Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1879-04-19
to the last call of the new

answered, TO the last call OF the ne
sentinel.
He was, ordered to advance, on
when he had given the countersig,
he found himself in the presence
the officer Of the guard. In a fe
hurried words he told his story, an
had the officer been alone he migl
have allowed the matter to rest wle,
it was, but there were others presen
and when ordered to give up his mus
ket he obeyed without a murmur an
silently accompanied the officer to til
camp, where he was put in irons.
On the following morning Jerom
Dubois was brought before a court
martial under charge Of having de
serted his post. He confessed that HI
was guilty and then permission wa
granted him to tell his own story.
This he did in a few words, but tn
court could do nothing but pass sen
tence of death, but the member
thereof all signed a petition praying
that jerome Dubois might be par.
doned, and this petition was sent tt
the general Of the brigade, and through
him to tie 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 a fault, but
he could not overlook 80 grave an
error as that which had been commit
ted by Dubois. The orders given to
the sentinel had been very simple,
and foremost Of every necessity was
the order forbidding him to leave his
post until properly relieved. TO a
certain extent the safety Of the whole
army rested upon the shoulders Of
each individual sentinel, and espe-
cially 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
lion and handed it back to the officer
who presented it. 81 am sure the
man meant no wrong, and yet no
wrong was done. He knew what he
was doing-he ran the risk-he was
letected-he has been tried and con-
lemned. He must suffer ?"
They asked Lctcbvre if he would
would see the condemned.
"No, no." themarshal cried quickly.
Should | see him and listen to one
'alf his story, | might pardon him
md that must not he done. Let him
lie that thousands may be saved"
The time fixed for the execution of
dubois was the morning succeeding
he day Of his trial. The result Of the |
with Marshal Lefebvre was
,ade known to him, and he was not
all disappointed. He blamed no
Nc, and was only sorry that he had
OF died upon the battlefield.
~ have tried to be a soldier" he
lid to his captain. l feel that have
one no crlme that should leave a
ain upon my name"
Tic captain took his hand, and as
,red him that his name should be
ELL in respect.
Toward evening Pierre Valiant,
it'll his wife and child, were admit
d to see the prisoner. This was a
sit which Jerome would gladly have
spenscd with, as his feelings were
ready wrought up to n pitch that
most unnamed him but he braced
mself for the interview, and would
we stood it like a hero, had not lit
, Natalie, in the cagerness Of her
We and gratitude, thrown herself
,on his bosom and offered to die in !
$ stead. This tipped the trimming
p,.and his fears flowed freely. /.
Pierre and Lizette knew not what
say. They wept and they prayed, |
d. they would have willingly died c
the noble fellow that had been t
MS condemned. i
Later in the evening came a COM S
MON, who, if he lived, would at il
ne time return to Jerome's b0yhood d
me. First the condemned thought u
his widowed mOther-and he sent
r a message of love and devotion. p
en he thought of a brother and sis b
(. And finally he thought of one r,
'right-eyed maid-whose vine-clad o
stood upon the banks of the Seine r
me whom he had loved with a love
ii as only great hearts can feel. o.
ooh, my dear friend!" he cried, p
wing his head upon his clasped tt
Ids, "you need not tell them false W
ID, but, if the thing is possible, let s,
m believe l fell in battle. fl
lis companion promised that he II
nd do all he could, and, if the d;
th could not be kept back, it should
so faithfully told that the name of IL,
bois should not bear dishonor in hi
minds Of those who had loved him tn