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


to me. For years you, in common with
Others, have known me as dreamer, and
something below what man should be.
You cannot love one upon whom others
nay, upon whom you yourself look down.
Is it not SOP"
81 think you are better and nobler
than most persons believe you," an
swered Madeleine; "but you do not, if
you wish me to be frank, come up to my
idea of what my husband should be-"
81 thought 30, said the young man;
" but it will be so no longer. have not
done my duty, Madeleine. / shall do
better in the future. l am going away
very shortly"
"Going away, Ange? Where?"
81 shall leave here III ten days for
Boulogne, where / shall enlist in the
army"
"But there is no war now"
"No but feel sure this shallow peace
cannot last. There will be fighting soon,
aud shall have an opportunity of MAX
ing myself name Of which you will be
proud"
"And are you 30 anxious to go away
from ME, Ange?" asked the young
woman, in tone of reproach.
"You have told me, Madeleine" said
Ange, with great earnestness, "that /
am not what you would wish for hus-
band, and / feel sure that you are right.
/ wish to make myself worthy, not only
of your love, but Of your respect and adj
miration. Ii / remain here there il no
prospect of my escaping from my old
life. must go where some great power
can turn me into the paths that lead to
higher ends than those which now walk.
l have come to you tonight to tell you
this, and ask You if you will try me. In
three years / will return, aud bring with
me an epaulet and cross. You will be
proud Of me then, and shall have the
greatest reward l could hope for. Will
YOU consent to this?"
81 think you are right, Ange," said
Madeleine. "Had you been a different
man l should have loved you from the
first; and us it is, like you better than
any one / know. Go, and for your own
sake, as well as mine, try to make name
among the brave men with whom you
will be thrown, 40 that France as well rs
l may be proud of you. The first consul
is the soldiers friend, and if you do
your duty brayely will reward you"
"And if at the end Of three years
bring You the epaulet and the cross, will
you be my wife, Madeleine?"
"Your true and loving wife, if you
will take me when You have grown 80
great" was her reply.
"Take you, dear Madeleine?" said
Ange, smiling. "Were the first con-
sui himself, 1 would deem myself honor
ed by your love-"
And so the matter was settled, and in
ten days Ange Pitois accompanied Ser
geant Dubois to Bouloge Madeleine
found that she had loved the young man
better than she had thought, and as the
last few days of his stay In town had
shown her Angels character in a new
light, she was confident that he would
be successful.
In due time Ange and the sergeant
reached BouloSne, where the old mans
regiment was stationed. Scarcely had
the young recruit become well grounded
IN his trimming when the consular chair
was replaced by the imperial throne, and
France commenced that career of glory
which ended 80 unhappIly for her. Ange
was very well pleased with this change,
for now that Napoleon held the supreme
power of the state, he felt sure that there
would be better chance for promotion
IN the army. He was soldier by nature,
and his close attention to his duties i'm
pressed his officers 80 favorably with him
that when the campaign of 1905, which
followed the infamous coalition of Austria
and Russia, opened, and his regiment
GOT mt fft. (.arrNo1Nxy 70 fnir tho
who had abandoned his designs upon Eng
land to crush enemies still more danger
Gus, Ange went as Sergeant Pitois. His
regiment was the Forty-seventh of the
line, and was in advance, and was
frequently engaged in unimportant but
severe encounters.
In all these Ange bore himself bravely,
and exhibited SO many high soldierly
qualities that when he stood in the gloom
of the dreary morning, watching for the
sun that was to light the field of Auster-
litz, he was Captain Ange Pitols. He
had the epaulet, but the cross was yet to
come.
The Forty-seventh was right in front
that day, and suffered horribly. The
Russians, opposite whom it was posted,
held their ground manfully, and a well
served battery tore hinge gaps in the
French ranks. Man after man went
down. Three charges of the French
were repulsed, and when the fourth was
sounded Ange found himself the only
commissioned officer left unframed. All
the rest, from the colonel down, had
been killed or wounded. He saw mt
glance the necessity of carrying the bat
terry, for unless it was captured, the key
TO the Russian position would remain in
the hands of the foe.
In a moment he was Mt the head of the
remnant of the regiment. Seizing the
standard, he tore the tri-color from the
staff, and wrapping it around him, shout
ed:
Forward ! Follow the colors -
With thrilling cheer the men pushed
on after him, right on to the guns. How
the canister tore through their ranks
How the bright French blood streamed
out in the path of the Forty-seventh
No one thought Of danger. Every eye
was fixed ON the form wrapped in the
flag, as it dashed right in amid the guns.
The battery was reached; q brief, sick
ening struggle followed, and then the
grape and canister swept like whirl-
wind through the ranks Of the retfeating
Russians The battery had beenwon by
q handful of men, and in an instant-a
fresh brigade arrived to support the little
band.
At the same moment an officer who
had witnessed the whole charge from the
moment Ange had torn the flag from the
staff, rode up, accompanied by two or
three aids.
"Who commands this regiment ?" he
asked, abruptly.
81 do" said Ange, as he stepped
forward with handkerchief pressed toa
deep sword-cut in his forehead.
"Your name and rank p. asked the
officer.
"Ange Pitois, captain Of the Forty
Seventh regiment Of the line"
Let il be mentioned in the report of
the BATTLE" said the officer, turning 10
one of his aids, /" that this battery was
captured by the heroic Forty Seventh,
led by its brave commander, Colonel
Ange Pitois." :
Ange now glanced up, and for the first
time saw the officers face. In an instant
his head WAS uncovered, and he bowed
profoundly.
Colonel" said the officer, smiling,
"to make your reward complete, take
this" And moving his horse closer 10
the young man the officer took from his
gray surtout small cross and buttoned
it on the coat Of the young colonel.
The regiment shall be rewarded when
the battle is ended" he said.
There was a shout from the group, and
the cry Hurrah for the emperor!"
rolled down fha linaa M Na,,olao,, t,,,,.,1