Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-04-10
THE BLUE HANDKERCHIEF.
A TRANSLATION from the Freueh

AADOuO bllO Nilu VI OGUODGl3 ldSb
year, / was returning on foot from
Orleans to the Chateau 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 military music
which l liked so much; but the
band ceased playing; a few taps of
the drum from afar off alone
marked the measured step of the
soldiers.
After half hours march | saw
the regiment enter a small fields sur
rounded by clump of trees. l
asked captain whom / knew if
they were about to exercise.
No, he said to me, they are about
to judge and probably to shoot a
soldier of my company for having
robbed the man with whom he was
quartered.
What said /, to judge, condemn
and execute at once?
Yes, said he, it is according to
our articles of capitulation.
For him this was unanswerable,
as though all had been provided
for in the capitulation-the crime,
the punishment, the justice and
even the humanity. Besides, if you
are curious, added the captain, l
will get you place. 1t won't take
long.
/ had always a passion for these
sad spectacles, and l imagined that
| could learn what death was by
the face of the dying. l followed
the captain.
The regiment was formed in a
hollow square; behind the rear
rank and on the edge of the wood,
some soldiers were digging a grave.
They were commanded by a first
lieutenant, for everything in reg
iment is done with order, and there
is a certain discipline in digging a
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 few words
upon his knees, but carelessly and
only that a man should not be
killed without some formalities.
The accused was called. He was
tall young man, of noble and
honest face. A woman advanced
with him, the only witness who was
to testify in the case but when the
Colonel was about to interrogate
this woman
cts useless" said the soldier
"I will confess all. l stole the
handkerchief from the woman'i
house."
The Colonel-You, Pierrel You
were always an honest fellow.
Pierre-It is true, my Colonel,
have always tried to satisfy my off,
GERS; and it was not for myself tha
/ stole it-'twas for Marie.
The Colonel-Who is this Mariei
Pierre-'Tis Marie who lives yon
7 der in my village near Arenburg
/. where the great apple-tree is.
shall never see her more.
The Colonel do not under
stand you, Pierre! explain yourself
Pierre-Well, my Colonel, real
this.
And he handed him the follow
ing letter, every word of which i
!. present to my memory:
My Coon FRIEND PIERRE:
profit by the recruit Arnold, VIII
is engaged in your regiment, +
send you this letter and a silk purs
which l have made for you. / wa
obliged to hide myself from m
father while / made it, for he con
tinually scolds me for loving you S
I much, and says that you will no
come back. You will come bach
won't you2 But if you never n
. turn | shall love you all the sam,
Ipromised myself to you the da
Q you picked up my blue handkel
y chief at the dance in Arenburg, an
brought it back to me. When sha
= Isee you againY What makes m
y happy is that they say you are e
~ tae,ned hv vo,lr suner.iors aud h,