The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-04-06

held out my hand and swore to act neither
by ruse nor violence, and to let Pierre Pu-
vioux marry Marguerite, IL he returned to
Mezieres before did. Pierre stood up and
swore the same, and then we shook hands
while Father Servan said; Now, the rest Is
your affair. Tie only thing is to escape bull
lets and TO return safe ard sound.
HE filled our glasses once more, and We
drank a parting draught
Before leaving wished to see Margue-
rite. Just as | was arriving under her win
&Ow-it was at dusk-l saw some one In the
shade coming in the same direction.
stopped short. II was Pierre Puvioux. he
seemed vexea to find me there. / was not
particularly pleased to meet him. We stood
there for a moment IKE two simpletons
looking at the toes of cur boots. Then, with
a movement of courage. / said to Puvioux-
"'Shall we 90 in together
eve entered and took our farewell OF
Marguerite. She listened to us without say
ing ANYTHING, but there were tears at the
tips of her blonde eyelashes Suddenly
Pierre, who was talking. stopped and began
to sob and 1 to do the same. Then Margue-
rite Joined in, and there we were all three
shedding tears and pressing each others
hands.
when the diligence that took US away
from Mezieres began to rattle on the pave
ment the next day l felt inclined to throw
crushed under the wheels. The more so, as
there was Lorrainer at my side who was
singing in q melancholy voice a song of his
country, and said to myself: 1t is all over,
Jean; you will never see her again
''Well, you see time passes. The seven
years are over end who knows? Perhaps L
am not only going to see her again, but to
marry her
There are, Indeed, strange chances in
life" continued Jean Chevaucheux. pierre
and l started on the same day and at the
same hour and we were placed in the same
regiment At first | was vexed. l should
have liked to have known that he was far
away As yousEay imagine could not love
him much. But reflected afterward that
if Puvieux was with me | could at least talk
about her That consoled me- Well, said
to myself, 1 amir for seven years of it At
ter all, one gets over it.
''In the regiment became fast friend of
Pierre PuviOUX. He proved to be an excel
lent good fellow and at night, in order to
kill time, we Used often to talk of Mezieres.
of Father SerFan and of Marguerite. We
used To write ito MeZieres often. but each
told the other the contents of his letters. 1t
was struggle, it was true, but it was loyal
When Marguerite or old Servan replied the
letter was for 10th of us, an equal dose of
hope was given to each of us, and so we went
on hoping.
Zone day the'C Colonel took it into his head
to appoint me Corporal. | was vexed and
proud at the same time. You see. was no
longer the equal of Puvioux. My stripes
gave me the right to command him, and in
the eyes of our Ardennais that was no small
advantage. But Ibid not glory in my rank;
on the contrary, it made me ill at ease. /
did not dare to talk TO PuviOux any more.
Then | reflected that there were more ways
than one of getting rid of my new rank. /
neglected my duty and was forthwith de-
graded. But who should be made Corporal
in my stead but Puvioux. But Puvioux
was not to- be outdene; at the end of the
week he resigned. After that there was no
danger of any propositions being made to
us to make any change in our uniform. We
were condemned to remain common sol
ders.
$50 much the BETTER said Puvioux
What luckr said /.
when we had served our seven years
for L do not mean to tell you our history
day by day. said to Puvioux:
We'll, now is the time to start, Ell?
YES he replied. we are expected
"'YOu know / said, the game will not be
finally won until both of us have arrived at
and until the loser has declared
that the combat has been loyal
Agreed said Puvioux:
And so one morning, with good shoes ON
our feet and stick in hand, we set out for
Mezieres from Anglers, not saying much,
thinking good deal and walking above
everything. The weather was terribly hot
and dusty. Half way on one of our marches
sat down on the roadside overwhelmed
with fatigue.
care you going to stay there? said
PuviOux to me.
" Yes
" 'Adieur he said, continuing his march.
"'Au revOirp
d" q watched him as he went on with firm
steD as il he had only just started. When l
saw him disappear at bend of the road, and
when was alone as il were, abandoned, i
felt great despair. l made an effort. / rose
and began to walk again. Thatlittle halt had
done me good. walked, walked. and walked
until had caught up to PuvIoux and passed
him.
"At night, too, was well ahead. but was
worn out l entered an inn to sleep little.
slept all night. In the morning l woke up.
| saw that the day was getting on; / was fu-
riOus and called some one.
"'Iou have not seen q soldier pass on
foot?
Yes, Monsieur lie militaire very late
last night. He asked for glass of water
"Ahi was outstripped in my turn
started hurriedly. At 3 o'clock in the
afternoon | had not caught up to Puvieux,
nor at o'clock either. At night | took
my rest while 1 ate. and started to walk
again, walked good part of the night
but my strength had limits. Once more
stopped. knocked at an inn. The door
opened, and there, sitting in chair / saw
Puvioux, pale as death. He made q move
ment of displeasure when ne saw me, that
was natural. We did not talk much. What
could we say? We were both tired. The
great thing was to know who should get up
first the next morning. 1t was l.
THE next morning was this morning.
Since this morning I have been walking,
taking rest now and then, but only very
short one. We are getting close. Rethel is
in the last stage between Anger and Mez-
ieres. / know my map of France nov! The
last stage! Good heavens, if arrived too
late!'
"And Pierre Puvioux," asked my father
''has he caught you up?''
mo" replied Chevaucheux, 81 am ahead!
If / could start now should be saved
"Start? In this state! Impessibie"
~ know-my feet are..swollen and cut
and provided that tomorrow"
Tomorrow you will be rested. You will
be able to walk"
''Do you think sop said the soldier, with
a look ardent as lightning.
81 promise YOU"
NY father then advised the soldier to go to
bed. Chevaucheaux did not refuse. The
bed was ready. He shook hands with us
and went up to his room. 1t was 10 o'clock.
II will wake yeu at 5 O'clock" said my
father.
1t was not yet daylight on the following
~tAwR 4of a