The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1879-09-23

not getting what they sought.
Duplan himself 30 1t 1t was afterward
said, was the most composed and seem
ingly least troubled soldier in the camp.
Once, when the guard, with tears stream
ing down his cheeks, said
"Too bad Too bad ~ Duplan replied:
at is WELL" And then he added II
have lived these five years in the shadow
of death. To-day, yesterday, for few
weeks have seen littleray Of sunlight
breaking throught the clouds. 1 knew
to-day, when stepped over the line,
that, ere 1 returned, either the sun
would once more shine for me, or that
night would come forever"
THAT seems to be the strange part of
ii all. There Is not a soldier in camp
who thinks you intended to desert"
Nor did /. Had L succeeded, /
should have returned, welcomed by the
Count de Rochambeau, and not as Fran
co.'s Duplan."
Then you are not serving under
your right name 2"
No. 1 once had-known a servant
of that name."
Later in the evening Count de Roch-
ambeau's aid brought message to the
sergeant in command. 1t was to the eff
feet that any requests of Francois Du-
plan consistent with the execution of
the sentence were to be granted. Good
writing materials, companions for the
night, the choice of the comrades who
were to execute the sentence-any wish
es he might have were to be strictly car
ried out. Duplan at first said that he
had none, but suddenly, with an air Of
great earnestness, and yet timidly, he
asked If a comrade might be detailed to
escort from the village and home again
one whom he would like to see.
"And who'is this one?"
" Mistress Prudence Strong"
The aid looked at Duplan curiously
for an instant.
"And why do you wish to see Mistress
Prudence on such night as this Z" he
| asked.
"Did the Count de Rochambeau in
struct you that must give you the rea-
sons for any wish might desire grant
ed? ?'' was Duplan's answer.
The aid smiled significantly, but Du-
| plan did not see that.
" Let it bethen as he Wishes" said
the aide to the sergeant.
A soldier was detailed to go up into
the village and escort Mistress Prudence
to the camp. Peradventure she will
not come," he said to his comrades as
he buttoned his great coat about him
land yet think she will. Have you
not seen her at the oven when Duplan
and the rest of us were baking bread 7
Did she not visit us one evening with
some of the other maids and bring us
cider and apples ?"
AS the soldier passed the guard house,
Duplah called him. II pray you," said
the prisoner, mot to reveal to Mistress
Prudence my trouble. 1t is my last re-
quest to you, comrade."
Half an hour later the soldier return
ed. The flicker of the lantern that he
carried revealed, as they passed the sen.
try, slender female form, enwrapped
from head to.foot with cloak. She pre-.
ceded her escort a few steps. The snow
was beginning 70 fall. Some of the
flakes fell upon the tresses of her hair
that escaped from the top of her hood
where it encircled the face. She was
shown the guard house. Duplan, stand.
ing, received her, waving his hand
slightly, as if to warn her against any
undue emotion.
The guard, with delicacy for which
Duplan subsequently thanked him turn.
ed his back to them, and paced slowly
before the door. He heard voices. He
did not hear, nor try to, what was said
He heard sobs, also. AT the end of hall
an hour Duplan said distinctly: " Now
go. You will come to see me in the
morning at the oven, will you not 2'
And then the guard knew that he had
not told her what his sentence was, and
that she did not know that she never
would hear him speak again. AS she
quilted the guard house he put some
papers that he took from his breast into
her hand.
"Will you go with me to the War OF
fice," she said to her escort, ''and wait
there until have seen Mr.. Trumbull i
Then when we got to my fathers house
my father will make for you hot punch
I'll warrant. Yes, 1 know, the punch