The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-08-17
yoLU1E 90 ALEXANDRIA, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST = 1870

: Ai"AiA O. h'ittlc 10 pIay III
coquette with him who had rislsed hi
lie Tor hers, and the prelilninaries 10
their marriage were speedily arranged
ION the morning preceding that o.
which their bans were. to be published
the sound of a drum was heard in tn,
peaceful Valley of Campan; and tn
project of the district proclaimed til,
drawing of conscripts for the army
Poor Juan! his was among the first O
the selected names, and at the nlomen
the shock nearly stunned him. How
ever, he had been taught not to sllrinl
from his duty, and having calmly mad.
| the needful preparations, he drew hi.
betrothed aside, and said: Listen t.
me, Marguerite. You promised to be
mine !; am going away for some years
perhaps forever; it is right that yos
should be free-I give you back you,
VOW
And T. said the girl, will not take
it back. Whether our next meeting
Juan, will be here OF in that better
world to which, / trust, we are both
looking, viii never marry any one but
YOU
The young man pressed her hand
in silence. But my nother!' he said
at length, while two unwonted tears
rolled down his cheek; she is old, in
firm, unable to work for her support
Your mother, Juan interrupted
Marguerite, is she not hencefortIl
mine i So long as God gives to me
strength to work, our mother shall not
want a home p
"And so, with mutual blessings and
fond tears, they parted.
Caesar followed his master to the
wars, and Gertrude, on the day of Ju-
ans departure took up her abode III
Margueritc's 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 wheels, their conversation
naturally turned on Juan: Where is
he now Z what is he doing while we are
speaking Of him 2 Sometimes their
anxiety was assuaged by the arrival of
letter, filed with hope and tender
ness; but at length one came whichi in
creased their sorrow. Tt bore the
stamp of Algeria. Juan announced
that his regiment had just landed in
Africa, and was Immediately to march
on the town of Iaatcha, where a num-
Der OF insurgent Arabs had intrencllcd
themselves. Some sharp fighting was
as the, rebels were known to
be desperate. Under this affecting in
tclligence, the two women found their
only consolation in religion--in COM
uniting their dear one to the care of
God. Every day, on her way to the
town, Marguerite was accustomed to
pause for a few minutes at the spot
where she had first met her betrothed.
and where, during the happy days of
their courtship, he had raised rustic
seat; she used to kneel beside that
simple memento, 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
Juanwrittcn?" And the old woman
would silently shake her head with
despairing gesture, which seemed to
imply, Juan will never write to us
again!
Gone day rs Marguerite was return
ing from Bagneres, she was overtaken
by violent thunder storm. There
was no place of refuge nearer than her
own cottage and with her garments
dripping, and her eyes nearly blinded
by the driving rain, she fastened to-
ward it. What did she see z A bIaz-
ing lightning-strieken pile, surrounded
by terrified crowd ofvillagers. ..
'Mothern cried Marquette, darting
onward, where are you
ga cry of agony from within the
burning cottage was the reply.
Mother, courage! I'll save, or die
with youp And before the astounded
spectators could detain her, she rushed
through the flames. A minnie, which
seemed an age of agonizing suspense,
passed, and Marguerite reappcared,
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 of the arms ready to receive her,
when the heroic girl sunk down, her.
self inanimate.
"When she opened her eyes," con-
tinued the curate, "she was in an apart
ment in my house, whittier had eaus-
ed her to he carried. Gertrude and /
had watched for three days and three
nights by her bed, awaiting the mo-
ment of returning consciousness. Her
first sensation was that of tort,,ing
pain in her face. She raised her hand