Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1880-12-14
MIS- CELIA HEous.
AN INCIDENT OF NAPOLEONTC
WARS,

the memorable year OF 1914, when the
- allied arnies were concentrated ahort
Paris, young Lieutenant OF dragons WINS
engaged with three or four Hungarians, who
after hacing received several smart strokes
from his saber, managed TO send ball into
his shoulder, to pierce his chest with a
thrust from lance, and to leave him dead
on the bank Of the river
on tke opposite side of tho stream, boat.
man and his daughter had been watching
this unequal fight with tears of desperation
But what could an old unarmed man do. or
pretty girl of sixteen? However, the old
sold'cr-for such the boatman was-hsd no
sooner seen tho officer fall from his horse
than he and his daughter rowed most vio'
erous'y for the other side. Then, when
they had deposited tho wounded mnn in the
beat, these worthy people crossed the river
again, but with faint hopes of reaching the
military hospital in time.
on have been worry hardly treated, nv
boy" said the old guardsman to him "but
here am I, who have gone farther still, and
come homo"
The si!ont and fixed attitude Of Lieutcp.
ant 9. showed the extreme agony of his
pains, and the hardy boatman soon disooy-
cred that tho blood which was flowing inter
palIy from the wound on his Iefs side would
shortly terminate his existence He turned
to his youthful daughter.
Mary" he said, 'you have heard me
tell of my brother; he died ef just such an
other wouad as this hsre Well, now. had
there only boon somebody by to suck the
hurt, his life would lave been saved"
The boat then landed, and went to look
Tor two or three soldiers to help him to carry
tho officer leaving his dsushtor in charge Of
him The GIRL lonEaI tho
second or two. What was her emotion when
she heard him sigh so deeply, now thut he
was resigning life in the flower of his age.
but that he should dio without a mothers
kiss.
"My mother my dear, doar mother !"
said he, IL die without"
Her woman's heart told ber what he
would have said. Her bosom heaved with
sympathy. and her eyes ran over.
Thon she remembered what her father
said; she thought hew her = ele's life might
have been saved. In an instant. quicker
than thought, she tore opsz the ofieor's
coat, and the generous girl recalled him 10
life with her lips.
Amid this holy occuRotion the sound of
footsteps was heard, and the blushing hero
inc fed to che other esd of the boat. Judge
| OF her fathers surprise, as he came up with
the two soldiers, when he saw Lieutenant
s whom he expected to find dead, open his
eyes and ask for his deliverer.
The boatnan looked at his child, and saw
it all. The poor girl came to him with her
head bent down. She was about to excuse
herself, when the father, embracing her with
enthusiasm, raised her spirits, and the officer
thanked her in these prophetic words:
"1 Ou have saved my life; it belongs to
yop."
After this she tended him end became
his Rurfe; nothing would be take but from
her hand. Ne wonder that with .uch a
nurse he at length recovered. Mary wa. as
pretty as she was good.
Meanwhile Master Cupid, whe is very
busy in such eases. gave him another wound
aud there was only ose way to cure it-so
very deep it was.
The b0atman's daughter became Madame
Her husband rose to be Lieutenant
General, and the bOatnan's daughter became
as elegant and graceful as any Isdy Of the
court of Leais Philippe.