Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1868-04-04

rived just in time to 60 on board with
the last detachment of the corps.
At four o'clock he began to lose pa
tience. Discipline forbade his quitting
the post; but hunger, which drives the
wolf out of the wood compelled him to
forget the code militaire. He left his
station, and went to the guard house,
muttering to himself, If anybody de-
serves to be shot for this, it is not I,
but the corporal who doesn't know his
business, and keeps sentinel on guard
six hours at time
In the guard house not creature !!
The only supposition he could form was,
that the regiment lad gone to occupy
another part of the island. He shoul-
dered his gun and walked across the
country in search of the regiment. On
the way he fell in with farmer plow-
ing field.
"Can you tell me- he asked him,
Gin what direction the French have
marched"
"They are gone away" was the
startling reply. They embarked at two
this morning, stepping lightly, and
without word, in consequence of an
order received from the Emperor
"Goue away, leaving me behind I
shall be reported as deserter! Confound
that corporal; he has been my ruin. l
now understand what poor Capucin
meant. 1t is not the death I fear SO
much as the disgrace"
Don't take or in that way,' said the
farmer, in consolatory tore. Stay
here and make the best of bad bust
ness. If the French come back again,
can prove that it was 10 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 were
probably brought up in the country and
are accustomed to do country work ?"
Certainly, can plow, for instance.
"The very thing for me. can offer
you good board and lodging, with a
small weekly payment into the bargain.
1t will he the best thing you can do
under the circumstances"
The soldier heaved a heavy sigh,
and slowly gazed around the horizon to
see whether any of the ships were still
visible Beholding nothing, he said at
last : 81 thankfully accept your offer"
GOOD !" said the farmer, Peter
Baxen, "Come and breakfast at once
We will go on with the plowing after
wards "
At Baxen's farm the soldier powman
had plenty of opportunities of proving
his capacity. He found such favor in
the farmers eyes and in other peoples
too that Baxen determined to try and
keep him for good and all
only worthy fellow" he said, one
day, 81 look upon you almost as a
son."
"If my poor old father" Firmin an
swered were not anxiously awaiting my
return to France l would willingly re-
main IN Rugen.
"You can bring him back with you,
the next time you 60 to France But
what | want to say to you now, concerns
my daughter"
Firmin colored up to the eyes.
"Uuless | am much mistaken you and
she are very good friends
Firnin uttered few unintelligible
words.
"The neighbors even say you are in
love with her."
81 assure you that I never uttered
word which could lead her to suppose
that
~ know it; and for that very reason
l took upon myself to tell her that, if
you had no objection, she might have
you for a husband"
"And she said-?"
"Not word but she then threw
her arms around my neck and kissed
me for a quarter of an hour" A fort
night afterwards, Firmin Bonard was
married to the fair-haired Clarissa,
Peter Baxen's only daughter.
Four years then elapsed, pretty
equally divided between love and labor.
His thoughts occasionally reverted to
France, but he had almost forgotten
his compulsory desertion.
The past soon fades from our memory
when the present is satisfactory and the
future promising. One morning, the
look man in the town of Rugen sig
nailed fleet of ships in the offing. They
were meo o-of-w wars, carrying the French
flag. "The French are coming !'' peo-
pie shouted to each other. "They are
going to land -
Firmin Bonard heard it. "The
French are comingp' rang in his ears
like the boom of an alsrm-gun. 1t told
him that he was a lost man. Never
theless, thought struck him which re-
lieved 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 be
had been unintentionally abandoned.
Meanwhile boats full of soldiers rowed
toward the hillock. In the fore-part of
one of the boats was black and white
poodle. As it approached the beach
the creature barked with joy. In spite
of his anxiety, Firmin's eyes filed with
tears as he recognized his old friend
Capucin. The dog unable to master
his impatience, jumped into the sea and
swan ashore.