The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-10-09

was the morning succeeding the day of his
trial. The result of the interview with Mar
shall Lefebvre was made known to him, and
he was not at all disappointed. He blamed
no one, and was only sorry that he had not
died OF the battle field.
81 have tried to be good soldier" he said
to his captain. II feel that | have done no
crime that should leave stain upon my
NAME"
The captain took his hand, and assured
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 a visit which Jerome
would gladly have dispensed with, as his
feelings were already wrought up to a pitch
that almost unnamed him; but he braced
himself for the interview, and would have
stood it like a hero had not little Natalie, in
the eagemess of her love and gratitude,
thrown herself upon his bosom and offered
to die in his stead. This tipped the brim-
ming 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 condemned
Later in the evening came companion,
who, If he lived, would at some time return
to Jerome's boyhood's home First the con-
demned thought of his widowed mother, and
he sent her message of love and devotion.
Then he thought of brother and sister.
And, fiually, 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 hearts
can feel.
"Oh, my dear friend!" he cried, bowling
his head upon his clasped hands, you need
not tell them falsehood; but if the thing is
possible, let them believe that fell In bat
tlel"
His companion promised that he would do
all he could; and, If the truth could not be
kept back, it should be so faithfully told
that the name of Jerome Dubois 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 fearful punishment.
They had gained not more than half the dis
tance when the sound of some strange COM
motion broke upon the wintry air, and very
shortly an aid-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 ad-
vance upon the peninsula"
vision; and the brigadier general, who had
temporary command, thundered forth his
orders for his countermarch. The gloom
was dissipated; and with glad hearts the
soldiers turned from the thoughts of the ex-
ecution of brave comrade to thoughts of
meeting the enemy.
What shall we do with the prisonerY'
asked the sergeant who had charge Of the
guard.
Lead him back to the camp" replied the
captain. -l--
The direction was very simple, but the ex-
ecution thereof was not to be so easy for
hardly had the words escaped the captains
lips when a squadron of Prussian cavalry
came dashing directly toward them. The
division was quickly formed into four hol-
low squares, while the guard that held
charge of the prisoner found themselves
obliged to flee.
SIN heavens name," cried Jerome, ''cut
my bonds and let me die like soldier!'
The sergeant quickly cut the cord that
bound his elbows behind him, and then
dashed toward the point where his own COM
pany was stationed. The rattle of musketry
had commenced, and the Prussians were
vaInly endeavoring TO break the squares of
French troops. Jerome Dubois looked
about him for some weapon with which to
arm himself, and presently he saw Prussian
officer not far off reeling in his saddle as
though he had been wounded. With a quick
bound he reached the spot, pulled the dy-
ing 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 Prussians 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. Sup
posing that the heaviest fighting must be up
on 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 Hagelsburg the enc
my had planted battery of heavy guns,
supported by two regiments of infantry;
and already with shot and shell immense
damage had been done.
Marshal Lsfebvre rode up shortly after
this battery bad opened, and very quickly
made up his mind that it must be taken at
all hazards.
"Take that battery" he said to a colonel
of the cavalry, "and the battle is ours"
Dubois heard the order and saw the me-
cessity. Here was danger enough, surely;
and, determined to be the first at the fatal
battery, he kept as near to the leader as he
dared. Half the distance he had gained,
when from the hill came storm of iron
that plowed INTO the ranks of the French.
The colonel fell, his body literally torn in
pieces by she'll that exploded against his
bosom.
The point upon the peninsula now reached
by the head of the assaultiDg column was
not more than 100 yards wide; and it was
literally path of death, as the fire of twelve
heavy guns was turned upon it. The col.
onel had fallen, and very soon three other
officers went down, leaving the advance
without commissioned leader. The way
was becoming blocked up with dead men
and dead horses, and the head of the column
stopped and wavered.
Marshal Lefebvre, from his elevated place,
saw this. and his heart throbbed painfully.
III that column were routed, and the Russian
infantry charged over the peninsula, the re.
suit might be calamitous.
But-see! man in the uniform of a
French private, mounted upon powerful
horse, caparisoned in the trappings of Prus-
sian staff officer with his head bare and a
bright saber swinging in his hand, rushes to
the front and urges the column forward.
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