Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-11-12
The Golden Cr0ss.

The Croissey Jew il little tale full of freshness and
interest. We will let cur readers Judge of it by
aysis, and some extracts
g! will tell you sir, why come every evening tc
smoke my pipe under the Croissey Jew"
SO begins the tale. 10 1872 the narrator, who had
the CONSUMPTION By entering the college which
be had slice st did not know what to do with himself
Meantime, be amused himself ~ climbing up into a
huse yew Tree ara casting his eyes over the surround
ing country One moonlight evening when at his post,
he overheard conscrpt who was bidding adisu to bis
sisters and his betrothed. The latter went The more
| resoute sister said:
Have you not got colonel, him who enlisted YOU
Well 60 and And your colonel, throw yourself your
knees snd say "My lord, / don't want to 20 away-I
don't want to be killed. There is my sister and my
wife, who cannot live without ne, and who going
to themselves into the river. Beat colonel,
put me in prison, but don't make me go away Long
live the emperor He's noble fellow Let him leave
me in peace and 60 about bis business Colonel am
man and free one, and have no right to leave my
sister Christine, who won't have to quit her and
who will hate you, colonel, if you make me 60 of !"
The brother smiled at his sisters eagerness and told
her be must have substitute, and money to pay
him with.
"Wel," said Christine, 81 will give everything I've
got-my gsd cross, my earrings, my silk neck
srchies my collerettes, in word all my tinkets-to
him who will consent to go.'
"A4 that does not amount to the price OF man,"
replied Eugene
Christine reflected awhile, and said, CATCHING her
brothers arm
"Wel, | am well worth man-worth more than
man-o5, certainly am will give myself then. 1
will tell somebody or other "Go in my brothers place
and l will be your wife. You see pretty, little
spoiled but what matters that will love you 80, if
you will save nay brother Oh. yes I swear by the
golden cross in which is ofmy mothers gray hair
I would willingly marry him who would devote himself
to you"
At evening" as they seated at their humble meal
without being able touch it, and looking tearfuy at
each other, some one knocked at the door.
"Come in" said the young man, hastily drying his
eyes.
An old sergeant made his appearance, saying
"Health Is the conscript Eugene Leven here q
ayes, sergeant"
"rhere" said the soldier throwing letter on the
table.
Eugene read slowly at first but afterwards devoured
the paper 1t was his discharge in due FORM He look
ed at the old soldier with astonishment.
"rhat that your place is taken conscript. 1t
In pity, though for your moustache would have
prouted with little gunpowder. But enough, you
are happy, now-farewel
And he was going away.
As be returned, be said, "Christine Leven--is that
year sister :? Where is gour sister 2'
"Here" said Eugene, pointing to Christine, who was
pale with Joy and emotion.
"Ths one s for you, miss and he threw o second
letter the table, but stopped short he Chris
tine trembling with agitation, crumpng the letter in
her hands, and gazing tixedly on the table.
what is the matter, what is the matter ?" said Ea
gene. "Dear Christine, let that letter Selfish
being that | am, never thought of it. Let me
see who dares to write to you What does all this
mean ?"
And he ran over the letter hastily.
@Oh, read it aloud" said Christine, "its the to
Re Good heavens ! this is bat just p
Eugene read aloud.
Miss ask nothing-I go away without making
any ters-I take your brothers. place you need him,
and needs me. But am honest and love you,
ever since saw you weep. l send you a ring of my
golden cross, in which is some Of your mothers gray
hair, and which gtters on your neck in the moon
light this evening you will place it in the crsvice of
the large yew tree, the branches will get it to-
morrow morning then you will wait two years and
if am not dead l will bring it back. Will you re-
member what you swore on that cross Farewell"
"What does this mean ?" said Eugene, slowly.
How could any one knows Sergeant, do yos under
stand this ~
"Some fellow on the lookout near you"
"Why then, did he not GENE to frankly p an
swered the young man. "What q way of obliging is
this p
"Ah" said the soldier, L" there's the thing Ones
&traid OF being treated as spy and then when one is
yoang and tind, and all full of romantic sentiments,
one knows how to write and is afraid to talk for want
of practice that's it."
Eugene shook his head.
"Soldier ~ cried be, "your hand IL will not have
will go with you. Seer' And he took up his dis
charge and prepared to tear it in pieces
Christine stopped hir,.
" But what if / wan 10 have him ?" said she. cat
ter all it's fine action on his part And then he goes
without making any ternls-and then be is unhappy
and then have no other means OF keeping you-and
then want to be in love with him. He did we'll how
ever, in not showing hmse-one might have regretted
him too much. l will take the cross-but / should
like to know-sergeant have you seen him p
Yes, now and then"
"Well, he is not hump backed or bsndy-legged Is
he?"
"A good joke Is the French army recruited with
such sort of stuff under the Little Corporate 1s it not
composed Of individuals rreproachabe to their per-
son. and no fools to morality p
" Is he man Of worth ~ asked Eugene.
"Very much so, answer tor it."
"Well, sir soG.-r," said Christine, removing from
her neck the gold with the ribbon that supported
it, tell him that he has done WELL and place the cross
il the hollow of the great yew and then say nothing
more to him, bat do not quit him. do you hear and
try to come back witn him, to tell me, There he u.s.
it is himself be 10 worthy Of you"
Eugene and Louise looked on, without being able to
sreak. The gcenadier rose, took OF his cap, wiped
away tear. and said, Enough"
Christine turhed to her brother and future sister.
She was no longer the same person. Her character
had assumed more serious hue. She told Louise,
too, betrothed-the pledge Of my faith ia in the
hands of a soldier of the guards
A yesr aiterward, Eugene bad TO isAve his home.
The enemy was in France, and he would not have &C
cepted substitute II be could have found one. at
Monteresu his life saved by lieutenant OF carbn'
GERS As this officer informed him that be had no
family, Esgene invited him home to bis own.
Charles, such was his name, soon won Christmas
substitute and she faithful 10 bin. Then Charles
handed her the GOLDEN cross, and told her it be