The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-02-08

On recognizing Capuclns voice, tho sehIhei
looked around him anxiously. PerceivlnS noth-
ing which threatened attack he wondered
what could be the meaning of this nocturnal visit
Before he had time to consider the matter the an
imal climbed the hill and was jumping up his
legs. ats you, Capucin. Very good. lou got
tired of waiting there and am tired OF stand
Ing here. The air is keen, and l am terribly
sleepy. You should have brought the corporal
with you. His watch must have stopped de
ought to sell it for old iron and buy he ~ one
Capucin's answer was a frenzled Dark ana
series OF mad loaps around his triond.
81 understand" said Firmn, smiling 4" You
are asking me to dance to warm myself. It's
pity you are not provided with the password and
a musket
Capuein commenced to bark, running right
and left like creature possessed. Finding all
these maAeuvres useless, he ran up to the sol
der, pulled him by the coat, and tried hard to
pull him away, renewing his efforts with such
violence that he tore the soldiers uniform Fir
min considering this proof of affection more
troublesome than pleasant, lost his temper and
| gave poor Capucin a kick. The dog, bowling at
| finding himself SO equally maltreated and mis-
understood, retreated to u few PAGES distance;
but soon returned needless Of his friends unkind
treatment All he did now was to look forgive
less and lick the soldiers hand
"Be quiet, will you And take yourself oil"
said Firmin haishly, as he threatened him with
the but of his gun, to drive him away. Capucin,
finding he could do no good, unwilingly made
up his mind to depart. He arrived just in time
| to 20 on board with the last detachment of the
corps.
At o'clock he began to lose patience. Discip-
| line forbade his quitting the post but hunger
which drives the wolf out of the wood, compelled
him to forget the code lnlitaire. He lefthis sta
ton, and went to the guard-house, muttering to
himself: "If anybody deserves to be shot for
| this il is not l, but the corporal, who doesn't
| know his business, and keeps Il 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 another part OF the island
| He shouldered his gun and walked OF across the
country in scarab OF his regiment. On the way,
he fell in with farmer ploughinga field Can
YOU tell me-" he asked him, " in which direction
the French have marched 7"
| "Thsv have gone away" was the startling re-
plys .'They embarked at two this morning, step
ping lightly and without uttering word in con-
sequence of an order received from the emperor )"
Gone away leaving me behind | shall be
reported as deserter! Confound that corporal !;
he has been my ruin. l now understand what
| poor Capucn meant. 1t is not the death fear,
| 80 much as the disgrace
| "Doat take on in that way said the farmer,
/ in 4 consolatory tone of voice. 'Shrieking never
set broken bone. Stay here and make the best
of bad business. If the French come back
again. can prove that it was no fault of yours. !"
my good man, you don't know the severity Of
our rules"
"They will not punish you for 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 Y
Certainly. can plough for instance"
1.-The very thing for me. / can offer you good
board and lodging, with small weekly payment
into the bargain. 1t will be the best thing you
can do, under the circumstances" The soldier
heavcd heavy sigh, and slowly gazed all around
the horizon, to whether any OF ting ships were
still visible. Beholding nothing, he said, at last
II thankfully accept you Offer
"Good" said the farmer. Peter Baxcn 'Come
and breakfast at once. We will 60 with the
ploughDg afterwards"
AT Baxen's farm the soldier loueh,nan had
plenty of opportunities of proving His capacity.
He found such favor in the farmers eyes-and
in other peoples too-that Baxen detcrnined "a
try and keep him for good and all
"My worthy fellow" he said one day. II look
upon you almost Us SON."
"If my poor old father" Firmin answered
''were not anxiously awaiting my return to
France, would willingly remain in Rugen."
you can bring him back with you, the next
time you go to France. But what l want to say
to you now, concerns my daughter"
Firmin colored up to the eyes
UNLESS am much mistaken, you and she are
very good friends"
Firmin uttered few unntelligiblc words
Tho ncishbors even say you are i'll love with
her."
al assure you never uttered word which
could lead her to suppose that"
J " know it; and for that very reason l took
upon myself to tell her that, if you had no obcc
ton, she might have you for a husband"
"And she said-:"
"Not word but she threw her arms around
my neck and kissed IAe for quarter of an hour
A fortnight afterwards, Firmin Bonard wa
married to the fair haired Clarissa, Baxen's onl,
daughter.
Four years then elapsed pretty equally divi
ded between love and labor. His thought
, occasionally reverted TO France, but he had al
, most forgotten his compulsory desertion. Thu
past soon fades from our memory when the pres
ent is satisfactory and the future promising.
One morning, the lookout man in the town o
Rugen signaled feet of ships in the otiing. They
were men-of-war, carrying the French flag. 9Th,
French are coming" people shouted to eacl
other. "They are going to land y
Frmin Bonard heard it. "The French arr
coming !" rang in his cars like the boom of n,
: alarm-gun 1t told him that he was n lost man
, Nevertheless u thought struck him which relev
!, ed his heart by glimmer of hope.
He ran home put on his uniform, seized hi.
4 arms, and mounted guard on the very spot wher
five years before he had been unintentionall,
> abandoned.s Nssnwhile, boats full Of soldier
: one ott1eps.ts sa black and white poodle