The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1879-06-19

troops have goneP
"By water answered the peasant,
surprised at seeing the solitary soldier
" don't know where they have gone,
but at two this morning they sailed with
the greatest haste, and In the completest
silence"
"Gone !" said the sentry F." and they
have abandoned me shall he set down
SIS deserter. Damn that corp0ral-he
not only left me on watch six hours, but
he has ruined my eputation-disnon-
ored me. Now / understand poor
Capucin's visit; he came to warn me
that they were going, and I, dull fool
that l was, could not understand him.
Good dog, and I kicked him-the first
time one OF our men ever struck him.
Oh Capucin, Capucin, why didn't you
think OF teariDg the corporaPs coat,
too z"
And the sentinel burst into tears of
regret and despair.
".
As the firm of Peter Baxen, the peas.
ant with whom Firmin Bonard had fallen
in, was one of the largest on the island,
the soldier returned to his old calling,
did not lack for opportunities to show
his skill and industry, and speedily con-
WINGED the rich peasant of his vslue.
Firmin became the husband of the old
mans only child, the rich, pretty and
amiable Amelia.
Four years passed sWay-four years of
toll and love. Firmln Bonard thought
often of France, but came to forget his
technical desertion. The prattling of his
two children, the embraces of his wife,
were q present that answered for the
future; small wonder that he forgot the
past.
So matters went on till one morning
the signal was made that several yes
sells were in sight then as they drew
nearer the word went round the island
It is the French They are going TO
land P'
cit is the French! They are going to
land I''
The words came to Firmin Bonard's
ears like alarm guns, and he felt that he
was a lost man a sudden thought
came to him, however, and reassured
him somewhat dashing to his dwelling
he put on his old uniform and shake
and ran to the spot where FIVE years
before he had been SO strangely aban~
doned.
Soon baTges filed with soldiers we're
seen to put off from ships that rounded
to and dropped anchor. In the bow of
one was big white poodle that barked
| joyously on seeing the solid ground once
more.
Firmin Bonard saw the dog and fan
cied that he recognized in him old Capu-
Gin, and his eyes filled with tears.
| Still the barges approached !; Capu Gin
it was Capucin, indeed-evidently
recognized the island, looked round
eagerly, espied the sentry, then standing
on his hind>legs gave one rapturous
howl, and, plunging into the sea, swan
with all bis might shoreward.
| An instant later and the boats were
within hsiling distance.
F' Who goes there ?'' shouted Firmin
Bonard in 8 voice of thunder.
Who goes there yourself ?" an
swered one of Davoust's staff from the
leading boat who are you, anyhow 7''
q Firmin Bonard, private of the Sixty
eighth of the line, on guard"
On guard7 How long have you been
on guard ?'
13, 1907"
At this reply every one burst out
I
yet quite touched the strand when Ca
pucin had scrambled up the steep rock
and with q tremendous bound cast him
self, barking furiously, into the arms of
| his old friend, Barks, gsmboiing SOM
eTsaults, licking of hands, face, feet
all imaginable demonstrations of canine
| joy.
Go on, old fellow" sobbed the SOL
dier, with tears rolling down his cheeks !;
tear my coat and muddy it as much as
you like to-day, and I won't say any
thing, remember when I struck you
for showing me all your affection and
intelligence"
| Wnen he had recovered somewhat
| from his emotion, FiTmin Bonard, fol-
| lowed by the faithful dog, went down
to the beach to greet his comrades and
| tell his story. Luckily the corporal,
now an officer on Davoust's staff, was
there, and could cOrroborate it. The
regiment feasted him royalty, and he in
return invited every one of them to his
farm, where he and his wife did the hon
ors cordially.
1t was n long ere the news reached
Marshal Davoust's ears. He laughed
heartily at Firmin BoDard's stratagem,
and having satisfied himself that the
soldiers antecedents were irreproachable,
ordered his discharge to be made out in
due form.
" Far be it for me-" said the Marshal,
"after he has been on watch for five
years without being relieved to send
this gallant fellow before a cOurt-mar-
tial."