The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1876-10-05
$elected Story.
The French Guardsman

With the army of Marshal SAKE,
encamped near Fontenoy, ready to
give battle to tho allies, there were
not few ladies, who, impelled by II
chivalric feeling, or personally in
terested in tho fate Of some OF the
. combatants, had followed the troops
to witness the triumph of the
Trench arms. Their presence WAS
NEDnce tho Indictment and reward
81 valor, for what soldier would not
fight with tenfold gallantry, when he
knew that his '>aXploits were wit
messed by the eyes Of her he loved
as vile, mistress, OF mother, and
whose safety or honor, perhaps, de-
pended on his prowess I!
Among those most distinguished
for their beauty was the youthful
Holoise, the lovely daughter of the
Baron dc Clairvillc, II French gener-
III officer. The handsome eyes OF the
demoisclle had cnslaved more than
one young officer, but of the host Of
suitors none could boast with reason
Of encouragement, except Henri dc
&randville, and Raoul, Count dc ST.
Mtrix, both commanding companies
in the French Guards. Both were
handsome and accomplished young
men, and both had their spurs to
win upon the field Of battle. They
had been fast friends until the pur >
, suit of tho same lady had created a
sort o. estrangemcnt between then.
Little was known Of Henri dc
Grandville previous to his reception
OF his commission in the guards.
, He had been brought up by his
! mother in tho old provincial chateau,
md though his manners and educa~
ton were those Ola gentleman, still
\ he seemed but little acquainted
3. with the world, and above all igno~
! rant Of the lighter accomplishments
of the courtior. Perhaps this ve.y
simplicity of mannar and frankncss
{ of character, contrasting SO strange
T. ly with the fashionable \at1cctations
of the court, cndcared him $40. rllili / i
comrades, and strong ly preposscsset
Heloise dc Clairvillc in his favor
d His, rival was Of different stamp
Raoul de St. Pix was u dashing
bril- liant officer, brave us steel, but
fond Of dress, reckless, dissi 1lteo
- and extravaganza. Yet his faults
were those of his age, and belot god
to the circumstances by which he
was surrounded The Baron dc
! Clairville, while he loft his da, S,tcl
EaSNee to make her selection, yet, ls IL
'1S'''snin, blunt soldier, rather thai q
.'~ out,rtier, secretly inclined to f5'or
the prctcnsions Of Henri. Still. hia
treatment of the two young guMls~
mon was tho same, for they etvc
equal promise of military gallanry.
It was on the eve of the battle Of
Fontenoy that Henri sought an H.
tervicw with Heloisc, who occulo;l
gay pavilion near her father S tat.
He found her alone and weel.ing
"Mademoisellc," said he, ''you &c
unhappy. Will you permit q frid
to inquire the cause of your u
row."
n "Cun you ask me, Monsieurd dc
u Gran dvillc? Of the thousind Of
II brave mon who lie down to-nigl in
y peaceful slumbcr, how many i'll
II Steep their last sleep on ca!l :?
n How many eyes that will witnc' to-
81 morrow's sun arise, will be cscd
II forever before it goes dow: at
81 even ng Oh, what u rcaifnl ISL
~ ness is this. trade of war! My oor
I father, he never cares for hiiclf,
he never asks his men to go wro
~ he is unwilling to lead. l fcafor
/ his safety in the deadly conhic of
to morrow.
"If the devotion of ono faiful
follower can save him, lady, n
swercd Henri, 'bc assured oflis
,sssaty. would pour out the Id
9&tAy veins as freely as wateto
shield the fnther' of Hcloisdc
Clairville."
"But you---you-Hcnri-M~
y sieur dc Grandvillc-you Tx
II nothing of your own life"
H. ''If fall" answered the yog
NJ soldier, "my poor mother will yp
If bitterly for her only son, thougc
81 perish on the field Of honor. {
81 who else will shell q tear for
poor guardsman?'
A Henri exclaimed the yo.
~ Rlfl fcpfoachluliy-and INC sou y
Es she raised to his were filed y
tears.
t "Is it possible ?" cried the yo
SaSs soldier. ''Can my fate awaken
momentary interest i'll the liz
@M of tho lovelicst, tho gentlest of
Nssex! All! why did you render
/ ssS so dear to mo Mt the moment | m
II peril it q /.
q "Believe me" said Hcloise, 4
4 l,;pg her tears, "thnt I would s
n pld you back when honor beck
a you. 1t is to such hands as yo
n that the honor of the golden lille
j committed. l am tho daughter
E3f soldier, and though these tears G
y fess my sex, honor bravery "
FIJI it is displayed in n good cause
| honor the soldier as much az
\ xdetest the duelist." 81