Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-04-25

lock. and he knew that another sentinel
/ had been stationed at the post he had
| left. The relief had cone while he had
been absent.
Friends with the countersign " he
answered to the last call of the new sem
tinel.
He was ordered to advance, and when
he had given the countersign, he found
himself in the presence of the officer OF
the guard. In few hurried words he
told his story, and had the officer been
, alone he might have allowed the matter
to rest where it was, but there were
others present, and when ordered to
give up his musket lie obeyed without
a murmur and silc"tly accompanied
the officer TO the CALI, where he was
put in irons.
On the following morning Jerome
Dubois was brought before court
martial under charge of having de-
serted his post. He confessed that he
was guilty, and then permission was
granted him to tell his own story.
This he did in few words, but the
court could do nothing but pass sem
tence of death, but the members there
of all signed q petition praying that
Jerome Dubois might be pardoned, and
this petition was sent to the general of
the brigade, and through him to the
general of the division, by whom it was
endorsed, and sent up to the marshal.
Lefebvre was kind and generous to
his soldiers almost to fault, but he
could not overlook so grave an error
as that which had been committed by
Dubois. The orders given to the sen.
tinel had been very simple, and fore
most of every necessity was the order
forbidding him to leave his post until
properly relieves To certain extent
the safety of the whole army rested
upon the shoulders of each individual
sentinel, and especially upon those
who at night were posted nearest the
lines Of the enemy.
81 am sorry" said the gray-haired
old warrior, as he folded up the petit
ton and handed it back to the officer
who presented it. "Iam sure the man
meant no wrong, and yet great wrong
was done. He knew what he was
doing--he ran the risk-he was de-
tecied-he has been tried and con-
demned. He must suffer ]"
They asked Lefebvre if he would see
the condemned.
"No, no p the marshal cried quick
ly. "Should I see him and listen to
one. half his story, might pardon him,
and that must not be done. Let him
die that thousands may be saved"
The time fixed for the execution of
Dubois was the morning succeeding
the day of his trial. The result of the
interview with Marshal Lefebvre was
made known to him, and he was not at all
disappointed. He blamed no one, and
was only sorry that he had not died
upon the battlefield.
81 have tried to be good soldier"
he said to his captain. I feel that I
have done no crime that should leave q
stain upon my name."
The captain took his hand, and as.
sured him that his name should be
held in respect.
Toward evening Pierre Veillant, with
his wife and child, were admitted to see
the prisoner. This was visit which
Jerome would gladly have dispensed
with, as his feelings were already
wrought up to pitch that almost un-
manned him but he braced himself
for the interview, and would have stood
it like hero, had not little Natalie, in
the eagerness Of her love and gratitude,
thrown herself upon his bosom and
offered to die in his stead. This tipped
the trimming cup, and his tears flowed
freely.
Pierre and Lisette knew not what to
say. They wept and they prayed, and
they would have willingly died for the
noble fellow who had been thus con-
demned.
Later in the evening came a compan-
ion; who. if he lived, would at some
time return toJerome's boyhood home.
First the condemned thought of his
widowed mother, and he sent her
message of love aud devotion. Then
he thought of brother and sister. And
finally he thought of one-a bright
eyed maid--whose vine-clad cot stood
upon the banks of the Someone
whom he had loved with love such as
only great hearts can feel.
90, my dear friend !" he cried, bow
ing his head upon his clasped hands,
you need NOT tell them falsehood,
but. if the thing is possible, let them
believe I fell in battle"
His companion promised that he
would do all lie could, and, if the truth
could not be kept back, it should be SO
faithfully told that the name of Jerome
Dubois should not bear dishorsor in the
minds of those who had loved him in
other days.
Morning came, dull and gloomy,
with driving sleet and snow, and at an
early hour Jerome Dubois was led
forth to meet his fate. The place of
execution had been fixed upon a low
barren spot toward the sea, and thither
his division was being marched to wit
ness the fearful punishment. They
had gained not more than half the dis
lance, when the sound of some strange
commotion broke upon the wintry air,
and very shortly the aide-de-camp came
dashing to the side of the general of