, 1875-06-26


burg, where the great apple-tree
is. l shall never see her more.
The colonel---I dc not under
stand you, Pierre; explain your
self.
Pierre---Well, my colonel, read
this.
And he handed to him the fol-
lowing letter:
My Good Friend Pierre: profit
by the recruit Arnold, who is en-
gagged in your regiment, to send
you this letter and a silk purse
which I have made for you. 1 was
obliged to hide myself from my
father while l made it, for he con-
tinually scolds me for loving you
so much, and says that you will
not come back. You will come
tback, won't youP But if you new
or return l shall love you all the
same. l promised myself to you
the day you picked up my blue
handkerchief at the dance in Aren-
burg, and brought it to me. When
shall see you again? What rem
ders me happy is, that you say you
are esteemed by your superiors
and beloved by your comrades.
But you have still 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 some
thing from France, not for fear l
shall forget you, but that l may
wear it always. Kiss what you
send me. | am sure that 1 shall
find the place of your kiss again.
When the letter was read Pierre
resumed. Arnold, said he, gave
me this letter last night when my
billet of quarters was received.
All night I could not sleep. l
thought of the village and of Ma
rie. She asked me for something
frnm Franco had no money! ]
had pledged my pay for three
months for my brother and my
cousin, who had returned home q
few days before. This morning
when I arose to leave, I opened
the window. A blue handker-
chief was hanging on a line, and
resembled that of Marie's. 1t was
the same ooler, with the same
white stripes. I was weak enough
to take it and put it into my sack,
1 repented of what l had done,
and was about returning to the
house when this woman ran after
me. The handkerchief was found
upon me, that is the truth. The
capitulation demands that l be
shot. Shoot me, but do not de-
lspise me.
The judges could not restrain
their emotion, but notwithstand-
ing, when the vote was taken, he
was unanimously condemned to
death. He heard the verdict with
composure; then approaching his
captain, he begged him to lend
him four francs. The captain
gave them to him. He then ad-
vanced toward the woman, and 1
heard these words: Madame, here
are your four francs. l don't
know if your handkerchief is
worth any more, but even if it
should be I pay dear enough for it,
and you ought to excuse me for
the difference. Then taking the
handkerchief he kissed it and gave
it to the captain, saying: In two
years you will return to our noun
tains; if you go near to Arenburg
ask for Marie, give her this blue
handkerchief, but do not tell her
how bought it.
He then knelt in prayer, and
marched with a firm step to his
execution.
! retired then and entered the
wood, that l might not witness
this cruel tragedy. A few musket
shots soon apprized me that all
was over. l returned an hour af-
terward; the regiment had depart
ed; all was quiet; but in skirting
the edge of the wood to gain the
road, l perceived at a few PAGES
before me traces of blood and a
heap of earth, freshly made. I
took a branch of fir tree and made
a sort of cross; placed it on the
grave of poor Pierre, forgotten
now by all the world except my
self and perhaps Marie.