Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-06-08
aAhm let us hear them then" exclaimed

your sweet songs"
Evariste shook his head, smiling, but
did not answer. :,
"Come, tell us what your ambition is, y
said Martel; I am sure you have some
some scheme"
"You will mock yourselves Of me if
do tell you," said Evariste, while faint
tinge of color spread itself over his face.
I No! MOI" they both exclaimed, why
should WEI"
you know you are far more learned
than either of u.s." said Jules" we never
studied as you did in the old days when
the cure labored 80 hard to hammer little
knowledge into our brains. dare say
you have flown far over our heads in your
dreams. Come give us the benefit of them. u
well" said Evariste, somewhat reluc
family, Z" only want to do something foi
nv fellow creatures before leave the
world. do not want to live just to amuse
myself, and then die to be forgotten.
should like to follow the example Of the
heroes of old who died for their country
or, better still, Of the martyrs who died
for Christ" And his face became flushed
with glow Of enthusiasm.
ITEMS that is an idea which would not
have come to me-" said Jules. II prefer
to live"
"Well, should not object TO die glo.
rious DEATH" said Martel, but ! must first
live long, happy life with Vevette, dien
entendu. 1t would be pleasant enough to
know that ones name would be honored
by posterity; but let me take my pleasure
out of existence first"
"But, Martel," said Evariste, " it is not
in old age, for the most part, that we make
sacrifice. Life has come to an end by
that time anyhow"
"Sacrifice! old age! death |" exclaimed
Jules; why, Evariste, you are worse than
the cure, with your gloomy ideas bat hap
PLY they are only ideas after all. With all
those fine sentiments, mon ami, / think
know pretty well what will be your fate
you will be a bon pere de famalte, like your
father before you. Do you think did not
observe Leonie Michon's pretty blue eyes
glancing your way all through benediction
this evening? And you love her, Evarste.
You need not deny it,"
81 do not wish to deny it," he answered
quietly. az do love her better than my
life. Still | think could give up love,
with life, if were chosen by Heaven to
be a hero or martyr"
"But if you are not so chosen, which
does not seem likely in these commonplace
time, you will marry Leonie and rock the
baby's cradle in due course, will you not 2"
said Jules, looking at him laughingly.
81 dare say / SHALL" he answered, with a
bright smile, "and be thankful enough
that was allowed to be happy in life, in
stead of glorious in death"
"So we are all three provided for, in
spite of the cure" said Martel, "etpas mai,
Unjust say;" and after little more con-
versation on Indifferent subjects, the three
friends separated, and walked away to
their different homes.
A few more days-during which the
birds still sung among the sunlit trees, and
the grapes ripened on the vines, and the
inhabitants of Vaux Vilaine went to and
fro in happy security, and talked of the
prospects of the harvest as the most inn
portant subject in the world--and then
the pastoral quiet of even that most peace
full home was awfully broken by the stun
which all knew to be, in truth, the death
knell of thousands upon thousands Of the
bravest hearts in France.
Was there spot in all that fair and
pleasant country, however secluded and
failed to bring anguish and terror, even
before shot had been fired or single
life sacrificed? Surely not one; and Vaux
Vilaine was no exception, though, Tor the
first two months, the tide Of war rolled
far away from Its green fields and tranquil
homes. But there was scarce a family
who had not relation with the army
and day after day brought tidings which
told of beloved faces that would be seen
no more--of national disaster, and heroic
self devotion that cOurted death, but failed
to retrieve the terrible disgrace.
Jules, Martel and Evariste had each o
brother in the army but they themselves,
for various family reasons, had as yet been
held exempt, greatly to their Indignation
and annoyance; for even the special ties
which bound Martel and Evariste to the
homes that held Vevette and Leonie did
not prevent them feeling quite as strongly
as Jules did the burning desire to throw
their young lives into the balance, and
help to turn the scale in favor of their
beautiful and unfortunate France, in
whose ultimate success and glory they
could not cease to believe, in the face Of
the worst reverses.
Still, though there was lamentation and
disquiet in Vaux Vilaine, and many sig
nifcant notice on the church door asking
the faithful, Of their charity, to pray for
the soul of some brave soldier lying In his
last cold sleep on the blood drenched soil
of Woerth or Weissenburg, yet the ordin-
airy life of the villagers went on much as
usual no one prevented them from con-
tinuing their accustomed employments
the harvest and vintage were gathered in
with only little additional toll, because
the numbers of the men who remained to
accomplish that pleasant task were SO
much fewer than they had ever been be-
fore. And the domestic events in the
various families proceeded as they had
ever done; children were christened,
young maidens given in marriage, and old
men peacefully buried, whose last sigh
had been for their dear and fair France, so
sorely worsted In the gigantic conflict.
Amongst other plans which had under
gone no alteration, the marriage of Martel
was still to take place on the day originally
fixed; but he and Vevette were not alone
in their happiness now. Evariste and
Leonie were to unite on the same day
and Jules often declared that of the three
he was the only victim of the war, and it
was, to say the least, very doubtful whether
he would be able to join his uncle in the
besieged capital at the time he proposed