The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-02-20

ranks, and many of our brayest and best
generals are Of the same origin"
" But il takes brave man to BE- u
successful soldier. doesn't it, Sc rgeant ?"
"To be- sure. Can dove fly without
wings?"
"You heard Farmer Beaupre say 1
would have been frightened out Of my
wits at Lodi?"
"Well?"
These people think me an innocent,
harmless dreamer, without ambition, and
without courage. Now tell ME, Ser
geaut, do you think could rise in the
arny?"
"You may he dreamer" said the old
soldier, emphatically, "but you have
both ambition and courage. You only
want something to draw them out of you.
No one hut an ambitious man could have
your face, and no coward could have the
clear, unfaltering eye that you have.
The army will put an end to your dream
ing and develop your better qualities
What say you, will you go with me? l
go tn my company IN ten days. Will
you go with me?"
~ have been thinking of this ever
since you have been here, but have not
made up my mind" answered Ange.
Then make il mp now, Citizen
Pitois," said the old man. Believe
me wish you well. i am old enough to
be your father, and hope you will not
resent my frankness as impertineuce.
"Say what you will, my friend" said
Ange, II will take it kindly"
"You love girl who thinks you Il
dreamer-she ridicules you. II you re-
main here this will continue, and she
will end by rejecting you, for a woman
will not marry II man whom she ridicules.
Go with me, and command her admira-
ton. Let her hearo You by your brave
deeds. In three years you will be per-
mitted to come home. Think how she
would glory in you to see you come back
with an epaulet and the Cross of the
Legion. Will you 60 with me now?"
Both had risen to their feet, and now
the young man grasped the sergeant's
hand heartily.
There's my hand upon it, Sergeant.
III go with you. You are right, alto
gether Madeleine shall yet be proud of
me, and L will bring back to her both the
epaulet and the cross"
"Hurrah for FranceI' cried the old
soldier, enthusiastically. You'll be II
general vet, my friend. Never fear for
the result. I'll answer for it with my
life"
Ange now produced wine, and they sat
for some time over their glasses, talking
of soldiers life. The sergeant did not
disguise its hardships and dangers Che
was too true a soldier for that, but he
painted its glories and pleasures in bright
oolors.
1t was the early part of the year 1904,
only few weeks previous to the estab-
lishment of the Empire by Napoleon,
and at time when France was in peace
with her neighbors The sergeant, how
ever, like the majority of the soldiers,
regarded the peace as only brief truce,
which was soon to be broken, and looked
forward to the future as full of glory and
fighting. He did not know the condi-
ton of affairs In Paris, and was ignorant
that his great commander was preparing
to place upon his brows the imperial
diadem. Neither did he dream of the
opposition of the powers of Europe, who
both feared this Little Corporal for his
power and hated him for his greatness,
but he looked forward to the future as q
period of war, and felt sure that his ex-
pectations would be realized. This
much he said to Ange Pitois, and told
the young man it would do no harm to
enlist in season Of peace.
You'll be rid of your greenness be-
fore you get into the field" he said, land
that will be an advance to you to face
the bullets with your wits about you"
When the sergeant went away about
twilight, he carried with him Angels SOL
emn promise to go with him when he re-
turned to the army. He had taken q
great fancy to the young man, and was
determined to make a soldier of him.
After the sergeant had left him, Ange
sat for long time in the doorway, think
ing of many things. Madeleine now
looked on him with ridicule. She thought
of him as all the rest did. The sergeant
was right, she would never marry him as
long as she looked upon him In such q
light. He must first win her respect and
admiration, and that he could not do by
remaining in the town. The sergeant
was clearly right. The army was the
place for him. The moon had risen when
he aroused himself from his thoughts and
took the road that led towards Madeleine's
home.
Madeleine Tremonille came Of q good
family, circumstance which was of i'm
portance even in Republican France at
that time. She was only twenty-one, and
one of the most beautiful women in all
France, and would not have shamed even
the consular halls by her presence or
bearing. She was like Ange Pitois, an
orphan, and was well off in worldly goods,
She was greatly admired by the young
men of the town and the surrounding
country, but none could boast of being u
favored lover. She was not disposed 10
enter the matrimonial moose vet, and
consequently kept all off at distance.
She was fully aware Of the state Of Angels
feelings for her, and IN her heart was not
displeased bv the knowledge. Indeed,
she liked Ange better than any of his
rivals, and though she ridiculed and
leased him about his queerways, she could
not deny that she had warm place for
him in her heart. She did not know
exactly whether she loved him or not, but
she was sure that she liked him better
than any one else. She was standing in
the porch when Ange reached her home.
and was gazing SO intently at the moon
that she did not notice him al he came
up. As they had been friends ever since
their childhood, the formalities Of society
were rarely used between them when by
hemsel yes.
"Are you dreaming, Madeleine ?" he
asked, az he came up.
She started, but answered with n
laugh: ono, Ange, leave that to
you"
"But have done dreaming, Made
leine."
"The the sun will stop shining. You
can't help dreaming, Ange. It's M nat
ural TO you TO You az flirting liz 10 me-"
II have done dreaming all but one
dream, Madeleine. That one hope I
shall never give up until it becomes a
reality"
"Tell it to me, Ange, and NAV be /
can Judge OF the probability of it's being
realized"
Ii you will wa me I will tell
it to you, said Auge.
Madeleine consented, and the two
turned into the grounds, and the young
woman, taking his arm, prepared to Lis,
ten to his recital.
Now Ange, let me hear your dream. "
said Madeleine, who had no idea of what
he was about to say, for she was not ex.
pecting him to avow his loyefor her then
II il dream that / have cluny IN
ever since my boyhOod, Madeleine, be-
gan the young man; ga dream that has
seemed 30 bright and beautiful to me
that have sometimes thought it would
never be realized. / have loved Won