiery'
the child, pale but fearless, calling on his
father to awake from the dreamless sleep
from which there is no waking upon this
earth. After one rapid, eagle-like glance,
he understood all and at once felt that
there was room neither for doubt or justifi-
cation His eyes flashed as he crushed his
glove in his clasped fingers, and turned alb
rubtly toward the murderer, who stood be-
fore him trembling, stupefed, stammering
out few incoherent words Of explanation
and excuse. ~.
"You are a coward, sir ~ he exclaimed
vehemently. "YOu have assassinated a
wounded and defenccless mana brave SOL
dier, in the presence of his wife, who cried
to you for mercy. 1t was the action of
felon" Ii
General - gaspcd the Major, who
felt that he was lost.
"Can you deny the charge have brought
against you? Can you produce one wit
ness to it, that l have accused you wrong
fully? Oh, do sir; do it that may be
spared the shame of knowing that muir
derer has for fifteen years been sheltered be-
meath the flag of France.
General, 1 was ordered to perform my
duty in the face of the enemy, and have
performed it. He would have taken my
life, and have taken his. The game was
an even one"
'Silence, sir, silence ~ was the stern re-
ply; "a fallen foe should be as sacred as
friend. Face to face, and foot to foot eve
ry loyal soldier should meet his foe but to
shoot down an unarmed man, to murder in
cold blood one who is in incapable of resist
ance. Bah! it is sickening. You are no
longer worthy to serve the republic; nor
shall you do so another hour. Deliver up
to me upon the instant your epaulettes, and
your decoration. From this moment you
cease to belong to the twenty-second demi-
brigade you cease to belong to the army
of Italy"
The Major looked up haughtily.
General" he exclaimed steadily, but
with the concentrated emotion of one who
was yielding up the better portion of his ex-
istence, g here are my cross and sword. /
now demand court martial"
You shall have one, sir, you shall have
one. and no later than to morrow" was the
rejoinder. Then turning toward the off,
GERS, who remained silent spectators of this
exciting scene. thp general approached the
corpse of the Austrian veteran. and remov-
ing his hat. said solemnly. follow my ex-
ample, gentlemen-too much honor can
never be paid to the fallen brave
During the remainder of this frightful
day. the young widow becamea prey to the
most agonizing despair. After having seen
her husband laid in his grave will all the
the impressive ceremonies of asmilitary fu-
neral, the unfortunate woman, who hAd lost
all in one hour, all that she had loved on
earth except her child. fell into perfect
state Of apsthy-that apathy alike Of soul
and body, which is not terror. which is not
madness, but the utter apathy Of despair.
Not even the tears or caresses Of her son,
the idol of her material heart, could arouse