Weekly Trinity journal., 1879-06-14
And the sentinel burs. into tears Of
regret and despair

And the sentinel burs. into tears of
regret and despair.
w
"Come, come, my SON." said the peas
ant, kindly; don't give way so, Cly-
ing won't mend matters. Stay here
you can't do anything else. If the
French return and take you, will ex-
plain everything"
But you do not understand what
martial law is If they return there will
be no pity shown me-"
"Tut- tut That is absurd. You can>
not be punished for crime you never
committed 1t anybody is to be blamed,
1t is your superiors, who forgot every,
thing about you"
Firmin Bonard made no answer, but
swept with despairingly hopetl! eye
the distant horizon. Alas, there was not
the white llcck ofN single seil to bo seen,
and again he gave way to his grief.
Take my advice, said the old man,
land bear up with good heart, You
are from rural parts, unless am greatly
mistaken, and can find in mo friend il
you are only willing to let me befriend
you"
" But you know nothing about mo
whether am ilt -
=" am an old man and long accustom-
ed to read the hces of my fellows" said
the peasant, smiling. " Before you took
up the musket you have held the pIow.-
| need II laborer, vigorous and intell>
gent, like yourself. Como with me and
| will feed, lodge and clothe you, and
see that you have something in your
pocket every Saturday night for II Sun
day froIic."
" accept your offer thankfully" said
Frmin Bonnrd, "and YOU shall SEQ that
a French soldier Is not less faithful to
the pow, by which he gains livelihood,
than he was to tho flag of his distant
country"
AS The farm Of Peter Bnxen, the peas~
ant with whom Firmin Bonard had ml-
len in, was one of the largest in tho
island, tho soldier returned to his old
calling, did not lack for opportunities to
show his skill and industry, ard speedily
convinced the rich peasant of his value.
I" My friend" he said to Frmin, one
day, " love you MS | would my own
son.
:" If it were not" replied Firmin,
" that my old father in France waits
and hopes anxiously for my return, |
should never care to leave Rugen."
" You will see him once more" said
the farmer; "and when you go to
France to SEQ him why should you not
bring him back to Rugcn with you ?
Tint, however, We can talk ofat some
fature time. To-day | wish to speak to
you concerning my daughter."
A aush covered the young Frenchman's
face, ms the PEASANTS keen eye saw. "If
| am not wrong" he contlGued, she
and you are very friendly 2'
Firmin stammered something unintel.
ligibe.
" In fact" the old man went on, the
neighbors say you are in love with her :"
Z" What? Who snys SO ? | swear to
you, sir, that | have never addressed to
your daughter one word which would
make her aware"
" Precisely, that is why she has desired
me to ask you to. You shall marry her.
| have already promised her that II
would be so, and she Rugged mo so for
quarter OF mn hour by the clock that /
really thought she would strangle mo-"
Firmin hugged him, too, and fort
night later became the husband Of the
old mans only child, the rich, pretty and
nmiable Amelia.
-Four years passed away-four years
Of toll and love. Firmin Bonnrd thought
often Of France, but camo to forget hi.
technical desertion. The pratting Of bis
own children, the embraces of his wife,
were present that answered for the fu
ture small wonder that he forgot the
past.
80 matters won't on, till ono morning
the signal was made that several vessels
were in sight and ns they drew nearer
the word went round the island
" 1t is the French I They are going to
land"
The words came to Firmin Bonard's
ears like alarm guns, and he felt that he
was lost man. A sudden thought came
to him, however, and reassured him
somewhat ; dashing 70 his dwelling he
put on his old uniform and shake and
ran TO the spot where somo five years be-
fore he had been so strangely abandoned.
Soon barges filed with soldiers we're
seen to put off from the ships that had
rounded to and dropped anchor. In the
bow OF one was big white poodle that
barked joyously on seeing tho solid
ground once more.
Firmin Bonard saw the dog, and fam
cied that he recognized in him old Capu-
Gin, and his eyes filed with tears.
Still the barges approached Capucin
1T was Capucin, indeed -eyidenty rec
ognized the island, looked round eagerly,
esped the sentry, then standing on his
hind-legs, gave one rapturous howl, and
plunging into the sea, SWAN with all his
might shoreward.
An instant later and the boat was with
IN haiing distance.
Who goes there 2" shouted Firmin
Bonard in voice Of thunder.
" Who goes there yourself7" answered
one Of Davoust's staff from the leading
boat " who are you, anyhow 20