Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1869-09-09

.he serl,d of a drum was heard In tbt
peeeeful Valley of Campan and the
reject of the district proclaimed the
irawing of conscripts for The army
Poor Juani his was among the first o.
the selected names, and at the moment
he shock nearly stunned him. How.
-ver, he had been taught not TO shrink
rom his duty, and having calmly made
he needfuI preparations, he drew his
hetrothed aside nd said. Listen 70
the, Marguerite. You promised to be
mine; 1 am going away for some years.
perhaps forever; it Is right that YOU
should be free-1 give you back your
vow.n
"And |, said the girl will not take it
back. Whether our next meeting be
here or in that better world to which,
trust. We are both looking, / will never
marry any one else but you"
The young man pressed her hand in
silence. But my mothern he said at
length, while two unwanted tears rolled
DOWN his cheeks; she is ord, infirm, an
able to work for her support
Your mother, JUAN interrupted
Marguerite. is she not henceforth mine?
so long as God gives me strength to
work oar mother shall not want a
home"
And so, with mutual blessings and
fond tears, they parted.
Caesar followed his master 20 the wars
and Gertrude, ON the day of Juan's de-
parture, took up her abode in Margur-
ties cottage. The old woman managed
the domestic affairs, while the young
one carried her milk, butter, eggs. and
poultry to market. In the evenings, as
they both sat at their spinning W heels,
their conversation naturally turned on
Juan: Where is he now?' what is he
doing while we are speaking of him?'-
sometimes their anxiety was assuaged
by the arrival of a letter, filled with
hope and tenderness; but at length one
came which increased their sorrow. 1t
bore the stamp of Algeria. Juan an
nouneed that his regiment had just
landed in Africa, and was Immediately
To march on the town of Zaatcha, where
a number of the insurgeHt Arabs had
intrenched themselves. Some sharp
fighting was expected as the rebels were
known to be desperate. Under this
affecting INTEL gence, the TIVE women
found their only consolation in religion,
in committing their dear one to the care
of God. Every day, on her way TO the
town, Marguerite was accustomed to
pause few minutes at the spot where
sheIhad first mether betrothed, and where
during the happy days of their court
ship, he had raised rustic seat: she
used to kneel beside the simple meme u
10. and pray fervently, nor did she ever
arise and go on her way without feeling
strengthened and encouraged.
Every evening, on her return, her
first question to Gertrude was Has Juan
written? And the old woman would
silently shake her head with dispair-
ing gesture, which seemed TO imply,
Juan will never write TO US again!'
One day as Marguerite was returning
from Bagneres, she was overtaken by q
violent thunder storm. There was no
place of shelter nearer than her own
cottage; and with her garments drip
pling, and her eyes nearly blinded by
the driving rain, she hastened towards
it. What did she see? A blazing
lightning-stricken pile. surrounded by a
terrified crowd of villagers.
'Mother! cried Margurite, darting
onward, where are you"
"A cry of agony from within the burn
ing cottage was the reply.
''Mother, courage?. I'll save, or die
with you'll And before the astounded
spectators could detain her, she rushed
y
seemed an age of agonizing suspense,
elapsed, and arguerite reappeared,
dragging forth her pious burden, and
forming with her own body rampant
against the flames. Scarcely had she
allowed the old woman to fall into some
some of the arms ready to r -eeive her
when the heroic girl sunk down, herself
inanimate.
: When she opened her eyes, continued
the curate, she was in an apartment in
my house, whether had caused her to
be carried. Gertrude and had watch
ed for three days and three nights by
her side, awaiting the moment of re-
turning consciousness. Her first sensa-
ton was that of torturing pain in her
face. She rRfsed her hand to it, and
felt that it was Sc enveloped in bandages
as to leave only the mouth and eyes free.
A cry escaped her lips. "Oh, 1 remem-
Der the storm-the flames /; L am disfigur-
ed for life-is it not so ?n
Gertrude and I were silent. It was
but too true; the devouring element,
leaving her body. protected by her wet
clothes, untouched, had seized on her
face. The beauty of complexion, which
had procured for her graceful sobriquet
was totally destroyed.
~
which the surgeon did not as yet deem
it prudent to dc, he coull not tell the eX-l
tent of the Disagreement, but that il
would be very great was certain. Our
silence and the tears which we could not |
repress, acquainted the poor child with |
her misfortune She raised her ewes TO !
heaven with a touching expression of
resignation. 1T is Thy will, my God,
but let not Juan see me thus.
Juan y, repeated Gertrude Eve shall
soon embrace him."
as he comingY"
ain ten days-see y0urselfn She |
handed a letter to Marguerite, which |
the latter read with eagerness. 1t was
written by the hand of one of his COM
rades, and informed them that Juan,
who had received a severe wound at the
seige of Zaatcha, was now GONZALES ent in
hospital had obtained, as reward for
his services, cross of merit. his dis
charge, and pension, and would be with
them in ten or twelve days at farthest |
Having finished reading the letter
Marguerite fell into profound reverie. I
from which neither Gertrude's fond |
carresses nor my attempts at consola- |
tion could arouse her. "Oh, SIR" said /
she at last, ''it is not, indeed tits not for
its own sake that / value beauty but /
how can Juan love me when he sees
this state?r At that moment the sur
geon entered, and having felt his pa
TENTS pulse, he began silently TO re-
move the handages. As soon as Margue- /
rite felt that the wounds were exposed, |
she asked for mirror.
"Not yet, my child !; not to-day" said /
the doctor. She tried to raise her hands I
to feel her face. "Hold her arms down, -
cried the surgeon to the old woman and /
myself. We did so, involuntarily turn
ing away from the sight ofthose swollen
and mutilated features, once so lovely
Marguerite saw and understood our
movement. 'Isi not so, sir ?'' she said