The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1877-09-08

came, he placed ring upon her nHSer
and small golden chain around her
neck.
"' You will see me again Marie he
said, with an epaulet on my shoulder.
| go forth leaning on your love and His
strong arm
"He went back to his regiment. In a
few weeks Andrews name appeared in
the list of wounded; but he speedily re-
covered, and was appointed to the I'M
perial Guard.
1.-TWO more years passed. France be
came cmbroiled in war with Russia.
4 Andrew was ordered away; his first let
ter was from Smolensko, informing
Marie that he was adjutant, and that the
cross of the Iron Crown had been award
ed to him. She tried to smile when she
read me the proud intelligence, but the
tremulous emotion of her lips and the
moisture of her eyes belied her happi-
| ness.
" AT length, in the winter of 1872, a
rumor reached our secluded village that
the French army had been defeated.
The fatal tidings quickly followed that
! Andrew had persisted at the Beresina.
From that time hardly saw smile up
]
"In time, remnants of the shattered
French army passed through our village,
and from some of the soldiers we gathered
full particulars of Andrews death. One
old sergeant of the Imperial Guard over
took, as he was limping YEARLY up the
/ hill leading to my church.
DO you belong to Piedmont, my
| brave?" | asked.
"s Yes he replied, and thanks to the
lances of those rascally Cossacks, my
name will soon be struck from the mus
! ter roll of the Old Guard"
Did you know young fellow nam
ed Andrew Tomato, belonging to your
regiment | asked
"' Haiti he cried, suddenly, as the
tears started to his eyes, and fell down
his swarthy cheeks. Bombshells and
sabres!' he gasped out in hoarse, trem-
ulous voice, but you have made wo-
man of me. Did | know him? Did
know my brave captain? He fell at the
Beresina. We had crossed the bridge
side by side together, when bullet
reached his heart. As knelt over him
for moment, a beggerly Russian cut me
senseless to the ground, and when 1
awoke | was in a hospital. Poor Tomato
He was the idol of the regiment, and the
Piedmontese. He used to boast that he
carried two talismans next his heart
"' Marie's love gifts' | inwardly
thought.
g | took the brave fellow to my house,
and brought Marie to see him, that she
might hear the tidings of her lovers
death from the man who saw him fall
q For long days and nights after that,
Marie would steal away to the brow of
the hill at the entrance to the village,
and gaze over the long, winding road,
hoping against hope, that Andrew might
return.
"Three years passed slowly by. What
ever little girlish vanity Marie had once
possessed had vanished, and grave
thoughtfulness lent a passive sadness to
her beauty. One evening | met her
wandering through the little church
yard yonder. She was coming, as it sub
sequently appeared, to solicit my advice.
My dear child | said, has some
new grief befallen your"
Lifting her pale face. she gasped, in
a choking whisper, They wish me to
marry
90 Who wishes you to do so?'
"f My parents she replied; they are
aged and infrm. Their daily cares will
be lightened, their poverty removed by
/ Giuseppe Bernharde, the farmer, who has
proposed for my hand
"Guiseppe BerEharde,' / pleaded, is
prosperous, thriving man. You would
secure by this marriage a happy home
and worthy husband
Che 1onl-oJ OF mo II ,
earnest glance, and then sank into long,
thoughtful silence. At last she muir
INJURED, It's a bitter sacrifice | am re-
quired to make
"' A sacrifice, Marie, that will smooth
your parents declining years, and give
you perfect triumph over self, / urged
| leave your decision with your own
calm judgement. Pray, my child, for
the Almighty's aid to guide YOU
"' | will, father she said, meekly
Come to our cottage tomorrow evening
Giuseppe will be there for his answer
"'The following evening, according to
my appointment, | repaired at sunset to
Marie's humble abode. Giuseppe was
already there when entered the cottage
"' Well, Marie, said l. what is your
resolveg'
Giuseppe Bernharde,'' she began,
with her eyes fixed alternately upon the
anxious faces of her father and mother
/ cannot love you as | have loved An
drew. / can never Danish his image
from my heart. The only hope his death
left me was that / should end my days
alone, with his memory for a solace.
But higher duty has been pointed out
to me, and | will not shrink from it; if,
then, you are content to accept as much
love as / have strength to bestow, take
my hand. Through good and evil l
promise to be faithful and devoted
wife
"' ask no more, Marie, said Giuseppe,
tenderly.
This ring and chain, she said, point
ing to Andrews parting gifts, 1 should
like to wear them still
''Do not misunderstood me, dear
Marie, said Giuseppe, with manly ten
derness; / never was jealous of the
memory of Andrew, who was my friend,
ay, brother in my heartp
On the bridal morning her aged parents
were removed to Guiseppe's comfortable
home. At the end of the year a son
blessed their union, whom they christen-
ed Andrew.
con the fourth anniversary of their
wedding few friends, myself included,
were invited to pass a social evening.
:" | fingered in the midst of their hap
py circle till the shadows of evening had
deepened into night, and then reluctantly
took my leave My hand was on the
latch of my garden gate, when strangely