The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-02-02
aBeforc YOU took up the musket yor


have held the plough. | need a Ia
borer, vigorous and intelligent like
yourself. Come with me and | will
feed. lodge and clothe you, and see
that YOU have something in your
pocket every Saturday night for a
Sunday frolic-"
Il accept your offer thankfully"
said Firmin Bonard, land you shall
see that a French soldier is not
less faithful to the plough by which
he gains a livelihood, than he was
TO the flag of his distant country"
As the farm of Peter Baxen, the
peasant with whom Firmin Bonard
had fallen in, was one of the largest
in the island, the soldier returned to
his old calling, did not lack for op-
portunities to show his skill and in
dustry, and speedily convinced the
rich peasant Of his value.
my friend" he said to Firmin
one day, II love you as would my
own son.
IF it were not" replied Firmin,
that my old father in France waits
and hopes anxiously for my re,
turn. should never care to leave
Rugen." -,
"You will see him once more, said
the farmer "and when you 60 &c
France to see him, why should you
not bring him back to Rugen with
YOU THAT, however, we can speak
of at some future time. To-day
wish to speak to you concerning my
daughter"
A flush covered the young French
mans face as the peasants keen eye
saw. "If / am not wrong" he con
tinued, .'She and you are very
friendly"
Girmin stammered something uE'
intelligible.
"In fact the old man went on''th'
neighbors say you are in love witt
her."
-"What ? Who says so? Iswear tC
YOU, sir. that | never addressed tC
your daughter one word which
would make her aware
''Precisely, and that is why she
has desired me to ask you to. Ior
shall marry her. | have already
promised her that il would be SO
and she hugged me 50 for quartel
of an hour by the clock that real
| ly commenced to think that she
would strangle me-"
Firmin Rugged him, too, and
fortnight later became the HUSBAND
of the old peasants only daughter
the rich, pretty and amiable Ame
liza.
Four years passed away-foul
wears of toll and love. Firmin Bon
ard thought often of France, bu
came to forget his technical dcser
ton. The prattling of his two chill
dren, the embraces of his wife, wer'
a present that answered for the fu
ture small wonder that he forgo
the past.
So matters went on till one morn
ing the signal was made that sever
al vessels were in sight, then as the.
drew nearer the word went rounC
the island:
at is the French They are goin!
| to land :"
The words came to Firmin Bon
ards ears like alarm guns, and h
| felt that he was a lost man. a sud
den thought came to him, however
and reassured him somewhat dash
ling to his dwelling he put on his oil
uniform and shake and ran dow
( to the spot where some five year
before he had been strangely aban
doned.
Soon barges filled with soldier
were seen to put off from the ship
that had rounded to and droppe
anchor. In the bow of one was
white poodle that barked joyousl
on seeing solid ground once more
Firman Bonard saw the dog an
fancied that he recognized in hin
Capucin, and his eyes filled wit
tears.
Still the barges approached. Capr
chit was Capicun, indeed-evi
dently recognized the island, locke
around eagerly, espied the sentry
then standing on his hind legs CAV
one rapturous howl and plungin
into the sea swan with all his nigh
shoreward.
An instant later and the boat
0ere within hailing distance
I "Who goes there?" shoute'
Firmin Bonard in a voice of thun
der.
"Who goes there yourself?' shout
ed one of Davousts staff from th'
leading boat, "who are you, any
how ?"
"Firmin Bonard, private of tn
Sixty-eighth of the line, on guard.
"Oh guard How long have yol
been on guard ?"
"Since II o'clock on the night o
May 13, 1907"
At this reply everyone burst ou
laughing. The first boats prov hac
not quite touched the shore wher
Capucin had scrambled up the steel
bank and with tremendous bounC
cast himself, barking furiously int,
the arms of his old friend. Barks
gamboling, somersaults, licking OF
hands, face, feet-all imaginabl,
demonstrations of canine joy.
go on, old fellow" sobbed tn,
soldier, with tears rolling down hi
checks, ''tear nay coat and muddy j
as much as you like to-day, and
won't say anything. / remembe
when ] struck you for showing M
all your affection and intelligence.
When he had somewhat recover
ed from his emotion, Firman Bon
ard. followed by the faithful dog
went down 10 the beach 10 greet hi
comrades and tell his story. Luck
| ily the corporal, who was now al
officer on Davonst's staff, was ther'
10 corroberate it. The regimen
feasted him royalty, and he in re
turn, invited everyone TO the farm
where he and his wife did the hon
ors cordially.