Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1878-12-14

The captain took his hand and assured
MN that his name should be held in re-
spect.
Toward evening, Pierre Valiant. with
his wife and child. were admitted to see
the prisoner. This was "a visit which
Jerome would gladly have dispensedwith
as his feelings were already wrought up
TO pitch that almost unnamed him;
but he braced himself for the interview.
and would have stood it like hero had
not little Natalie, in the eagerness of
love and gratitude, thrown herself upon
his bosom and offered to die i'm his stead.
This tipped the brimming cup and his
tears flowed freely.
Pierre and I.lsette knew not what to
do. they wept and they prayed, aud they
would have willingly died Tor the noble
fellow who had been thus condemned.
Later in the evening came a compan-
ion who, if he lived, would at some
time return to Jeromes boyhood home.
First, the condemned thought of his
widowed mother, and he sent her mes
sage of love and devotion. Then he
thought OF brother and 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 a love such as only great
heart can feel.
''Oh, my dear ffiend,"', he cried. bow
ing his heal upon his iclaspeda hands,
''yOu need not tell them falsehood. but
if the thing is possible, let them believe
that fell i'm BATTLE"
His companion promised that he would
do all he could. and if the truth could
not be kept back, it should be so faith
fully told that the name of Jerome Du-
bois should not bear disgrace in the
minds of those who had loved him i'm
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 q low, barren spot
toward the sea; and thither his division
was being marched to witness the fear
tul punishment. They had gained not
more thin half the distance when the
sound of some strange cOmmotiOn SrOke
upon the wi9try air, and very shortly an
iid-de-camp came dashing to the side of
the General OF the brigade with the cry:
"A sortie A sortie! The enemy are
Dut 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 i'm that
livision, and the Brigadicr General, who
lad temporary command, thundered |
Orth his orders for the cOuntermarch. |
The gloom was dIssipatet, and with glad |
hearts the soldiers turned from the |
thoughts of the execution of brave |
omrade to the thoughts of meeting the |
ntmy.
''What shall We co with the prisoner?' |
sked The sergeant who had charge of |
he guard.
Lead him back to the camp. replied
he captain.
The direction was very simple, but the
execution thereof was not to be so easy,
or hardly had the words escaped the |
aptain's lips when squadron of Prus-
ian cavalry came dashing toward them.
The division was quickly formed into
our hollow squares, while the guard that
leid charge OF the prisoner tOu nj them
elves obliged to flee.
I'm Heavens name." cried Jerome.
cut my bonds and let me die like II sol
her."
The sergeant quickly cut the cord that
'Ornd his elbows behind him, anil then
ashed toward the point where his own
ompany were stationed. The rattle of
lnsketry had cOmmenced, and the Prus-
ans We're cain!y endeayOring to break
ne squares OF French troops. jerome
dubois looked about him for some wea-
OH with which to arm himself, and
resently he saw Prussian officer not
II Oft reeling i'm his saddle rs though he
al been wounded. With Il quick bound I
a reached the spot. pulled the dying Of I
GER from his seat and leaped into the
npty saddle. 1
Dubois was fully resolved to sell his |
fe OH that day-sell it in the behalf of c
rance-and sell 1t as dearly as possible. S
Ut he was not needed where he was. :
e&iew that the Prussians could not
'eaf those hollow squares; so he rode
way thinking to join the French cavnl-
with whom he should rush into the
'epe>t danger. Surprising that the
'aviest lighting must be upon the Neh
my, he rode his horse in that direction
I'd when he reached it he found that he
und that he had not been mistaken,
pom slight eminence toward Hales-l
lrg the enemy had planted battery of
ANY guns supported by two regiments
infantry; and already with shot and
ell immense damage had been done.
Marshal Letebvre rode up shortly after
e battery had opened, and very quickly
AIDE up his mind that it must be taken
all hazards.
- axe the battery" he said to a colo-j
! OF cavalry. ''and the battle is ours"
Dubois heard the order, aud saw the
cesslty. Here was danger enough,
rely; and determined to be the first at /
e fatal battery, he kept as near to the ,,
der as he dared. Half the distance
Il been gained when from the hill came
storm of iron that ploughed into the /,
hks of the French. The colonel fell.
body literally torn to pieces by
ELL that exploded against Ills BOSOM.
The point upon the peninsula now !
lched by the head of the assaultinp J
umn was not more than a hundred {
RUS wide, and it was literally path of :
ath, as the fire from twelve heavy guns
S turned upon it The colonel had
len and very soon thee other officers =
mt down, leaving the advance without
commissioned leader. The way was
coming blocked up by the dead men
dead horses and the head of the col n
N stopped and wavered. u
larsbal Lefebvre, from his elevated
ce, saw this and his heart throbbed
Efully' Ii that column was routed
the Russian infBntry charged over
peninsula, the result might be calam-
Is.
A man in the uniform of
nch private, mounted upon power
horse comparisOned in the trappings Pc
Prussian officer, with bare head. +,
hes 10 the front and urges the column
ward. His words are fierce and his
( is dauntless.
For France and for Lefebvrep' the
nge horseman cries, waving password
T. and DOiutinp toward tha h.,,o