The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1881-03-03
Let him 90! cried to the soldiers. I

"'Let him gor cried to the soldiers.
rose, removed my cap, and, boving, said:
Sir. I place myself at your disposition
| "At this moment the whistle Of the ap-
preaching train was heard. My Friend
grasped my arm and dragged me to the sta
ton without, where We took the train for
Lille.
cas- soon as I could do so, fastened to
TIE general commanding our divi ion. I
rimanded me severely.
I WHAT said he, an officer of your rank
to babble' thus in public, like raw boy
just out of the military school? It is the
fault OF the War Department. They should
not promote men so young as you to posi-
tons of Importance
II privately thought that if had been q
general the affair would have been the
same. But so richly merited his severe
language that I did not reply.
"'Well:' said he finally, what do you pro-
pose to do?'
"There is but one course open to me,
general, I replied. I have grievously Of
Tended this young man. I have therefore
placed myself at his disposition. We must
fight .
go upon the field with private soldier
"'General, you must allow me to say that
there are certain insults so grave that mill
tary usage must yield to them. Grant me-
permission to do this
g But cannot-I have no right to do
So
"'Then telegraph the Minister of War
He will refuse
well, if that be the case, shall notify
George de Ferisset, and we will fight in
Belgium
"'Then you desert?'
eyes, general, I will desert, and then re-
tuin for my punishment. I have once dis
honored myself in publicly insulting a wo-
man; I shall not again do so in refusing
satisfaction to her son.
"The generals perplexity and anger be-
gan to pass away; he seemed moved. He
Strobe up and down the room for some
moments, and finally, turning to me, said:
/" BE it so. Do as you will. Bear in
mind, though, that know nothing Of this.
affair-this conversation has not taken
place.
II thanked him, and repaired to my quar-
tiers. That evening De Ferisset's seconds
arrived. They were civilians, as were also
the two friends whom I named to arrange
matters with them. The weapon chosen
was the sword; the hour, six o'clock the
following morning; the place, a little village
just within the Belgian frontier Iput my
affairs in order that night, for I had deter
mined to offer but slight defense to my OPP
ponent.
"At the appointed hour the next day we
were there. It was a raw drizZly morning;and
peared in uniform. One of my seconds re-
marked that he, like the rest of us, should
have come as civilian. He replied that
he had been insulted as man and soldier,
and that reparation was due to him as such.
I made sign to my second, and he did not
insist.
1--WE took our places. It was curious
spectacle-a private soldier in his uniform
facing his superior officer in multi.
"The swords were crossed. The word
was given. watched his face with few
erish curiosity. In his eyes there was the
same glare of the day before, the same in
decision. Suddenly a strange smile ap-
peared upon his ips-the smile of broken
heart-a smile Ishall never forget though
I live hundred years. Quick as fash he
sword, he hurled himself upon it. It ran
through the body. Uttering a hoarse cry,
he fell backwards; a bloody foam tinged his
pale lips A convulsive shudder ran over
his body -another- then a groan. He was
dead"
listened with horror to his story. He
noticed my looks, but went doggedly on:
"Of course Il had not killed him-I had
even resolved not to defend myself; and 1
Quilted the army. But still I feel like a
murderer; I feel as though I have COM
mitted crime. When think of that poor
boy-loyal to his mother, bad though she
was-slain in the first flush of youth, feel
like an assassin And think of that wretched
mother How she must mourn her brave
boys fall"
It was. growing late; the people were pour
ing out OF the cafe-c concerts. Now and then
a passer- by would hum over the latest COM
ic song. Strange contrast! The follies of
the song mingled with the words of the
sombre drama just before me. Gustave
walked on by my side. with bent head,
crushed by the weight of his tragic story.
And still the Champs.Elysees swarmed
with people. Around us was the intense
life of summer night in frivolous Paris.
On the avenue were innumerable carriages,
and all around gaily dressed loungers on
the iron chairs.
AS my eve roamed carelessly over them,
I saw one group, the centre of which was
woman of forty-fve, but still very beautiful.
She was dressed richly and tastefully, and
bore in her hand bouquet which smirk-
ing dandy had just presented to her. [ could
not repress an exclamation. Gustave fol-
lowed my eyes.
"Whatv' he cried, . it cannot be she?"
eyes," I answered him, 1T is Madame
de Ferisset"