Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1861-11-14
. tFrom Peterson's Magazine
THE LEGION OF HONOR.
BY JAMES II. DANA.
" And you are willing he should go ?"

Enthusiastically / should deSplse myself,
Adele, if were not willing to give my husband
to my country. France needs ell her sons in
this extremity. thank God have Henri to
offer on her altar
Her sister shrugged her shoulders "You
always were romautic, my dear" she said
For my part, if had a handsome husband,
splendid estate in Normandy, "a hotel in Paris,
diamonds, cashmere, equipages servants as
you have, | should not be willing to risk them
so slightly Suppose Henri is killed You will
be a widow, and for time at least, can enjoy
none Of these things"
''Oh Adele, how can you talk so? Has
not the good father Lacore been telling u.s.
ever since We were children, that the curse of
modern times was its materialistic view of life?
That to eat, drink, and be merry seemed to be
the whole purpose of existence The luxury
had corroded national virtue That the day
of heroism had passed How often has my
heart swelled against these iDputations, for
will not believe that human nature has sunk so
low No, have often told him, the diviner
parts of our race have not all died out We
are still capable, we women, of making sacr-
fees for our country and our husbands, faith
erS, brothers, sous, still capable of lying for it.
| could, myself, if the occasion called for it, be-
hope, second Joan of Arc | never loved
Henri half SO well as since he came home, the
other day, aud told me, that, in this crisis of
Frances fate, he had determined to Offer her
his sword, aud, if necessary, his life. We can
die but once. What more glorious than to die
in holy cause !" And the young wife looked
sublime she spoke it.
Natalie had been married but year or two
Her beauty, accomplishments, and amiability
had won for her. at eighteen the heart of the
young de Taukervllle, the greatest match of
the season. PaSSionately attached TO each
other they spent the hours continually to-
gether: they read, they did every thing in
company. The life they led was more like an
ldyl than like life in modern society and ia
Paris. In the midst of this dream of bliss
C NE the news of the retreat from Moscow
All Europe rose against France The Empe-
ror, beatan back from Dresden to Leipsic aud
from Lepsic to the Rhine, was making last
desperate effort TO retrieve the fortune of the
nation 1t was in this extremity that the young
count stepped forward. His father had been
consttuI onal royallSt in the last days OF Louis
XVI, and though the family haG never emf
grated, it had never, on the other hand, at
tachcG itself to the fortunes of Napoleon. So
long as the great Emperor pursued his career
of conquest, so long the TankeryilleS held aloof
! from him. But now, when the question was
not Napoleon, but the nation, the young count
| felt that the time had come when his country
! demanded his services In view of the dismem-
berment of France, what were lands, houses,
| life itself? Save the nation !" was the cry
that rose to every patriotic lip. Women brought
their Jewels, men brougnt, their lives Fore.
most among these were Henri end his wife
"Well," said Adele, who had one oe those
cold, selfish natures that could not understand
how anybody could do anything noble oc he
role, think you and your husband mad
But 60 your own ways"
al wish you were mad in the same way
We are mad as'LeonidaS was mad. as Tell was
mad, q Bruce was mad, as every other hero
was mad that has died for liberty 1t is not
now question of the Emperor. 1t is ques.
ton OF country. 1t is not whether Napoleon
shall reign, but whether France shall be dis
membered. 1t is whether the flag of the nation,
that glorious trcoloF which waved at Marongo
and AuSterlitz, shall be traied in the dust, or
shall still bring tears 10 the eyes Of Frenchmen
when they see it, in foreign lands, floating from
the mast head"
We will not dwell On the parting of husband
and wife Natalie bore up heroically. Not
Lady Russell, when leaving her lord on that
sad morning of his execution, controlled her
self more nobly than did Natalie now. But
when the door had closed on Henri, when she
heard the clatter of his horses feet down the
street, then she flung herself on her bed, and
wept as if her heart was breaking.
1t was an eventful winter. A battle was
7 IL IL. Il
Napoleon turned first on one and then on an-
other of his foes, and always Unexpectedly
la the brightest days of his intellect he had
never been SO terrible as now. Henri was fore.
most 10 all these battles. Once he saved the
Emperor's life The cross of the legion of
honor soon decked his breast. He received the
decoration from NapOleon's own hand, on the
very day that he heard Natalie had presented
him with a son. But the genius of the Empe-
Tor aud the valor of his troops were of no
avail Treachery was at work at Paris, wh lie
Napoleon was absent in the Campaign. The
capital was surrendered. Napoleon was forced
TO abdcate.
Every one knows what followed The
Bourbons came back, forgetting nothing, as
was said, and forgivng nothing.
"Ah my bleeding country" Henri would
cry to his young wife. At other times it was
"Oh! for one hour with the Emperor"
At last the nation conld bear it no longer.
Napoleon landed the army rose in his favor;
the king fed; a constitution was proclaimed.
Once more the young count buekled on his
sword.
Again say, 60" was his witt's heroic
parting. land again and again. l will stay at
homa aud pFov / thi, Y s0matimnS il hard
er for women than for men, You have the ex-
citement of the campaign. But we can only
wait aud wait, from one dreary day to an-