The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-08-21

cold. selfish natures, that could not under
stand how anybody could do anything noble
or heroic, II think you and youF husband
mad. But 90 your own ways"
~ wish you were mad in the same way.
We are mad as Leonidas was mad, as Tell
was mad, as Bruce was mad. as every other
hero was mad that las died for liberty. It
is not now question the Emperor. It is
a question of country. It is not whether
Napoleon shall reign, but whether France
shall be dismembered. It is whether the
flag ofthe nation, that glorious tricolor which
waved at Marango and Austerlits, shall be
trailed in the dust, or shall still bring tears
to the eyes Of Frenchmen when they see it,
in foreign lands,e floating from the mast
head"
We will not dwell on the parting Of hus-
band and wife. Natalie bore up heroically.
Not Lady Russell, when leaving her lord on
that sad morning ofbis execution, controlled
herself 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
the bed, and Wept as if her heart was break
ing.
TWAS an eventful winter. A battle was
fought almost daily. Like lion in the tolls,
Napoleon turned first on one and then on
another ofhis foes, and always unexpectedly.
In the brightest days of his intellect he had
never been SO terrible as now. Henri was
foremost id al these battles Once he saved
the Emperor's life. The cross of the legion
of honor soon decked his breast. He re-
ceived the decoration from Napolenn's own
hand, on the very day that he heard Natalie
had presented him with son. But the
genius of the Emperor and the valor of his
troops were Of no avail. Treachery was at
work at Paris, while Napoleon was absent in
Champagne. The capital was surrendered.
The Emperor was forced to abdicate.
Every one knows what followed. The
Bourbons came back, forgetting nothing, as
was said, and forgiving nothing.
"Ah my bleeding country" Henri would
cry to his wife. At other times it was, "Qh
for one hour by the old Emperor"
At last the nation could bear it no longer
Napoleon landed; the army rose in his favor;
the king fed; constitution was proclaimed
Once more the young count buckled on his
sword.
"Again I say CO." was his wife's heroic
parting, "and again and again. I will stay
ut 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 dreary day
to another, We can only pray and pray trou'h
the sleepless hours of the night. Do not
suppose, because say this, would keep
you back. Go, and may God crown you
with victory or if not"
''If not" said her husband. interupting
her, 81 will stay on the battle field"
Alas it was prediction. A few days
later, when the old Guard, at the end of that
terrible Waterloo, closed up their ranks, and
to the demand to lay down their arms, re-
piled, "The Guard dies, but never surren-
ders." Henri de Tankerville, fighting with
the bravest, and fighting longest almost Of
all, sank under dozen wounds.
Did his wife regret what she had done 7
''No. no." she cried, in answer to the cruel
reproaches of her sister, 81 would send him
forth again, If I could l would rather be
the widow. a thousand times over" she ad-
ded, with flashing eyes, "of soldier who
had died for his country. than the petted
wife Of one who had failed France in her
hour Of need, for such would be either q
coward or traitor"
Nor did she ever rthinitsotherwise. Tn af
ter years, rich and titled suitors solicited he,
hand but she lived faithful to the memory
Of her lost Henri. Her chief consolation was
to take her child. as soon ss he was able Ia
understand her. 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
| ''Tt is prouder inheritance to you. dar.
ling" she would say. kissing him passion
ately. '.than If he had left yon 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"