The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-11-08
LITERARY


spare my readers the description OI d
bloody fight in which the French First
Lieut.. Jacques Fromentin, severely wound
ed, after gallant resistance, had been made
prisoner by the Germans The struggle
had taken place before Paris, and the
DYING man had been carried into the
camp of Ecouen. The surgeon had at
once carefully examined the fatal wound,
had fastened bandage upon it, and had
then passed on to the next bed of anguish,
where another moaning and groaning
patient awaited him. | followed the
DOCTOR and was about to go farther with
him, when the glance of a wounded Off
Ger arrested me- The man had not
drop of blood left in his face, and his
pale forehead was already beaded with
the cold perspiration Of death. The
wide-open, glowing dark eyes were i'm
movably fixed upon me, imploring the
fulfillment of his player. l approached
and sat down beside him. He followed
my every movement with painfuliattention.
Nearer, please" he said in a low voice.
/ cannot speak loud"
| drew close to him.
"You speak FrenchT
| answered affirmatively.
my name is Jacques Fromentin," he
continued. my fancee is called Jeanne
de Villers."
He gave me her address.
Please write this name for me-"
| drew out pocket book, and made a
note of his directions.
" Let me see"
l held the book before his eyes and he
read attentively what had written.
"That is right" said he.
Then he was silent, as if he were trying
to collect his thoughts. He averted his
glance from me, and turned it toward the
window; his glowing eyes became moist,
he closed them for several seconds, then
looked once more toward me, and spoke
with feverish haste, as though he feared
that he would not have time to finish
what he still wanted to say:
Hearken to the prayer of a dying
man. Go see my .fdncee as soon as Cir
cumstances permit; tell her have died
In the performance of my duty; tell her
that my last thought was for her, and only
for her; | bless the hour when | saw her !;
bless the hour when she promised me
her love; | bless the hour in which | first
loved her, and loving her die. Take her
this ring, and this key of a casket which
she knows we'll. 1t contains in a sealed
package, directed to her, her letters to
me; then bring her to the place where
shall be buried. And now, thanks; you
promise that you will grant my prayer?'
| promised solemnly, and withdrew
with a heavy heart. At the door l turn
ed once more, and met the last glance of
the dying man. nodded assent, and the
large eyes closed in eternal rest.
The next day the body of jacques
Fromentin was laid in the venerable shad-
owy park of the Constable Anne de Mont
morency, in Ecouen. On the spot where
he was buried | had wooden cross cree.
ted, inscribed with his name.
Paris would not surrender, and the
work of the bombardment and storming
of the city slowly progressed. Days
weeks, months flew by, l went frequently
to Ecouen, and visited regularly Jacques
Fromentin's grave. had had it surround
ed with a low, simple paling, and some
soul. probably one of the compassionate
sisters who had undertaken the care Of
the sick in Ecouen, had wreathed the eros:
with flowers.
I thought often ofthe dead soldier, ano
I thought of him as of some one had beer
near to me- | saw him before me, hn
beautiful pale face TRANSPORTED by dealt
and love, and l pictured to myself thu
grief of the bride he had left behind.
She must have long since received thu
news of his death, and consequently wa
spared the most difficult part of my mis-
sion. | saw her in my mind eye in deel
affection She must be very beautiful tt
have inspired such love as Jacques
Fromentin experienced for he. He ha,
said nothing to me about her family, bu
Jeanne de Villers was distinguished
name, and her residence was in an aristo
cratic quarter of Paris. My fancy work
ed diligently, and | even surprised my
self once in the thought that l might fal
in love with Jeanne myself
The capitulation of Paris was at las
decreed, but peace was still to be signed
and the city remained closed to stranger:
was obliged to go to Germany. Whe
I returned to France, Paris was In tn