The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1868-02-27

tience. DiciPline forbade his quitting the
post; but hunger, which drives the wolf
cat OF the wood, compelled him 10 forget
the Code JiHi.arie. He left his station.
and went TO the guard house, mattering
to himself: eff anybody deserves TO be
shot tor this, it is not l, but the corporal
who doesn't know his business, and keeps
a sentinel on guard six hours at time"
In the guard house not creature
The only supPositiOn he could form was
that the regiment had gone to occupy an
other part of the island lie shouldered
his gun and walked of across the country
IN search of the regiment On the wav
he fell in with farmer plougling a field.
''Can you tell me-" he asked, sin which
direction the French have marched %
"Ihey are gone away" was the start
/ ling reply. "Thcy embarked at two this
morning, stepping lightly, and without a
/ word, IN consequence of an order received
from the Emperor"
Gone away, leaving me behind! l
! shall be reported as a deserter Confound
that corporal he has been my ruin. |
now understand what poor Capucin meant.
It is not the death l fear SO much as the
disgrace
Don't take on in that way said the
farmer, in consolatory tone. Stay here,
and make the best of bad business. If
the French come back again, can prove
that it was 30 fault of yours"
''AIy good man you don't know the Sc
verify OF our rules"
They will not punish you for a crime
you have not committed Meanwhile
you cannot live on air. You probably
were brought up IN the country and are
accustomed to do country work o.
Certainly. | can plough for instance
''Ihe very thing for me- l can offer
/ you good board and lodging, with small
/ weekly payment into the bargain. It vii!
/ be the best thing you can do under the
circumstances - The soldier heaved q
heavy sigh, and slowly gazed all around
/ the horizon to see whether any OF the
/ ships were still visible. Beaoldng moth
| ing, be said, at last ~ thankfully ac-
cept your Offer
/ "Goed I" said the farmer, Peter Baxen.
/ ''Come and breakfast at once. We win
go on with the pIowing afterwards"
At Baxen's farm the soldier plough
man had plenty opportunities of proving
his capacity. He found such favor in The
farmers eyes-and in other peopls's too
that i5aXen determined to Try and keep
him for good and all.
'My worthy fellow he said one day,
~ lcok upon you almost as :. son.
'If-my poor cid father,'' FirmiH an
swered, "were not anxiously awaiting my
return to France L would willingly remain
| IN Rugen."
''You can bring him back with you,
the next time you 90 TO France. But
what l want 70 say 10 you now concerns
my daughter. .
Firmin coIored up to the eyes.
''Unless / am much mistaken you and
! she are very good friends
Firmin uttered few unintoIIigible
words
''Thc neighbors even say you are in
love with her."
''I assure you I never uttered q word
which could lead her to suppose that
81 knew it /; and for that very reason
tool; upon myself TO tell her that, if you
had 10 objection, she might have you
for a husband"
'And she said-?'
''Not a word bat she threw her arms
around nay neck and kissed ne for quar-
ter of an hour a fortnight afterwards,
Firmin Bonard was married TO the fair
haired CIarissa, Peter Baxen's only
daughter.
-Four years then elapsed, pretty equally
divided between love and labor. lis
thoughts occasionally reverted to France,
but he had almost forgotten his compul-
sorry desertion. The past soon fades from
our memory when the present is satisfac-
terry and the future promising.
One morning, the iook>oGt man in the
town of Rugen signalled a feet Of ships in
the offing. They were men of-war, car
rying the French flag. 'sThe French arc
coming" !" people shouted to each other
''They are going to land !"
Firmin Bonard heard it. "T'he French
are coming !" rang in his ears like the
boom of an alarm-gun. 1t told him that
he was lost man. Nevertheless, a
thought struck him which relieved his
heart by glimmer of hope.
He ran home, put on his Uniform,
seized his arms, and mounted guard on
the very spot where, five years before, he
had been unintentionally abandoned
Meanwhile boats full of soldiers rowed to-
wards the hillock In the fore part Of
one of The boats was a black and white
poodle. AS it approached the beach, the
creature barked with JOY In spite of his
anxiety, sfirmin's eyes filed with tears as
he recognized bis old friend Capucin. The
dog, unable to master his impatience,
jumped into the sea and SWAN 10 shore.
AS soon as the boats had come within
earshot, Firmin "made ready" and shout
ed at the top of his voice, F.Qai Eive -
"Qui yive, yourself?' said the occu-
pants of the first boat, which was filled
with officers, composing Marshal Da-
voust's staff "Who are You! And
what are you doing here ?''
| GgT am a saptinai Eaap;rrr ,-,,o-J