The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1861-12-17

hole was hef partlng GIT. AS on lhe
hill by the chateau, he turnod for his
look at the dear little hamlet, nestled in
the pleasant valley, he was not ashamed
to press those flowers TO his lips-not
ashamed of the tears that fell on them
He was too manly to fear being thought
unmanly.
Months went by months of sad aux
iety to Mother Moreau and Mare Lenolr
for they heard very unfrequently from
Jean, and knew that he was always in
danger. He did not take kindly to a
soldiers life, but he tried faithfully to do
his duty, SO he could not be altogether
unhappy. After he had once seen the
great Emper ror he felt the enthusiasm
which that wonderful man always inspir
ed, and longed to do something grand to
merit his praise. Then, by strange
and happy chance, he found himself in
the same regiment with his beloved fos
ter-brother, Captain De Lorme.
AT length, there rang over France the
news of the great battle of Austerlitz,
where the Emperor commanded in per
son, and defeated his foes with fearful
slaughter. After a time of painful sus-
pense, the Count De Lorme had word
that his son had been badly wounded,
and set out at once for the hospital in
which the young officer had been left
But many weeks went by, and no It'd.
ings, good or evil, came to the friends
of the conscript. Mother Moreau, who
was brave woman, kept up hopeful
heart but Marie Lenoir rapidly lost the
roses from her cheeks, and the spring
from her step, while the laughing light
from her soft, brown eyes, gave place to
a look of sadness and fear
But where was Jean Not dead, as
his friends feared Not buried forever
out of their loving sight, in the soldiers
crowded and bloody grave. He was ly,
ing at the same hospital which had re,
ceived his foster brother, very i'll from
several severe wounds and when at last
he rose from his bed, and staggered out
into the court, one sleeve Of his military
coat hung limp and empty at his side
John Moreau, had not given his life for
Captain Henri, he had laid down in his
service what was almost as dear-his
good right arm. This was the story Of
it In part Of the field where the bat
tie ragged most fiercely, Captain De Lor
mes company, in which jean was en-
rolled was engaged. At one time they
were right under tho eye of the Empe-
ror, and fought with renewed ardor aud
courage
The enemy was in great force here,
and desperate charges were made on both
sides. Seeing the standard bearer of his
regiment fall, and the banner in the
hands of the enemy, Captain De Lorme
dashed forward to recover it. This he
did, and was gallently fighting his way
back to the French ranks, when he fell,
pierced in the breast by ball, and bleed
ing from more than one bayonet thrust.
In an instant there stood over him the
tall powerful form of the young black
smith Flinging down his musket, and
seiz,ng the sword which the young Off
Ger had dropped. he kept off all assail.
ants, or cut them down with terrible
strokes of that keen and bloody weapon,
flashing about him, here, and there, on
every side, like red lightning. Lifting
the fainting young noble, together with
the standard. and bearing them on his
left arm, Jean actually fought his way
out OF the enemys ranks, step by step,
defending both his precious charges
tlt ISCtINIh SSNSiai bNk none
that disabled him. ill musket ball
went crashing through the bones Of his
right arm, and it dropped helpless at his
side. When at last he fell, and closed
his brave eyes in a long, deep swoon.
which he believed the sleep Of death, he
was at the foot of little eminence, on
which Napoleon sat on his war horse.
surveying the terrible scenes of carnage
the surging sea of battle that ragged
around him. Jean wondered il the
smoke of cannon yeiled from his calm
eyes the agony Of dying men, and ii
their groans came 10 his ears between the
volleys Of musketry, in the pauses of
stormy battle music.
As soon as Jean was able 10 leave his
ward, he was permitted to visit his cap
tain, who however. was very low from "A
fever induced By his wounds For most
OF the time, he was unconscious or deliri-
Gus, and recognized no one. Tie old
Count was with him, but evidently knew
l. L. a 1