The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1865-06-22


c your side in the thickest of battle, whe
o the guns of the enemy poured hot lea
h into our ranks, and swept our brave couu
;, trymen like chaff before the whirlwind
/ But you can all affirm that [ did not quai
or falter when the grim monster stare,
me in the face. And should l trembl
y now when | am to die By the hands o
s my beloved comrades :? No. I conside
it an honor, and the last sound that vii
ever greet my ears will be the gloriou
: dying music of your own true guns wher
fall. l know you will not snffer m,
ashes to go unavenged. Let not you
hand tremble, but with firm steady
| hand, level your pieces to my breast, wher
[ give the word fire, for I would have the
F mark of every man, if you love me-
Comrades, farewell and may we NEE
where the warrior rests from his battles
and: his victories"
The soldiers brought their pieces to
their shoulders, but stopped as the fran
tic Cadeline rushed into the arms of hel
lover.
"Oh, Anthony you must not die
Col. Lavillier will have mercy, he can
not be so cruel as to murder you"
"Cadeline, there is no hope, am pre-
pared to die, but this meeting unnerves
me. l could have wished you had been
spared this scene, but calm yourself and
do not weep, when 1 am gone. You will
not want for defenders, for my regiment
will go hard with him who dares to insult
Cadeline, be his rank what it may"
"Commandant," said Col. Lavillier in
an impatient tone, "it is past the time or
dercd for the execution; separate them
and perform your duty"
With difficulty Cadeline was torn from
the embrace of Martel, and conveyed a
distance from the foot.
The word ready was given, and quick
ly followed by the second command pre-.
sent arms, and the third and last fatal
word fire was on the lips of the camman-
dant, when a stern voice from a person
who stood short distance apart, closely
mutfled up, gave the command to recover
arms.
So suddenly was the order, that every
eye was turned to the person who had
thus dared unceremoniously to counter
mand an order on so important an occas,
ion.
"Order that man under arrest" said
Col. Lavillier.
AS the person approached rapidly to
where he stood, throwing the cloack from
his face, the astonished officer beheld in
him Field Marshal Macdonald.
"Will Col. Lavillier inform me for what
crime the culprit suffers %
"For an attempt on my life with pis-
tol," was the answer.
care you sure he is the guilty one p
eyes"
"Will you not pardon him ?"
cit has been decided by court mar
tial that he shall die"
"Still you have the same power to par
don him"
II decline all interference in the course
of justice" said he.
II do not" said Macdonald, "therefore
1 stop the execution. Anthony Martel
is not guilty"
"NIay 1 ask your excellency who is p
said Lavillier, with an uneasy air.
81 am," said Macdonald.
"Will you please to explain to me this
mystery 2"
Il will. Having business of import
ance with you on the evening Of the as
sault, l called at your head quarters, and
found you not. On inquiry learned
the direction you had taken, and followed
in pursuit. Finding that you had enter
ed Cadeline's cottage, l arrived just in
time to be an unobserved witness of your
villainy, and the ball which only shater-
ed your arm, was fired by me, and had it
not been for endangering the life of the
girl, it would have reached your heart.
Colonel Martel, I greet you in behalf of
the Emperor, to whom | have related
your case, and who has been pleased to
confer this honor and title upon you
Col. Lavilller your sword henceforth
you are no longer an officer in the grand
army, and now take MartePs place and
receive the guns that moment ago were
aimed at the breast of an innocent man ?"
Every heart beat with JOY at the sud-
den change. Poor Lavillier trembling
with fear and shame, was lead to the red
flag. Again the fearful orders were Civ
en- but the heart of the cul prit sank with
in him, and he implored for mercy.
"How can you ask for That which but
few moments since you refused an in
nocent man 7"
M own my fault" was the reply.
"Then / refer you to Col. Martel, who
has full power to pardon you OF not, a:
he thinks proper" said Macdonald.
"Col. Martel," said the disgraced man
, "dare hope for mercy?"
81 grant you full and uneondltiona
pardon. You are at liberty" was tht
willing reply of Martel, ''and do not for
get to show mercy that you may receive
the same"
By this time Cadeline heard the glaC
tidings which spread repidly through th'
: Camp, and hastily returning she was il
, his embrace. That day was gloriou
) one to the regiment, and there was
GRAND celebration ia honor Of Field Mar