Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1863-05-19
DURING The STORM.
BY N. r. Il.

This storm burst forth while We were
bunting in the enVirons of TrOyers. We
Vainly endeaVOred to regain the city, but
the wind and rain blinded Us, and prevent
ed our going any further in that direction.
"Cheer up !" said the old gsme-keeper,
who since early morn had guided US over
the vast plain. "If we can once gain those
woods which you see there on the right, !
know of certain grOtto which seems to
have been specially created to serve as a
refuge for hunters overtaken by a storm.
1t is within FIVE minutes walk-fOllow
me !"
We soon reached the resting place he
promised. In the midst of the trees arose
u vast rock, under which a kind of exca-
ya:i n had been made. We had scarcely
installed ourselves in this shelter, and our
eyes had hardly become accustomed to the
obscurity, when one Of our number discOv-
cred at the bottom of the grOtto q stone
cross.
On this cross we with difficulty discover
ed certain characters almost effaced by
time, But CHANGING to remember that
among our party was en- archeOlOgist, he
FASTENED to decipher the inscription, and
transmit it TO Us. 1t was cOuehed 10 these
singular words:
1914.
Before death on should never der God.
Before a foreign invasion, deny his country"
At this moment, as we looked at each
other in astOnishment, without understand
Ing the purport of this singular Inscription q,
q profound sigh from the old gsme-keeper
suddenly attracted the general attention.
His eyes which were filed with tears,
we're instantly fixed Oh the stone cross.
at is tomb" said the old soldier to Us
with emotion.
This of course demanded explanation.
"O," replied he cit is long story"
"Let US have it!-tbe story by all meansp
shouted all the voices at once.
The old gamekeeper consented to satisfy
our curiosity, and after a moments reaec-
ton related to US the following tale:
ION the Goth of February, 1914, the en-
peror fought at Brienne, no longer, elias,
with snow balls, though but twenty five
years of age, but with vOlleys of canister,
and in the evening, the ground, in the
room Of being white as in former times.
was red with the blood that had been
spilled.
"But yet it was a victory, and there was
great joy iO every true French heart. /
was then at TrOyes all day long we had
heard the roar of battle, and at the ap-
preach Of night we learned that the allies
were conquered; few hours later the em-
peror entered the city in the midst of the
joyous acclamatioDs of the people and the
army. 1t was an enthusiasm impossible
to descibe; delirium, madness.
There was however one drawback to
the days work the royalists had attempt
ed ridiculous manifestation the evening
before, and one Of their leaders with q
white cockade had been slain almost direct.
ly under my window. 1t was q cruel
punishment, but under such circumstances
it was justice, aud would not speak Of it
to you, had the incident no connection with
my story.
| The Russians were encamped about
Lusigny, only two leagues from rs, and an
attack was feared fol the next day, per.
hsps even during the night; the whole citv
passed the night in watching, qua in hand.
In the principal cafe, converted into q
species of barracks for the time being, the
conversation was most animated; you will
readily understand it, there was powder in
the air.
"Not Russian shall cross the Rhine p
said one.
'NOt PrusSian, nor an Austrian p add
ed another.
"Not single enemy" cried third.
"Well" said one of the National Guard
two Or three thaws like this last, aud sl
will be well. God protects Francei"
''God 7" sueered an old officer. 81 know
him not The emperor and good fortune,
that is enough; SO that we are not beaten,
let come what may. Napoleon aud France,
when one fights for her and under him, the
Eternal Father himself can avail nothing.
There lie an emperor and country, but
there is no God !"
"There will soon be On emperor no long
or there is already no country" slowly