The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-05-30


As the farm of Peter Baxen, the peas
ant with whom Firmin Bonard had fall
en- in, was one of the largest in the is
land, the soldier, returned to his old
calling, did not lack for opportunities to
show his skill and industry, and speedily
convinced the rich peasant of his value
My friend, = he said to Firmin one
day, 4 love you as / would my own
SON. -
IF it were not" replied Firmin,
THAT my old father in France waits
and hopes anXiouSly for my return, I
should never care to leave Rugen.' -
You Will see him once more" said
the farmer land when you go to France
to see him why should you not bring him
back to Rugen with yOn That, how
ever, we can talk Of at some future time.
To-day L wish to speak to you concern
ing my daughter
y flush covered the young French
mans face, as the peasants keen eve
saw. IF | am not wrong" he contin-
ued. ''she and you are very friendly -
Firmin stammered something unintel-
ligible.
''In fact, a." the old man went on, ''the
neighbors say that you are i'll love with
her.
"What q? Who says so ? 1 swear to
you, sir, that l never addressed to your
daughter one word which would make
her aware
Precisely, and that is why she has
desired me to ask you to. You shall
marry her. l have already promised her
that it would be so. and she hugged me
so for quarter of an hour by the clock
that / really thought she would strangle
me- -
Firmin hugged him, too, and a fort
night later became the husband of the
old mans only child, the rich, pretty
and amiable Amelia.
Four year passed away-fOur years of
toll and love. Firmin Bonard thought
often of France, but came to forget his
technical deseTtion. The prattling of
his two children, the embraces of his
wife. were a present that answered for
the future small wonder that he forgot
the past
So matters went on till one morning
the signal was made that several vessels
were in sight then as they drew nearer
the word went round the island
1T is the French They are going to
land -
1T is the French They are going TO
land -
The words came to Firmin Bonard 5
ears like alarm guns, and he felt that
he was a lost man. a sudden thought
came to him, however. and reassured
him somewhat dashing to his dwelling
he put on his old uniform and shake
and ran to the spot where some five
years before he had been so strangely
abandoned.
Soon barges filed with soldiers We're
seen to put off from the ships that had
rounded to and dropped anchor. In the
bow of one was big white poodle that
barked jOyOUsly on seeing the solid
ground once more.
Firmin Bonard saw the dog and fam
cied that he recognized in him old Ca
pucin. and his eyes filled with tears.
Still the barges approached; Capucin
it was Capucin, mdeed-evidently
recognized the island, looked round ca
geTly. espied the sentry. then standing
on his hind legs gave one rapturOus howl
and plunging into the sea swan with all
his might ShOreward.
An instant later and the boats were
within hailing distance.
"Who goes there ?' shouted Firmin
BOnard in a voice of thunder.
who goes there yourself :" answer
ed one of DavOust's staff from the lead
ing boat who are yOU anyhow p
'Frmm BOnard, private of the Sixty
eigth of the line, on guard"
son guard ? How long have you been
on guard p
''Since L O'Clock on the night of May
13, 1907"
At this reply every one burst out
laughing. The first boat s Prov had not
quite touched the shore when Capucin
had scrambled up the steep bank and
with Il tremendous bound cast himself,
barking furiously, into the arms of his
old friend. Barks, gamboling somer-
saults. licking of hands, face, feet-all
imaginable demonstrations of canine
joy.
Go on. old fellow" 3" sobbed the sol
dier. with tears rolling down his checks:
'.tear my coat and muddy il as much as
you like to-day. and | won't say any
thing. | remember when l struck you
for showing all your affection and intel
ligence.'
When lie had somewhat recovered
from his emotion, Firmin Bonard. fol
lowed by the faithful dog. went down tC
the beach to greet his comrades and tel
his story. Luckily the corporal, now an
officer on DavOUst'S s staff. was there. and
could corroborate it. The regiment
feaSted him royalty. and he, in return.
invited every one to the farm, where he
and his wife did the honors cordially.
1t was not long ere the news reached
Marshal Davoust's 5 ears. He laughed
heartily at Firmin Bonard's stratagem.
and having satisfied himself that the
soldiers antecedents were irrepTOacha-
ble ordered his discharge to be made out
III due form.
Far be it from me, - said the Mar
shall ''after he has been on watch fol
five years without being relieved, to send
this gallant fellow before a cOurt-mar
tial. =
Firmin BOnard remained on the farm
He visited France that year and brought
his father back to the island of Rugen
/ His children and grandchildren to-day
/ hold the most important positions there
and their family is known as ''the fam
| lily of the French sentry
When the French again withdrew
/ from the island CaPucin resigned hi:
! commission in the SiXty-eighth of thC
/ line He had had enough of glory. anC
/ the quiet life of abundance and happi
ness that his friend led at the farm wa:
more to his taste. He came to under
! stand-wise dog that life on the farm
( might be quite as pleasant as life il
camp, and that there were infinitel.
| fewer dangers in it.
SO Capucin remained at the farm.
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