The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-10-23
VOLUME TX.

] NHtANflf-fl ~ Ntnfk Afi ANnN aHlllrrF Mlsf
hrnusih % q am sure the mau m,ant
$50 Nr"nr, and Vet a great wrong WAS
lone H.. kueW what he was dning-
he ram the risk-he ives detecied-he
has been tried aud Condemned. He
must suffer %
They asked Lefrbvre II he would not
see the condemned
'No, non the Marshal cried. quickly
''ShOuld see him aud listen To one-half
his story, might pardon him; aud 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 inter
view with Marshal Lefebvre was made
/ known, and he was not at all disap-
pointed. He blsmet no one, aud was
only sorry that he had not died npun
| the battle field.
81 have tried to be good soldier," he
said to his captain. IL feel that / have
done no crime that should leave a stain
upon my name"
The captain took his hand aud assured
| him that his name should be held ia re-
spect.
Toward evening, Pierre Vailliant and
I his wife and child were admitted TO see
] the prisoner. This was a visit Jerome
would gladly have dispensed with, as
his feelings were already worked up to
a pitch that almost unnamed him but
be braced himself for the interview, aud
would have stood IL like hero, had not
little Natalie, IN the eagerness OF her
love aud gratitude, thrown herself upon
his bosom and offered TO die in his
stead. This tipped the brimming cup.
aud his tears flowed freely. Pierre and
Lisetle knew not what To say. They
wept and they prayed, ani they would
willingly have died for the noble fellow
who had been thus condemned.
Later in the evening came n cOmpau-
ion, who, II he lived, would At some
time return to Jerome's boyhood home.
First, the condemned thought Of his
widowed mother, and sent her a mes
sage Of love and devotion. Then he
thought OF a brother aud a sister and
finally he thought Of one-a bright eyed
maid-whOse vine-clad cot stood upon
the banks of the Seine-one whom he
loved with q love such as only great
hearts can feel.
"Oh, my dear friend" he cried, bow
ing his head upon his hands, "you need
not tell them a falsehOOd, but, IL il he
possible, let them believe | fell In bat
tie :"
His companion promised that he
would do all he could, aud, IL the truth
could not be kept back, il should be so
faithfully told that the name Of Jerome
Dubois should not besr dishOnor IN the
minds OF those who had loved him in
other days.
Morning came, dull and gloomy, with
driving sleet and snow, aud at Nh early
hour Jerome Dubois was led firth 10
meet his fate. The place Of execution
had been fixed upon a low, barren spot
f toward the sea, aud thither his division
WAS being marched to witness the fear
/ ful punishment They had gained not
more than half the distance when the
soHud Of some strange commoti0u broke
upon the Wintry air; aud very shortly
an aide-de- camp came dashiug To the
side Of the General Of the brigade With
"A cry
"a sortiel A sortie! The enemy
are out in force Let this thing be
stayed The Marshal directs that you
/ face about aud advance upon the penin-
I sulaW
In an instant all was changed in that
division, aud the Brlgadier. General,
| who had temporary command, thun-
dered forth his orders for the counter
march. The gloom was di~sipated, aud
with glad hearts the soldiers turned
from the thoughts Of the execution OF a
brave cOmrade TO the thoughts Of meet
ing the enemy.
"What shall we do with the prison.
er ?" asked the sergeant who had charge
I Of the guard.
LEAD him back to the camp" an-
swered the captain.
The direction was simple. but the ex-
ecutiou thereof was not To be so easy,
I for hardly had the words escaped the
captains lips when q squadron Of Prus-
SLAMS came dashing directly toward
them. The division was quickly formed
into four hollow squares, while the
guard that had charge OF the prisoner
found themselves compelled TO flee.
"In Heavens name ~ cried Jerome,
"cut my bonds aud let me die like q
soldier"
The sergeant quickly cut the cord that
bound his elbows behind him, and then
dashed toward the point where his own
company was stationed.
The rattle OF musketry had COM
menced, and the PrusSians were vainly
endeavOriug TO break the squares Of
| French troops. Jerome Dubois looked
about him for some weapon with which
/ to arm himself, aud presently he saw 3
I Prussian officer not far off reeling In his
saddle as though he had been wounded.
I With quick bounds he reached the
spot, pulled the dying officer from his
seat, aud leaped into the saddle.
/ Dubois WAS fully resolved that he
would sell his life that day-sell IL in
behalf Of France, and sell II as dearly
as possible. But he was not needed
where lac was. He knew that the Prus-
I SLAMS could not break those hollow
. squares so he rode away to ioin the
French cavalry, with whom he could
rush into the greatest danger. Suppos-
, ing that the heaviest fighting must he
, on the Nehrung, lie rode his horse in
that direction, and when he reached
there found he had not been mistaken
, Upon slight eminence the enemy had
planted a battery Of heavy guns. sun
! ported by two regiments OF Infantry I.
and already, with shot aud shell. great
! damage had been done.
Marshal Lefebvre rode I'D shortly
, after this battery had opened, aud very
' quickly made up his miud that il must
, be taken at all hazards.
Z Take that battery" he said to a
} Colonel OF cavalry, land the battle il
! ours"
! Dubois heard the order and saw the
! necessity. Here Was danger enough
! surely; aud, determined TO be the firsi
: al the fatal battery, he kept as near tc
the leader as be dared. Half the dis
: tauce had been gained, when from the
o hill came q storm OF iron that poured
> into the ranks Of the French. The Colo
D mel fell, his body literally Torn in piecei
!. by shell that exploded against hi
: bosom.