Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-07-30
The Hue Handkerchief.

The Blue Handkerchief
About the end CT October, last year, was
returning on foot from Orleans 10 the Chat
eau de Bardy. A regiment of the foreign
guard was marching abreast of me and on
the same road.
l had FASTENED my steps to hear the mill
itary music, which | liked so much but
the band ceased playing; few taps of the
drum from aiar off alone marked the step
of the soldiers.
Alter an half hours march l SAW the
regiment onter a small field surrounded
by a clump of fir trees. | asked Il captain
whom knew if they were about 10 exer-
ercise
NO." said he 10 me, "they are about 10
judge, and probably TO shoot a soldier of
my company for having robbed the man
with whom he was quartered."
What y said /, $50 judge, condemn
and execute at once?"
EYES," said he" it is according TO our ar
ticles of equalization"
For him this was unanswerable, as
capitulation-the crime, the punishment,
the justice and even the humanity.
"Besides, if you are curious" added the
captain, 81 will get you a place. 1t won't
take long.
l had always Il passion for these sad spec
tacles, and Imagined that l could learn
what death was by the face OF the dying. |
followed the captain.
The regiment was formed in hollow
square; behind the rear rank, and on the
edge of the wood, some soldiers were dig
ging grave.
They were commanded by first lieu
tenant, for everything in regiment is done
with order, and there is a certain discipline
in digging n mans grave.
In the center of the square eight officers
were sitting on drum heads, the ninth, on
the right and more forward, was writing a
few words upon his knees, but carelessly,
and only that man should not be killed
without some formalilies.
The accused was called. He was tall
young man, of noble and honest face. n
woman advanced with him, the only wit
ness who was to testify in the case, but
when the colonel was about TO interrogate
| this woman:
"Its useless" said the soldier; 81 will
confess all. stole the handkerchief from
| this woman's house."
The Colonel-YUu, Pierre! You were
always an honest fellow.
Pierre-It is true, my colonel. l have
always tried TO satisfy my officers and it
was not for myself that stole it-'twas for
Marie.
The Colonel-Who is this Marie.
Pierre-'Tis Marie who lives yonder in
my village near Arenbug, where the apple
| tree is 1 shall never see her more.
/ The Colonel-I do not understand you,
Pierre; explain yourself
Pierre-Well, my colonel, read this.
And he handed him the following letter,
every word of which is present TO my
memory:
"MY GooD FRIEND PIERRE: Iproiit by
the recruit Arnold, who is Engaged in your
regiment, TO send you this letter and a silk
| purse which I have made for you. 1 was
| obliged 10 hide myself from my father
while made ii, for he continually scolds
me for loving you so much, and says that
you will not come back. You will come
back won't Your But If you never return,
l shall love you just the same. 1 promised
myself to you the day you picked up my
blue handkerchief at the dance in Aren-
burg, and brought ii back to me. When
shall l SEQ you again? What makes me
so happy is that you are esteemed by your
superiors, and beloved by your comrades.
But you still have two years of service.
Get through them quick, for then We will
be married. Adieu, my good friend
Pierre. Your dear,
"MARIE."
"P. S.-Try to send me something from
France, not that am afraid that l shall
forget you, but that may wear it always.
Kiss what you send me. l am sure that 1
shall find the place of your kiss again."
When the letter was read, Pierre resum-
ed:
"Arnold," said he, "gave me this letter
last night when my billet Of quarters was
received. All night could not sleep. l
thought Of the village and Marie. She ask
ed me for something from France. l had
no money. had pledged my pay for three
months for my brother and my cousin,
who had returned home lew days before.
| This morning when l arose TO leave
opened the window. A blue handkerchief
was hanging ON the line; it resembled
that Of Marie's; it was the same color, the
same white stripes. ! was weak enough to
take it and put it in my sack. went down
into the street; repented of what l had
done, and was about returning TO the house
when this woman ran after me. The hand
| Gar iaf utao Cnun1 hat 4 lao
truth. The equalization demands that 1
shall be shot. Shoot me but do not despise
| me-"
The judges could not restrain their emo
| tion-bu:, notwithstanding, when the vote
was taken, he was unanimously condemn
ed to death. lie heard the verdict with
composure; then approaching his cap
lain, he begged him to lend him four francs.
| The captain gave them to him. l saw then