Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1861-11-22

lives. Foremost among these were Henri
and his wife. 'Well,' said Adele, who had
one Of those cold, selfish natures that could
not understand how anybody could do any
thing noble or heruic, II think you aud
your husband mad. But go your own
ways"
81 wish you were mad in the same way.
We are mad as Leonidas was mad, MS Tell
was mad, as Bruce was mad, as every 9th
en- hero was mad who has died for liberty.
Ii is not now question of the Emperor.
II is question of country. 1t is not wheth-
er NAPOLEON shall reign, but whether France
shall be d;smembered II is whether the
flag of the notion, that glorious tri-color
which waved at Marengo and Austerlitz,
shall be trailed in the dust. or shall still
bring tears TO the eyes Of Frenchmen, in
foreign lands, floating from the masthead"
We will not dwell on the parting of hus-
band and wife. Natalie bore up heroically.
Not even Lady Russell, when leaving her
lord on the sal morning of his execution,
controlled herself more nobly, than did Ma
talie now. But when the door had closed
on Henri when she heard the cat'er of his
| horse's feet down the street, then she flung
herself on her bed, and wept as if her heart
was breaking.
Ii was an eventful winter. A battle was
fought almost daily. Like lion in the
tolls, Napoleon turned first on one and then
on another of his foes, and always unexpect-
edly. In the brightest days of his intellect
he had never been so terrible as now Hem
ri was always foremost in these battles
Once he saved the Empcror'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
| he heard Natalie had presented him with a
son. But the genius Of the Emperor and
the valor of his troops were of no avail
Treachery was at work at Paris while Ma
poleon was absent at Champagne. The
capital was surrounded. The Emperor was
! forced TO abdicate.
Every one knows what followed. The
Bourbons came back. forgetting nothing, as
was said, and forgiviag nothing.
"Ah, my bleeding country" Henri would
cry to his young wife. AT another time it
was, 'Oh, for one hour by the old Emper-
or"
/ AT last the nation could bear it no longer.
Napoleon landed; the army rose in his fa-
vor; the king fed; a constitution was pro-
claimed. Once more the young count buck
! led on his sword.
again say, go" was his wives heroic
parting, ''and again and again. will stay
at home and pray. / think sometimes it is
harder for women than for men. You have
The excitement of the campaign. But we
can only wait and wait, from one day to an
other, we can only pray and pray through
the sleepless hours of the night. Do not
suppose | say this to keep you back. Go.
and may God crown you with victory; or
| If not"
"lf moi" said her husband interrupting
her, Il will stay on the battle field.'
Alas il was prediction. A few days
later, when the old guard, at the end Of
that terrible Waterloo, closed up heir ranks,
and to the demand TO lay down their arms,
replied, "The Guard dies but never surren-
ders.' Henri de Tanktrville, fighting with
brayest, and fighting almost longest of all,
sank under dozen wounds.
Did his wife regret what she had done +?
"No, no. she cried, in answer to the cruel
reproaches of her sister, II would send him
forth again if / could. would rather be a
widow thousand times over" she added
with flashing eyes, "of soldier who had
died fighting for his country, than the pet,
ted wife of one who had failed France in
her hour of need, for such would be either
a coward or traitcr,"
Nor did she ever think otherwise. In /
after years rich and titled suitors solicited |
her hand but she lived faithful 10 the MEM
ory OF her lost Henri. The chief consola- +
tion was TO take her child, and showing him
the cross of the legion of honor, which his
father had won in battle, point afterward to
the portrait which hung overhead, and bid
him emulate the heroism and patriotism of
the departed.
1T is a prouder inheritance to you, dar-
ling she would say, kissing him passion
ately, s'lhan if he had left you a throne
Think how your heart will glow in years to
come, when you see men pointing to you,
and saying. His father TOO, was one of The
grand army"
Matrimonial sweets" were measured
out on a very small scale, in the case of a