Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1863-05-19
THE GOLDEN CROSS.

The Croissy Yew is little tale full Of
freshness and interest. We give an anal
ysis:-
i will tell you, sir, why l come every
| evening to smoke my pipe onder the Crois-
sy yew.'
So begins the tale, In 1912, the nara
! tor, who had escaped the conscriptioR, by
/ entering college, which he had since left,
/ did not know what to do with himself
! Meantime he amused himself by climbing
! up into huge yew-tree, aud casting his
/ eyes over the surrounding country. One
moonlight evening. when at his post, he
overheard conscript, who was bidding
adieH to his sister and his betrothed.-
The latter wept. The more resolute sister.
! said
"Have you not got a Colonel2 him who
/ enlisted you? Well, 90 and fud your
Colonel. throw yourself on your knees, and
I says, My lord, don't want TO 20 away-I
don't want to be killed. There are nv sis.
ter and q wife, who cannot live without
me. and who are going to throw themselves
into the river. Beat, me. Colonel, put me
in prison, but don't make me go away
Long live the Emperor! He's a noble fell
low. Let him leave me in peace, and 90
j about his business. Colonel, l am a man
and free one, and have no right to leave
my sister Christine, who won't have me to
quit her, and who will hate you, Colonel, if
you make me 60 off,
The brother smiIer at his sisters eager
ness, and told her he must have a su5sti-
tude, and money to pay him.
Well said Christine, " l will give every
thing I've gOt-my gold cross, my ear
rings, my silk neckerchiefs, my colLereltes
in word, all my trinkets-to him who will
consent to CO."
All that does not amount to the price of
man, replied Eugene.
Christine reflected awhile, and sale,
catching her brothers. arm
We'll, l am well worth q man-worth
more than q man-oh, certainly / am. l
will give myself then. ! will tell somebody
or other, Go IN my brothers place, and /
will be your wife. You see | am pretty, q
little spoiled, but what matters that2
will love go, if you will save my brother
Oh, yes, l swear by the golden cross in
which is some of my mothers gray hair,
would willingly marry him who would de-
vJte himselfto you
At evening, as they were seated at their
humble meal, without being able to touch
it, and looking tearfully at each other some
1 one knocked at the door.
Come in said the young nun, hastily
drying his eyes.
An Old sergeant made his appearance,
saying
Health! Is the conscript Eugene Lew
en- hereY
Yes sergeant
There 7 said the soldier, throwing let.
ter on the table.
Eugene read slowly at first. but after
ward devOured the paper. 1t was his dis
charge in due form. He looked at the old
soldier with establishment.
That means that your place is taken,
conscript. 1t is pity, though, for your
r1oustaches would have spIouted with q
little gunpowder. But enough, you are
happy now-farewell.'
Aud he was going away.
oh, the deviIy said he, as be. rstsulad
.Christine. Leyen-is that
Where is your sister p
Here said Eugene, pointing to C6rh.
tine, who was pale with joy and emotion.
This one is for you, miss and he threw
a second letter on the table, but stopped
short as he saw Christine trembling with
J agitation, crumplinG the letter in her
J hands, and gazing fixedly on the table.
What is the matter. what is the mat
ter?' said Eugene. Dear Christine, let
| US see that letter? Selfish being tina. |
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, 'it's
} the same to me. Good heavens this is bu,
1 just
r Eugene read aloud.
2 'MIss-I ask nothIng-T 90 without
making any terms-I take your brothers
= place; you need him. and no one needs me
, But am honest and love you, ever since ]
} saw you weep. ] send you a ring of nv
mothers. If you have pity upon me, you
. will take the golden cross in which is some
Of your mothers grey hair, and which gilt
tiers on your neck in the moonlight. this
evening you will place it in the creyice Of
the large yew-tree, near the branches
1 will get it tomorrow morning then you
will wait two years, and. if / am not dead
l will bring it back. Will you remember
what you swore on that cross? Fare.
r WELL
What does this mean p said Eugene
i slowly. How could any one know? Ser
geani, do you understand this2'
Some fellow on the lookout near you.'
why. then, did he not come to US frank
ly3' answered the young man. What q
way of Obliging is THE!
'Ah,' said the soldier, there's the thing
/, ones afraid of being treated as a spy; and
then when one is young, and timid. and
all full of romantic sentiments one knows
how to write and is afraid to talk, for wan
of practice that's itp
Eugene shook his head.
B Soldier ! cried he, your hand! / viii
Al
not be sacrifced-I will go with you
See =
And he took up his discharge, and pre-.
: pared to tear it in pieces.
Christine stopped him.
But what if want to have him p said
: she. After all, it's fine action on hi.
part. And then he goes without making
any terms-and then he is unhappy-anG
= then have no other means Of keeping yoU
and then / want to be in love With him
He did well, however, in not showing him
self-one might have regretted him too
much. / will take the cross-but should
like to know-sergeant have you seer
g him p
Yes, now them
Well, be is not hump-backed, of handy
e legged is hep
Q "A good joke! Is the French army re
e cruited with such sort of stuff under tn.
Z little corporal? Is it not composed of in.
> dividuals irreprOachable as to their persons
and no fools as to mOrality?'
'Is be man Of worth?' asked Eugene
Very much go answer for it,
We'll. sir soldier said Christine, remov
e ing from her graceful neck the cross will
g the black ribbon which supported it, tel
: him that he has done well and place thi
! cross in the hollow of the great yew anC
then say nothing more to him, but do no