Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1861-11-21
"Tell me your name and address my

"Phillippe Chalente Of the 4--reg- .
ment" answered. he; "my home is in the
Rue dis Pipotis Boulogne. But l must
lot stay" he added, pointing to a group
If Russians who were approaching; SO
With another low bow he sprang into the
voter, and struck boldly back for the
southern side Of the harbor.
That day the Grim Sergeant stalked
nto the camp, looking darker, taller,
more grim aud taciturn than ever. His
clothes an hair still bore marks of his
watery adventure; but when his comrades
ioked and wanted to hear what he had
done with the young captive, he looked
so awful fierce, and smiled so diabolcally,
that ere nightIall it was given out and
currently believed in the regiment, that
Charente had out done himself by some
process of slow drowning, whereby his
reputation for ferocity was much en-
hansed; and never word said he.
Four years passed away, and the graves
that marked the scene Of strugg e and
bloodshed, were veiled by the kindly
grass; the invaders had left the Crmea,
and tho Russians again occupied Sevas-
topol, and the sto, m Of the war dispersed
on the shore Of the Euzine, to gether
again, first ON the shores Of India, and
then upon the sunny land of Italy
Again the French Army went forth to
battle and to victory. Again did our
lrieLd, the Grim Sergeant, display his
powers IN the formost ranks, and earned
on the day OF Mogcnta, that much priced
decoration-the cross OF the Legion oil
Honor. But the good fortune which bore
Charante scatheeos through the storminS
of the Maakotf and the field Of Mogenla
forsooi him in the bloody hattie Of Sol
icrino. He had rushed into the middle
of the enemy and seized some Austrian
celors, when the foe closed around him
and wounded and bleeding he was taken
prisoner. This would have been a slight
misfortune, for his captivity was OF short
Duration, and his wounds soon healed; !;
but his right hand had lost the thumd and
two fingers, which quite incapatlcated
him for military purposes, SO that when
he returned to his native country he was
at once discharged, and retired with a
small pension to Boulogne. lie soon
afterwards married, and did not preserve
in private life, the character for ierosity
which he so much priced, for his home
was one of the happiest in the world
One evening, about three months alter
! his return, he was startled by the appear
ance of gendarnte, who came to sum on
! him before the mayor. On entering his
presence the officer enquire abruptly,
".Are you PHILIPPE Charente, late OF
the 4---regiment?' %
81 AIN that person monsieur"
Your presence i, requirer in Paris;
you must start tonight, Russian family
of distinction desires to see you--you
will find them at the hotel Rue dc Rivoli."
"a las monsieur, | am poor, have no
clothes fit to appear in before people OF
rank, or means to take me to Paris"
"All will be provided for you. L have
received two hundred francs to enable
You to obey the summons at once and
the mayor handed him ten gold pieces.
"The worthy Sergeant bowed and left
tho house in state of dire perplexity.-
He went to clothicr's and fitted himself
with holiday suit. then returning home,
he bewildcred his wife with the nows,
packed his knapsack and he left that
night for Paris.
lilo puzzled himself during his long
journey in trying to make out what could
be the meaning of the strange summons
to the metropolis, and what a Russian
| G., IA, - "A tvI n
soldier like himself. The many acts Of
kindnes of his life were always done in
an underhand sort of a way-scarcely
confessed to himself; and his adventure
at Sevastopol had long faded from his
memory. 1t was in vain that he twirled
his moustache, and stared diligently at
the light in the carriage; no light dawned
upon his mind. and he reached Paris
still cnveloped in the mist Of unso!ved
mystery.
Leaving the station ho shouldered his
llnapsack, and carrying in his hand a
card, whereupon the Mayor of Boulogne
had written the address of his Russian
nobleman, he plodded steadily on to the
Rue do Rivoli. He walked into the grand
entrance OF the hotel with much more
faltering step than he would have shown
on marching up to an enemy. and pre-
sented his card to tho smart CARSON who
met him. He was evidently an expected
guest; for, on glancing at the card the
man said:
philippe Charente?"
The same monsieur" answered the
Sergeant.
Follow me. my brave fellow" said
tho kindly waiter His excellency is at
breakfast, but he told me to usher you
into his presence, directly as you arrived" "
Charcnte, more perplexed than before.
followed the man up tho great staircase,
and entered large suit Of rooms. They
passed through magnificent saloon, in
which were several servants in rich liv-
cries; then opening the door to the right,
the carson said in u loud voice:
Philippe Charonte has arrived, your
highness."
Before Philippe had time to observe
anything in the room which he entered
an exclamation of delight rang in his ears.
his hands were clasped by small, white.
jeweled fingers. face of great beauty
looking up to him, and q deeply moved
voice said:
"My brave preserver.
A tall, military looking man whose
brc' ~ was covered with orders, now ad-
va4ted to the bewldered soldier and