Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1859-07-28

lrfs hVriilnS, ilc las ohil pa! Gu Won Win us
until now.'
"The dcyiI,-what weather." growlcd Roscn,
wrapping himself closer in his fur cloak cit laws
4 hcldof fellow like thcpa ola grizzly bearr'.
al ',Wc must keep close together, fricndsr' sud
Larush: Gin this hive one may easily be scparat-
ed.''
Thus after stumbling over many that were lying
on the ground and groaning pitcously, we reached
the open air The snow creaked crisp under our
feet the air seemed to be impregnated with nee
dies, which, in breathing, struck painfully on the
lungs Eyes lips, and cheeks began to tinglc and
smart the moment they came in contact with the
wind. Drums were beating with hollow sound,
sumnoning the troops for the march, i<hft
l5nA majestic figure stood upon an em;ncncc, COW
cred wtha fur cloak. yet beating his arms to keep
himself warm. 1t was Marshal Davoust. In a
loud voice he cried, "This way-frs div .sion--this
way.' A small number dilatorily assembled a
round him-tle residue of his entire corps, having
been lost in dangers iniIumcrable 5y this hardened
and perscverng soldier, whom no suffering OF per-
il could force to relinqush hope, so long as it slc
pended on the laws of discipline or order. At the
head of his men he proceeded on foot, sharing
cry fatigue with the soldier and every comfort with
the officers. to which his rank entised him, even
in these levelng times. W. had foi tunlt.Iy found
shelter for the few horses that yet remained, but
for which many Of them had died from the cold
Thus We were once more some on foot, and some on
horseback. on ourway; VIC heard nothing but the
sharp crisringpfthc snow the dull rumbling of the
tlleryand the hollow groans oftlose who, with death
c,urs;ng IN their cengealed veins, fell 10 rise no
morc- Thosc unfortum,tcs were seen tottering and
4 staggering about like drunken men; then sinking
down on their knees, the parllyzed tcndons OF which
refused any longer to sustain them. Others laugh
cd ike naniacs at the sight ofmisery around them
and shouted mocking, dcnoniac f.rew ell to those
who foil. Ii was only noblcr and more heroic M
tures that preserved a manly composurc- Larush
maintained his equanimty. His horse, which he
had been leading by the bride. sunk from cold and
exhaustion. He took the pistols out the holsters.
and ndconrinucd on his way as ifnothing had happen
ed Myself ard Rosen, who were on foot, leading
our horses also, in vain urged him to make use of
ours. He refused.
Rosen, however, unslung the valisc, which La
rush going leave with the saddle and buckled
1t fast to his own. A STRIVING multitude threw
themselves OH the eirciss of the horse, AMI tore
it into thousand pieces Larush went gloomilv
along as TO avoid the tragic end of his faithful
beast. B.fore another h.lf hour had passed, Ro-
sens horse fell, and directly after mine ALSO
Notwithstanding the was near the meridian,
the cohsteady increased pouring il deadly breath
upon men and amin U.s. We now took path run
ming parallel with the road, as it seemed more ca
sy to travel. AMI where we were not so much crowd
el it hid been trod,lcn by only few individuals
went on before. the rest followed at little dis
tance. All at once hoarse firm voice behind me-
cried: "Stop, dos. Your clolk, or I'll shoot YOU
dead.' m " aHaII ahi
J. stepped aul looked round. A soldier scailtiy
at;ircd in ,retched IS, his features distorted his
beard long AMI tangled his face black with earth
and smoke, his eyes fnghtfuIly infamcd, rolling
wildly in their orbits, stood before me ami covered
Inc with his musket.
"What would you, wrotchcd man rs cried, and
stepping backwards. W it.lf fSi.t
T" "Your warm cloak. or I'll shoot you down.
sho tied tie iraatic soldier. "No more comrades
here. I've as good right to save myself as you
hlve."
"You would murder comrade to prolong your
own iiie9v said I, inn tone of determination: .'be
it SO. But you viii profit little by thedecd Your
hpur will orerfake you the sooner.'' ..r.
:, Quick death, sripes me arcady.r cried the
mailman, his musket still leveled and his bloodsliot
eyes wildly rolling around in his head t..H
Twas in the act ofpulling off my cloak when La.
rush. Rosen and the rest of the men came up
The soldier gazed-at me for a moment with fixed
and trainng eyes, thcn his slowly sank u tt n
the mnskct fail to the ground. he PIE, scd 10th his
hands to his face and broke in loud weeping ard
whimpcring.
"Wd be st that am" excllin el TIC stranger:
''no clnnot survive this shame. For, i've me you
knew me once a better man. before suffering d oye
me NAL. But no natter know ms duiyr'
He stopped to pick up his mu>kct. / kert ms
eyes fixed upon him, and rackcd Ivy memory for
the features, which. wild and distorted tho, gin they
were, still seemed familiar to me. Where have ]
known you?'' as he resumed bis erect position.
81 don't wonder you've forgotten me-" was the
goomy rcp'y; y;"1have forgotten myself Alive lam
nolongerwo; thy ofthe o. der crs ed he wildly tear
ne from lisrags the ribbon OF tie Legion of Honor,
aad throwing it on the snow az will try TO earn it
again, that you may layi my body. am my own
Judge, and show no f,rorr' nrigfH III
Settingthe butt ofhis mu-lxct firmly on the Garth.
he pressed hisb breast against the muzzlc and touch
eltie triggcrwith hsfoot. The piece went of, and
its unfortunate owner feii heavily TO the grouud-
Ina moment Twas at the side of the fallen man, sup
rtng Ifishead- A last spark of life still remain
ell. "ifyoaget to France" sasped The suicide, "a
word to my wife and ehildren-Scrgcant Fcrriarn-l
OF Laon-" and the spirit departed. AS he closed |
his eyes, IrcnSmbcred him. TWAS the same Ser
seant ferslarn whose humanity saved Rosen and me
iromperisiing during our imprisonment at Smolen-
sko. Military honor was the condition Of the vc.-
eran's existence; he thought himself degraded BIZ
yond redemption by the murderous aggression to
which misery. pain, and despair had driven him, it
was more than he could bear. A rigorous judre.
he had pronounced his own doom, and executed il
with his own hand. i'ti' IT, - sat -1i i'9At Il
Deeply moved, kneltb beside the body and gath
cred up the scrap Of tarnished ribbon which the dc
parted soldier had priced above all earthly goods.