Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-09-05

IL confess my crime
You, ValOrs." exclaimed the colo
mel, "you always were brave soldier.
Have you anything to say?
Nothing, except that l find all very
Just. But would do the same thing
tomorrow all over again"
"Will you let us know why you did
it, PIERRE" continued the officer,
kindly.
Eyes, if any one cares to hear. My
mother died five years ago. at her
bedside / swore to live an honest man,
and to avoid evil companions. To re-
mind me of my pledge, she made me
promise to plant violet over her grave,
and every year was to pluck the first
bud that blossomed among the grass.
Four times l had sought the little
church yard, and gathered the tender
flowers that grew above her sainted
bones. At the time of my last visit, the
regiment was leaving France. ] asked
for leave of Absence and was refused.
There was but one way left, for must
obtain the violets at any cost desert
ed. When l had found the flower, and
pressed it to my lips, the enormity of
my crime arose with all its shame be-
fore me. had vowed never to forsake
my duty, and felt my oath was bro,
ken. There remained but one thing to
do: rejoin the regiment and deliver
myself to justice. l came here and
surrendered. The rest is known. l
have been condemned justly, and am
ready to meet my doom. 1t is heavy
price-life for single flower -
Here is the chaplain whispered
one of the men; "shall he approach p
"By all means" said Valore; II have
made my peace with God, SIR" he add.
ed, to the clergyman, "and 1 am pre-.
pared to die in charity toward all men.
have nothing more to say except fare
we'll, and bless you, every one."
Then, bowling to the chaplain, he
walked to the scaffold with as firm a
step as if he had been marching past the
general, in ordinary times, at review.
The men turned sick in the ranks, the
drummers' hands trembled as they beat
the terrible tattoo" and the file of
soldiers detailed for the execution hung
their heads for shame. as though they
we're murderers, instead Of promoters
of justice and discipline.
Farewell, friends all !" shouted Va
lore, taking his position, and the adju.
tant gave the word that all was ready.
But at that moment there was cry
"a low, murmured cheer among the
men, as they separated to let a horse.
man advance to the center of the COL
umn. He looked neither to the right
nor left, but made straight for the plat.
form, and dismounted within q few
yards of the condemned man. As he
stepped gracefully from his horse, and
stood beside the deserter, both officers
and men held their breath, watching
with anxiety the movements of the mas
ter they had learned to respect so high
ly and love 80 we'll.
It was Bonaparte, hero of the Pyra-
mids, who appeared before them.
Without word, the Little Corpo-
raj" walked up to the platform, and
placed himself directly in front of the
disgraced man.
"Pierre Valore," he said, in his clear,
pure voice, "your crime has been
known to me only short time. From
yonder clump of trees have Just heard
the whole story. If the life which you
80 freely offer to the memory of your
mother is burden to you, give it to
me. You have still another mother,
kinder, better than the one you have
lost, and who needs the help of her
noble sons. Give me your hand you
are free man if you have a life to
spare, keep 1t for her. For France is
your mother"
Pierre Valore fell upon his knees,
and, seiziug the delicate, wax-like hand.
carried it reverentially to his trembling
lips.
'My life is yours" he said, between
his tears. II wish I had a hundred
lives to give as willingly"
Ihe men were too excited to cheer,
and maybe it was this mute admiration
which honored the commandment most.
He waved his hand graciously, and,
mounting his horse again, rode away.
Two days later, they were fighting,
The Little Corporal" was every where
in the thickest of the fray. Just where
the shot flew fastest, where the furious
cannon ragged fercest, the threc.cor.
nered hat was visible, always ahead,
like charmed being, leading them on
ward to glory, to triumph and destruc.
ton. The clarion voice shouted the
order "Charge !" which was re.echoed
by every captain along the line, and the
vast sea OF men, sweeping down like q
huge tidal wave, plunged headlong
into the redoubt before them. The
contest was man to man, saber to
saber.
He certainly must have been invul-
nerable, so many times to escape what
seemed inevitable death. For the TWEEN.
tieth time he was surrounded by a band
OF yelling Arabs, who defended with
t1endlsh avidity each foot of ground
that was taken from them.
Meanwhile, a few yards distant
fought Pierre Valore. His trusty sword
flashed here and there among the howl
ing crowd, dealing death in all direc-
tions. Between two thrusts, Bonaparte
looked down. There was no time for
words or smiles. but in his mind he set
down decoration. should thew meet
again at later day. Again and again
they were lemmed in with a burSro1