Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1875-08-27

what, then. do you desirel' said Jules
seating himself
You do not know me, my friend, con
tinued the stranger, disregarding the pris
oner's words. 4 saw you 1t the battle o.
Austerlitz, where you fought bravely ant
won the cross of honor. Since the memo
rable 2Jth of November have entertain
ed for you slncere esteem. In the ARM
you have been held as . dut,fal soldier
On entering Strasbourg / heard of you
crime aud condemnation. The jailer o.
the prison being relative of mine, va,
able to obtain this interview. Those abou
to die often regret that there Is not som,
friend near to whom they can contids
their last wishes. What can do for YOU
Thanks, comrade; haye made m.
peace. and have no wish, lie Preux sad
briefly.
Have you nothing 70 sayl'
Nothing
Not even . farewell word to some young
heart yearning for your return-no mes
sage to sister,
No one watches for my return. have
not any sister-I never had one.'
"A fathcr?'
He has been dead for years.
And your mother!' The stranger press
ed each question earnestly.
MY mother!' reiterated Jules, bowling
his face upon his hands, the tone of hia
voice deepening. Mother! mother!' be
said. tearfully. 'Oh! do not even utter hel
name, he continued, fixing his eyes upon
the man. 'She 10 dead. I have only one
hour or two of life; then we will meet,
end before her I must lay tarnished
record As he spoke his strong frame
shook with suppressed emotion.
DO you remember your mother!' lie
Preux questioned, after . moment of 81
lence.
Yes, loved her, and was IN return be-
loved was the quiet response.
Then I can open my heart to you. Il
lis comfort in this hour to pour out my
soul. Will you listen!'
4 am listening, Jules, with sympathy
and interest
Il was the only son Of widow; my
native village was called Folk. I can
only remember my father; he died many
years ago, but I can still recall the press
ure of his hand upon my head. as it rested
there in his last blessing. I grew to man
hood with but one affection, and that cen
tered upon my mother. was her sole
companion; her life was one Of piety-de-
voted to the poor, who received her only
visits. To the gentle teaching of that
mother owe my little store of knowledge
From early youth she had sought to insflll
into my mind lofty sense of duty. !
was called to serve my flag. Filled with
despair at the thought of leaving her, l
protested; in my hour Of weakness she
strengthened and encouraged me. She
bade me 20 for her sake. With tender
smile upon her white lips che blessed me,
telling me that my country claimed .
higher duty of me than my holy duty to
herself, adding it was the will OF God
Should you die before me, my son, viii
still have strength to say, Father. into
Thy hands commend his spirit. Go,
and. a. you love me, be faithful to your
duty. These were her last words. and ]
departed. We had returned from Spain,
flushed with the glory of conquest. j
eudeavored to obtain leave, but owing to
the determination Of the emperor to evade
Germany, l was obliged to abandon the
thought followed my regiment to Stras
bourg. One morning I received . letter
from my beloved mother, telling me that
she w.s i'll A great longing possessed
me to zee her. I requested leave, but 1t
vas refused. I remembered her last words
IA YOU love me be faithful to your duty. I
I resigned myself A week Or more elaps-
ed when . letter from the curste OF the
psrish reached me. Il told briefly that
nv mother was dying-there was no hope.
nv reason forsook me. At all risks ] DC
tcrmined to return homo. The yearning
70 atlast pray beside her grave, It l mies'
not look upon her dsar.face. tortured ne
1ay and uight. Like many of tho simple
ncssauts Of our mountain village, ! am
Imbued with superstitious beliefs oel'ei
hat hes strengthened with my years, and
vhich I have ches,shod, and which no ar-
xument could destroy. This superstit'on
Iaught me to believe that tho nrss mower
vhich blooms shove the grave Of . loved
,ne possesses peculiar CHARM the one
who gathers and retains 1t b nevef for
rotten by the dead. Il was . sacred and
thought. With this BELIEF 70
nv heart. death seemed robbed Of half lts
,s,ng, and becomes only sweet slesp, Ike
ct after fatigue. This flower l dss'rso
o go bloom that I might gather 1t, ANA
vith Il the blessed assurance OF tmmoceI
The night the troops 'ets
ned. After . weary journey
4 ten dsys reached Folk, to dad. s'ss,
,nlv Z grave, She had died blessing me.
rhe easth was still fresh and soft bsosoInl
he esesn cod, but no flower had made ~
pueassnca / waited; weeks passed. =!
eneth I rose q dawn one morning ana
vssded ny way to the little churceyslo.
rhs sky w. covered with nescy c'oeos'
nd the sun rose IL golden glory = knel'
'es,ds the grave. Thsrs. midst u gsseo
rasa nv flower; its tiny leaves wees
psu. and o. she blas blosson rsesed
oltly. like Q sweet pso0iss. . Eay q tes
noesing sualiehk i was the httIe osee
On slosres-me-nok' Ny nethses scsi
oealed = look iato my syss plsadisey'
thile whispering sRsnsabee - Sene.II
pmewsa ~. Belisviae myodDf stuly vii
- saered pssssses Il IL Asa1, ! saahss
1 NJ tssasaso h alsass, aed Win ssaes
I Gsntieode aad hope, s1oo q deoask
Teehiag sew Solalssd - = 1aA oeeI
- va1A = ~ M ~ > taleae3 ~