Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1878-11-07

been very simple, and foremost of very
necessity was the order forbidden him
to leave his post until properly relieved.
To a certain extent, the safety of the
whole army rested upon the shoulders of
each individual sentinel, and especially
upon those who at night were posted
nearest the lines of the enemy.
am sorry" said the haired old
warrior, as he folded up the petition and
handed it back to the officer who had
presented it. 81 am sure that man
meant no wrong, and yet a great wrong
was done. He knew what he was doing
The ran his risk-he was detected-he
has been tried and condemned, He
must sutfer!"
They asked Lefebvre if he would see
the condemned.
No, mol" the marshal cried, quick
ly. SHOULD see him, and listen to
one-haH his story, might pardon him,
and that must not be done. Let him
die, that thousands may be saved"
The time fixed for the execution of
Dubois was the morning succeeding the
day OF his trial. The result of the in
| terview with Marshal Lefebvre was made
known to him, and he WAS not at all dis
appointed. He blamed no one, and was
only sorry that he had not died on the
battle field
II have tried to 10 good soldier"
he said to his captain. 81 feel that I
have done no crime that should leave 4
stain upon my name.'
! The captain took his hand, and assur-
; ed him that his name should be held in
| respect.
Toward evening, Pierre Valiant, with
his wife and child, were admitted to see
the prisoner. This was visit which
jerome would gladly have dispensed
with, as his feelings were already
wrough up to a pitch that almost I'M
manned him; but he braced himself for
! the interview, and would have stood it
like q hero had not little Natalie, in the
eagerness of her love and gratitude,
thrown herself upon his bosom and
offered to die in his stead. This tipped
the briming cup, and his tears flowed
, freely.
Pierre and Lisette knew not what to
say. They wept and they prayed, and
they would have willingly died for the
noble fellow who had been thus con-
demned.
Later in the evening came compan-
ion, who, if he lived, would at some time
return to Jerome's boyhood's home.
First the condemned thought of his
widowed mother, and he sent her mes
sage Of love and devotion. Then he
thought of a brother and a sister. And,
finally, he thought Of one-a bright
eyed maid-whose vine-clad cot stood
upon the banks OF the Someone whom
he had loved with 4 love such As only
great hearts can feel.
"Oh, my dear friend!" he cried, bow
ing his head upon his claspel hands,
"you need not tell them a falsehood;
but if the thingis possible, let them be-
lieve I fell in battle!'''
His companion promised that he would !
do all he coul:; and, if the truth could /,
not be kept back, it should be so truth
fully told that the name of Jerome Du- i,
bois should not bear dishonor in the
minds of those who had loved him in :
other days.
Morning came, dull and gloomy, with
driving sleet and snow; and, at an early /
hour, Jerome Dubois was led forth to !
meet his fate. The place of execution !
had been fixed upon a low, barren spot |
toward the sea; and thither his division
was being marched to witness the fear
full punishment. They had gained not
more than half the distance when the
sound Of some strange com motion broke :
upon the wintry air, and very shortly an
aide-de-camp came dashing to the side !
of the general of the brigade, with the :
cry:
"a sortie! A sortie! The enemy are
out in force. Let this thing be stayed.
The marshal directs that you face about
and advance upon the peninsula"
In an instant all was changed in that
division; and the brigadier general, who
had temporary command, thundered
forth his orders for the countermarch.
The gloom was dissipated; and with
glad hearts the soldiers turned from the
thoughts of the execution of brave
comrade to thoughts of meeting the
enemy.
"What shall we do with the prison
err" asked the sergeant vino had change
of the guard.
"Lead him back to the camp" replied
the captain.
The direction was very simple, but the
execution thereof was not 20 be so easy,
for scarcely had the words escaped the
captains lips when squadron Of Prus-
sian cavalry came dashsing directly
toward them. The division was quickly
formed in four hollow squares, while the
guard that held charge of the prisoner
found themselves obliged to flee.
In heavens name," cried Jerome,
cut my bonds, and let me die like a
soldier!"
The sergeant quickly cut the cord that
bound his elbows behind him, and then
dashed toward the point where his own
company was stationed. The rattle of
had commenced, and the Prus-
slams were vainly endeavoring to break
the squares of French troops. Jerome
Dubois looked about him for some wea-
pom with which to arm himself, and
presently he saw Prussian officer not
far off Keeling in his saddle as though he
had been wounded. With quick bound
he reached the spot, pulled the dying
officer from his seat, and leaped into the
empty saddle.
Dubois was fully resolved that he
would sell his life on that day-sell it in
behalf of France-and sell it as dearly
as possible. But he was not needed
where he was. He knew that the Prus
slams could not break those hollow
squares; so he rode away thinking to
join the French cavalry, with whom he
would rush into the deepest danger.
Surprising that the heaviest fighting
must be upon the Nehrung, he rode his
horse in that direction, and when he
reached it he found that he had not
been mistaken. Upon slight eminence
toward Hagelsberg, the enemy had