Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-11-12

"A court marClal was sp66Qlly convened,
and Francois Duplan stood before it
charged with having been captured by
the pickets far beyond bounds, and max
ing IS it were his intention to pass
through the north woods, out upon the
Hartford turnpike.
ct cannot deny this" he said," but /
affirm that it was my intention to get
back before roll-call and at once admit
that.I had disobeyed the rules"
"That is an apology easily framed
after capture" suggested the judge
advocate; "but if you can say what
your purpose was in thus going beyond
the lines, if it seems to us good and con-
sistent with your return, it may make
the difference between life and death
with you, Francois Duplan."
"AlasI I can not tell my purpose: I
can say that it was good one; that had
it been accomplished results of much
concern to me and to another-yes,
many lothers-might have come of it.
As it is unaccomplished, my purpose
would be laughed at and another made
an object of ridicule."
"That must be singular purpose, in
deed, which you would prefer to lose
your life rather than part with"
eff it must be so, then it must. /
hoped to lose my life when came to
America, but not thus. However, what
difference is itf'
They found him guilty and sentenced
him to death. He was to be shot by six
of his comrades at the next sunrise. Yet
they pitied him. He was, by all ac-
counts, tall, handsome, brave fellow, a
soldier whose ease of manner and whose
habits indicated that his early life was
passed in circles with which none of his
companions were were familiar. He was
a stranger to them all when he joined
them, and it had not escaped notice that
the Count &c Rochambeau, with his ever
observant eye, had marked this common
soldier, Francois, and had even once
said, in the hearing of the sentry who
paced in front of the door, I" mean to
find out why this gentleman serves as
common soldier and who he is"
With all his reserve and hours of med
itation, Francois was favorite with his
comrades, for while they felt that he
was above them in refinement, in polish
and experience, they knew that he made
no effort to have them feel thus, utrather
endeavored to repress all trials and emo
tions not shared in common by private
soldier. He could not repress all. There
was method, way, mannerism of
which he was unconscious. He had
nursed the sick, done double duty to
save some tired-out comrade, and there
was gloom throughout the camp when it
went forth that Comrade Duplan was to
be shot at sunrise. They went by twos
and threes and scores to the Count de
Rochambeau to beg for mercy, and they
returned heavy-hearted, not getting
what they sought.
Duplan himself, SO it was afterward
said, was the most composed and SEEM
ingly least troubled soldier in camp. To
his guard he said but little. Once, when
the guard, with the tears streaming down
his cheeks, said: "Too bad Too badl"
Duplan replied: cit is we'll" And
then he added: CT have lived these
five years in the shadow of death. To-
day, yesterday, for a few weeks have
seen little ray Of sunlight breaking
through the clouds. I knew to day,
when stepped over the line, that ere 1
returned either the sun would once more
shine for me or that night would come
forever"
"That seems to be the strange part of
it all. There is not soldier in camp
who thinks you intended to DESERT
"Nor did /. Had | succeeded, /
should have returned welcomed by the
Count de Rochambeau, and not as Fran
co.'s Duplan."
"Then you are not serving under your
straight name"
"No, [ once had-knew servant of
that name"
Later in the evening the Count de Ro-
chambeau's aid brought a message to the
sergeant in command. It was to the
effect that any requests of Francois
'Duplan, consistent with the execution of
the sentence, were to be granted. Food,
writing materials, companions for the
night, the choice of the comrades who
were to execute the sentence-any
wishes he might have were to be strictly
carried out. Duplan at first said he had
none, but suddenly, with an air of great
earnestness, and quite timidly, he asked
if comrade might be detailed to escort
from the village and home again, one
whom he would like to see. Has
"And who is this one?"
mistress Prudence Strong"
The aid looked at Duplan curiously
for an instant. "i 5'.
"And why do you wish to see Mistress
Prudence on such a night as this?" he
asked. 80 srs
f"Did the Count de Rochambeau in
struct you that must give the reasons
for any wish I might desire granted? ?"
was Duplan's answer. 4.-1'
The aid smiled significantly, but Dup
Ian did not see that.
"Let it be then as he Wishes" said the
aid to the sergeant. iaE ld5 ta.f
A soldier was detailed to so up into
the village and escort Mistress Prudence
to the camp. "Peradventure she will
not come" he said to his comrades as he
buttoned his great coat about him =" and
yet think she will. Have you not
seen her at the oven when Duplan and
the rest of us were baking bread? Did
she not visit lis one evening with some
of the Other maids and bring us cider
and apulastD