Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-04-19

tnelr a!H1ctlOn Obliged them to shut out the SUM-
authorities had assembled them in one ward
scarcely figure stirred at our entrance: the
plIIIul patience OF blindness seemed to weigh
I Ibs every head In hopeless apathy. Through
lsh sergeant led me silently, till we reached a
Oeu on which young man sat In an attitude Of
pa tusa, WEAKNESS. His eyes were bandaged by
pale, haggard cheeks and bearded mouth One
hand, white and thin with long sickness and
unrest unrest, lay on tire quilt, the other pressed hts
tEn io,, NO WoIds can paint upon the mind
Dy this pale and Woeful figure
..,a feiix, lad. said the Sergeant, "here is a
Mechanically at the Sergeant's voice the hand
upon MS brow formed the military salute, then
fell down helpless, and no change no nope, no
smile passed over the wan face.
"A friend from the ArdeaneS," said /; q
friend from st. uilaire"
Then saw the lips culver, and his thin hand
ciutched the lips as with sudden spasm.
81 cannot see you," he said YEARLY, stretch
Ing lis other hand toward NE; land the voice
Is Strangers
"a strangers, yes; but bring you mes
you this"
And into the thin hand held so helplessly to-
ward me, put the little basket that had so
1t was here! What light Of hope and joy IT
brought upon that woe-wOrn face! WHAT a
smile Played upon the pale lips, as his hand
"Josephiner' he e' SAID. "Tnen she has not
forgotten mel"
Word for word repeated her message, while
be listened with head bent forward and life
and hope upon his face that moment ago 1
should have said it could never wear again.
Your parents, your friends, and Josephine
"Whyhave you kept them in ignorance of this
miSfOrtune?"
How could tell them?" he cried. as his
hand pressed painfully on his darkened eyes.
1 was silent. felt such evil tidngs were in
deed terrible, and already dreaded to be the
messenger OF such VICE.
.Cheer up, lad!' said the Sergeant. "You
will get your discharge at any rate"
The young man raised his patient face with
weary sigh.
81 am a log now upon the earth, !" he said al
was help at home Once-a prOp-a comfort but
In the weary days to come must eat bread that
have never earned, and be burden to those
love best. Sergeant. they should take me out
and shoot me now
His head fell forward on his hands, and he
groaned In anguish of spirit. could think of no
words to comfort him, neither could the Ser
geant, for he stole silently away, and left me
with him alone. But the young man himself
cast aside his misery for moment as he spoke
"Ah! F1fine was always famous hand at
galettes." he said; land here is an Easter egg
viii Monsieur tell me its cOlOr?"
"ViOlet," answered.
"Ah! sad color She must have guessed
was sorrOwful.''
.'No, she did not guess it, but I think you
should write to her and tell her. Reflect what
a shock your misfortune will be to her, to your
mother, to ALL If you do not let them hear of it
before you return home. The Sergeant tells
He you VIII get your 0lSchafge very Shortly.
will write letter willingly for you, If you
Ike
lie consented to my proposition with w1stful
smile, and. writing materials being proposed,
he dictated as follows. ] put down word for
word " hat he said, altering nothing. at our
end OF the long, obscure room we were quite
alone, the other patients, with kindly tact,
the pooc blind soldier:
My Dear Ffae:-I thank you with my whole
heart for your Easter gift; it came to me as the
sudden summer, and winter and frost vanish
For, my dear Fif1ne, am very sad; great
misfortune has befallen me. / was at work
heG on the new fortiflcations when mine we
soon, and and six other men were badly hurt.
Fif1ne, dear friend. the hurt fell upon my eyes,
and am blind. The doctors say that, with
care and rest, may see again one day; but the
good God knows; / have no hope OF that myself.
am useless now as soldier, so my colonel has
sent to Brussels for my discharge, and it Is ex-
with sad heart, because my father is poor
man, and fear / shall be burden to him ali
my my IRE long: l sit through the weary day upon
do not to be a burden. My poor mother is
getting old and feeble. thought to help her
thought to work for her; but all that is over
now, and can only say, may the good Gods
" Ftflne. my dear, because write this to you,
do not think make any claim on you, or wish
to hold you to that promise you gave me so
shall never see your dear face again; but when
you give yourself to some happier man, he will
let me take your hand and kiss your cheek, and
die, you will be my sole and only love upon the
earth. There, VIII not say any more of this,
because you have kind heart, and should
! brood IN darkness over my happiness gone.
F1fne, when took your pretty present 10 my
hand, and heard your message, felt you Still
loved me; but that does not hinder that we
den, a helpless drag-not man who IN work
for wife and bring blessing to his home. IL
Henri Hem Lefey!e stu cares for you, Will try to
take TAX nun No, Gy the HAND and wish him and you
my dear love, win you go to my poor
mother, and treak to her the news Of my blind
the news all at once; relate it to her little by
little, and try chiefly to make her think of the
JOY shall have In coming home. But do not
blind / scarcely know yet how shall manage
to accomplish the journey. Perhaps / shall
find comrade going my way, who will charge
himself for a little time with the care of poor
/ am glad Mere vigneron's rheumatism is
better. Give my respects to her, and to all
IL
and embrace my mother for me on both cheeks.
am pleased Farmer ROdiere has new COW
send my respected homage to all at your
home, and subscribe myself, my dear Fif1ne,
our devoted servant and friend,
FELIX RoUsSsL
"P. S.-Stroke Blanchette for me. Is the rye
coming UP finely this spring? All, Fl1ne,
shall not help your father to reap it, as / did
two years ago. Do not grieve about me; doubt
less things will go happily for me when / am
once more among you all. Always thine,
"FELIX"
On finishing this, / babe the poor soldier
adieu, and, after posting his letter, l went
straight to call on the colonel of hts regiment
FROM him ! ascertained that Felix Houssers
discharge was not expected from the authori-
ties at Brussels for another week. l was GLAD
to hear this, as it would give me time to go on
10 Louvatn and conclude the business had In
Eand there, and on my return would hire
vehicle and drive the poor blind soldier home
to Saint Htlatre myself
Ny business detaint me day or two longer
than expected, but still had no Thought of
being disappointed In seeing Felix Roussel
when drove up to the hospital and asked for
him. "He Is gone, sir; he LETT Two days ago"
''Nith Wh0n?-how?'
ION foot. A young woman, apparently
relative, was with him.
This was all they knew. And drove On to
the barracks, trusting my friend, the Flemish
Sergeant, would be able to enl1ghten me fur
tier. But he was away on long march, and
WAS fair. in Ignorance of all de-