The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1881-04-07

eyes, nonsicuv lc militaire, very
late last night. He asked for glass Of
water.
"Ah! wns ontstripped in my turn!
started hurriedly. At three o'clock in
the afternoon had not caught up Pu.
vioux, nor at six o'clock either. Al
night took my rest while ate. and
started to walk again. walked a good
part OF the night, but my strength had
limits. Once more stopped. / Knocked
ut an inn. The door opened, and there
sitting in chair ] saw Puvionx, pale rs
death. He make movement Of dis
pleasure when he saw me that was mt
ural. We did not talk much. What
could we say? We were both tired.
The great thing was to know who should
get up first for tho next morning. II
was I.
Tho next morning was this morning.
Since this morning have been walking,
taking rest now and then, but only q
very short ono. We are getting close
Rethel is the last stage between Angcrr
and Mezieres. I know my map Of
France now. The last stage! Great
heavens, If l arrived too late!"
And Pierre Puvionx," asked my
father, has he caught you up?"
NO." replied Chevancheux, u am
ahead. II l could start now, I should
be saved"
'Start? In this state Impossible /"
I. know-my feet are swollen and
cut-and provided that tomorrow"
Tomorrow you will be rested-you
will he able to walk"
Do You think 80 ?" said the soldier.
with look ardent MS lightning.
1T promise you"
NY father then advised the soldier to
4 to bed. Chevauchcux did not refuse.
Tho bed was ready. He shook hands
with MS and went up to his room. It was
ten clock.
q will wake you at five o'clock" said
my father.
It was not vet daylight on the follow
ing morning when my father, already
up, looked out of the window to see how
the weather was. While he was ut the
window he heard some heavy footsteps
on the road below, and in the obscure
twilight that precedes daybreak he per-
,eived soldier who was walking in the
direction Of Mezieres.
up alrcady?" said my father.
The soldier stopped.
"Wcll," continued my father, "are
you OFF,"
The soldier looked mp and tried to
make out who was speaking to him.
You are Jean Chevauchcux, are you
not?" asked my father.
NO said the soldier 81 am Pierre
Puyioux."
And as il that name Of Chevaucheux
had been the prick Of a spur, he resumed
his walk more rapidly, and was soon lost
in the obscurity. When my father could
no longer see him he could hear the noise
Of his shoes on the road leading tc
Mezicres.
"Ah!" said my father to himself.
Chevaucheux must he sharp If he
means to catcs, up that man." And he
went straight to the room where jean
Ind slept. He was already up and look.
ing Mt his feet by the light of a candle.
"Victory /" he cried, when he saw
my father ~ feel fresh and strong, and
/ suffer no more. En- route Z"
.'And quickly" replied my father.
"Puvioux has just passed through
Rethel."
..Pierrc Puvioux?"
II have Just spoken to him. He
passed under our window going along
Is if the devil were after him."
s.Ah, mon Dieu!' exclaimed Chevau.
cheux, as il he had been struck down.
He repeated once more: "Ah! mon
Dieu?' Then lie buckled on his KNAPP.
sack, and cried: "After all, what you
have told me gives me courage. Let me
be off.
Iii the room below, my mother, already
up, was filling wallet with provisions
for Cheyaucheux. But he refused. He
was not hungry. Nevertheless he lei
her fill him flask Of brandy, and put
ting on pair Of my fathers shoes he
started, blessing my mother and leaning
on my fathers arm to take the first
STEP
Three or four years after this we had
heard no news Of Chevaucheux. We
used often to talk OF that evening when
the soldier had come into our house
bleeding and weary. What had become
Of him? What had been the end Of that
romance Of love SO strangely begun?
One day my father had to go to Mezi-
ers on business. He took me with him.
At Mezieres he wished to enter the first
BARRIERS shop that he saw to get shaved.
On the door. step little child was sit
ting with its legs apart, aud smiling at
the sun.
Twill you allow me to pass?' asked
my father, laughing. :,
"No, I won't" replied the child with
little lisp.
AT that moment the door opened, and
man in his shirt-sleeves appeared-the
father-and took the child up in his
arms, saying:
"Pierre! Pierre! do you want to drive
away the customcrs?"
l recognized the voice, and 30 did my
father. We looked at the barber. The
barber looked at us. It was Jean Chew.
aucheux!
He laid the child down at once and
held out his hand. His face was all
red and beaming with pleasure.
.What, il it you? Ali! and to think
that have never written to you. All !!
you don't know. It is / who married
her; / arrived first.
And rushing into theback shop: Mar
gucrite! Marguerite" he cried, Come,
come!"
He was wild with Joy. A young wo.
man appeared. blonde, pretty, blue-eyed,
with pensive and gentle air, little
sad.
"You do not know" said Cheyau
chenx to her. ut was this gentleman
who took care of mo SO well ut Rethe
the night before Iarrived at Your fathers
house. : have often and oftel
talked to you about him. This
is the gentleman.
Marguerite fixed her large, calm eyes
upon, salnted MS and thanked MS softly
then, MS her husband continued to eyo's.
the past. she looked at him tende,l,
with look that snpplicated and w
not without reproach. But Jean sas
nothing.
"Ah. it is to you that I owe all m
happiness. monsieur! Ny child, n.
little boy look nj him NV little pierr,