The Red Cloud chief., 1879-10-16

They found him guilty. and sentenced
him to death. He was Ia b. shot by six
If his comrades, ai the next sunrise.
Yet they piiied him. lie was. by all ac-
counts. a tall. handsome, brave fellow,
a soldier whose caSc Of manner and
whose habits indicated that his early life
was passed in circles with which none of
his companions were familiar. lie wa
n stranger to them all when he joined
them. and i, had not escaped notice that
the Count de Rocbambcau, with his
oycrob-eryant eve. had marked this
common soldier, Francois, and had even
once said in the hearing of the sentry
who paced in front If the door. 81
mean Ia find out why this gentleman
serves a. a common soldier and who
he Is"
With all his reserve and hours Of med
~itation. Francois was 4 f~ayoriie with hi-
comrades, for while they felt that he Wa
above them in refinement. in polish n
experience, they knew that he made no
effort la nave them feel thus. but rather
e~ndeavDred Ia rcpre-s all trial- and emo
tions not shared in common by 4 private
soldier. He could not rcprc-- AL. There
was "a method, a way, a mannerl-m OF
which he was unconscious. lie had
nurscd the sick. done double duty Ia
save some tircsl-out comradc. and there
was Gloom throughout the camp when
1t went forth that Cnmradc Duplan was
to bc shot N sunrise. They went 10y
twp- and thrccS and scores Ia the Count
DC Rochambcau Ia beg for mercy, and
they returned heaSy-hearted, not getting
what they sought.
Duplan himself. - IL was afierward
said. was the most composed and seem
ingly least troubled soldier IN the camp.
10 his guard ne said but little. Once,
when the guard. with the tears stream
ing down his checks, said Zoo bad
Too bad Duplan replied, :" II l. well.
And then he added IL have lived these
five wears in the shadow Of death. To-
day, Yesterday, for 4 few week., ] have
seen "A little ray Of sunlight breaking
through the clouds. ! knew to-day.
when | stepped over the lines, that ercl
returned either the sun would once more
shine for me, or that night would come
forever"
THAT seems 10 bc the strange part of
II all. There j. not il soldier ia camp
who thinks you intended Ia desert"
Nor did /. Had | succeeded, |
should have returned. welcomed 10y IN"
Count dc R~ochambcau, and not ~ Fran
co.'s Duplan.'
Then YOU are not serving under your
right namc?"
Mo, / once had-kncw a servant of
that name"
Later in the evening the Count de- l;o-
chamhcau'S Aid brought a message to
the Sergeant i'm command. II waS Ia
the effect that amy requests Of Francois
Duplan consistent with the execution of
the sentence were Ia bc granted. Food,
writing materials. companions for the
night. the choice of the comrades who
were To execute the >cntcuCc-any wish
- he might have We're To- bc strictly
carried out. Duplan N first SAID that
hc had none, bat suddenly, with an AIR
of great carneStneS>, and Vet timidly. he
asked if a comradc might Ice detailed Ia
escort from the yilla@c and home again
one whom he would Liz to See.
And VIII" j. this onc?"
Mistress Prudence strong"
The Aid looked AT Duplan %curiouSly
for an instant.
And why do Won wish To see Mis-
tres, Prudence on such night "a this?"
he asked.
IBID the Count De liochamhcau in
~truct YOU that | must give the reasons
for anv wish | might desire grantcd?"
WAS Duplau'S answer.
The Aid smiled significantly, but Dup
Ian did not see that.
=. Let il be- then a. he Wishes, said
the Aid L. the Sergeant.
4 soldier was detailed Ia "a up into
the VILLAGE and escort Mistress Prudence
to the camp. rcradycntUrc she viii
not come" he said 10 hi> comrades a.
ne huitourd hi> ~rcat coat about him
/. and Vet | think she will. Have YOU
not seen her AZ the oven when Duplan
and the rest of H. were baking bread?
Did She not visit Us one evening with
: some of the other maids, and bring IL
cider and applc>?'
~ the soldier passed the glard-houSe.
Duplan called him. II pray y"u. said
the prisoner, NOT &" reveal {" Mistress
Prudence my trouble. II i my last
request L. Won, comradr.
Half IN hour later the soldier return
ed. The flicker of the lantern that he
carried revealed. a. they passed the
sentry. a slender female form. cnwrap-
ped from head to foot with a cloak. She
preceded her escort 4 few steps. The
snow WAS beginning la fall. Some of
the flakes fell upon the trcSScS of her
hair that escaped from the top Of her
hood where it cncirclcd the face. She
was shown the ~uard-hou>e. Duplan.
standing. received her. waving his hand
slightly. IL if To warn her against any
undue emotion. The guard. with a del
icacy for which Duplan subsequently
thanked him. turned his back IT, them.
and paced slowly before the door. He
heard voices. He did moi hear nor try
Ia. what WAS said. He heard >ob>. also.
At the end of half an hour Duplan said
distinctly: Now. 20. You will come
to see me in the morning at the oven.
will Won not?" And then the guard
kncw.that he had not told her what his
sentence WAS. and that she did not know
| that she would never hear him speak
again. A. she quilted the ~uard-housc
he put some papers that he took from
his breast into her hand>
"Will You 20 with me To the Wal
Office" she said To her escort. and
wait there until | have seen Mr.. Trum-
bull? Then when VT get to my fathers
house my father will make for vou a hot
punch, I'll warrant. Yes. | know. the
punch will he all ready, because Mr..
Rudd. our minister. is in the kitchen
this evening with father, and they al
WAYS take a warm one when they are
together"
The snow. * they passed 10 the high
way. began Ia fall - thicklv that even
the light of the lantern was dimmed. but
NJ this Mistress Prudence laughed. and
the comraGe who was acting Is her eS-
cort thought her an extremely fearless
girl, and wonderfully handsome withal.
The walk 10 the Wan Office was a short
one. Within ten minutes they were NJ
the door.
HALT" said the sentinel. and he WAS
SO muffled up that it WAS the tone rather
than the articulation that checked
Mistress Prudence. who would other