The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1879-09-19

MdittN until INT utNt uitti lts wi tH'tt
i something about him that passes my
comprehension greatly"
"You will"
"No. viii not. The order was Civ
en-, II must be followed. See that ! am
not awakened until after the sentence j.
executed
A court-martial was speedily convcn-
ed, and Francois Duplan stood before
II charged with having been captured
by the pickets far beyond bounds and
making as il were his intention 10 pass
through the north woods, out upon the
Hartford turnpike.
~ can not deny this" he said, "but
affirm that IL was my intention to re-
turn before roll call and at once admit
that had disobcyed the rules"
THAT j. an apology easily framed
after capture" suggested the Judge
Advocate; ssbut if you say what your
purpose was in thus going beyond the
lines, il il seems 10 US good and con-
sistent with your return, II may make
the difference between life and death
with you. Francois Duplan."
I" Alas. l can not tell my purpose. |
can say that il We a good one: that had
! |. been accom-. I'd, results Of much
concern to me and to another--yes,
many others might have come Of Il.
As it Is unaccomplished, my purpose
would be laughed at and another made
an object Of ridicule."
"That must be singular purpose,
! indeed, which you would prefer to lose
your life rasher than part with"
If II must be so, then II must. l
hoped to lose my life when came to
America, but not thus. However, what
difference is it'''
They found him guilty, and sentenced
him to death. He was To be shot BY six
Of his comrades. at the next sunrise.
Yet they pitied him. He was, by all ac-
counts, tall, handsome. brave fellow.
a soldier whose ease Of manner and
whose habits indicated that his early life
was passed in circles with which none Of
his companions Were familiar. He was
q stranger to them all when he joined
them. and il had not escaped notice that
the Count de Rochambeau, with his
oycr-obscrvant eye, had marked this
common soldier, Francois, and had even
once said i'm the hearing Of the sentry
who paced in front Of the door, ~
mean TO find out why this gentleman
serves As a common soldier and who
he is
with all his reserve and hours Of med
itation. Francois was favorite with his
comrades, for while they felt that he was
above them in refinement, in polish and
experience, they knew that he made no
effort TO have them feel thus, but rather
cndeavored to repress all trials and emo
tons not shared in common by private
soldier He could not reprcss all There
was method, way, a mannerism q
which he was unconscious. lie had
nurscd the sick, done double duty 70
save some tired-out comrade, and there
was gloom throughout the camp when
\ went forth that Ccmrade Duplan was
. TO he shot Al sunrise lney Went Y;
twos and thrces end scores to the Count
de Rochambeau 20 peg lot mercy, ana
they returned nsaSy-hearteu' MOI ge'''ns
"na1 tne, Sougns- !.
Dupiah niiisen, ~ VI 49, " - :
sai1' WAS .nc mos 'on' an az sss'n'
lngiy least t,ouoieu so,ule' ELL, - ny .anp'
10 MS guaru ne go, uu' n''lc onse'
wnen inc quar-, WIN w ca sa sad,
ing down ms chechs' saiu ~ IN !,
100 pad Dup,an rvPr,u' 49,,
ana tnen rs auusn na - III =, m IT, ~
nse Years IN 'nc Sna'om =. 49," 49,
day' yes,er,ay. lor = ~ ~s.A ,,.a. L.
seen = h.,ie ras y s'''',sn. oieasne
through the siouus, ,, hne" wua'
Wneh ,eepPeu vser ~ 'in MI .'a' =.
, returned ea'her 'ne sun VIM iii ~,
shlhe -, ms VI '"a' "'s"' "o'" so''''
forever
That seems 70 PC the strange part q
All. lherc y moi Soiuier IN .aiiil
} who thinks you intended % desert;
- Nor did |. Had l succeeded.