The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-04-07

sleep little. slept all night. In the
morning woke up. / saw that the day
was getting on; was furious and called
some one.
"sYou have not seen q soldier pass on
footy
"fYes, monsieur le nailitaire, very
late last night. He asked for glass Of
water
"Ahi was outstripped 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. I walked a 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 make a movement of dis
pleasure when he saw me that was nat
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 the next morning. 1t
was I.
"The next morning was this morning.
Since this morning have been walking,
taking a rest now and then, but only a
very short one. We are getting close.
Rethel is the last stage between Anglers
and Mezieres. know my map OF
France now. The last stagel Great
heavens, if arrived too later
"And Pierre Puvioux," asked my
father, "has he caught you up?"
"No," replied Chevaucheux, ct am
ahead. If I could start now, I should
be saved"
"Start In this state Impossible ="
al know-my feet are swollen and
cut-and provided that tomorrow"
"To-morrow you will be rested-you
will be able to walk"
"Do you think 30 ?" said the soldier,
with look ardent as lightning.
"I promise you"
Ny father then advised the soldier to
60 to bed. Chevaucheux did not refuse.
The bed was ready. He shook hands
with us and went up to his room. 1t was
ten o'clock.
ct will wake you at five o'clock. said
my father.
1t was not yet daylight on the follow
ing morning when my father, already
up, looked ont of the window to see how
the weather was. While he was at the
window he heard some heavy footsteps
on the road below, and in the obscure
twilight that precedes daybreak he per-
ceived soldier who was walking in the
direction of Mezieres.
Cup already?" said my father.
The soldier stopped.
"well," continued my father, "are
You OFF,"
The soldier looked up and tried to
make out who was speaking to him.
"You are Jean Chevaucheux, are you
not?" asked my father.
"No," said the soldier; " am Pierre
Puvioux."
And MS if that name of Chevaucheux
had been the prick of 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 to
Mezieres.
"Ah |" said my father to himself,
"Chevaucheux must be sharp if he
means to catch up that man." And he
went straight to the room where Jean
had slept. He was already up and look.
ing at his feet by the light of candle.
"Victory /" he cried, when he saw
my father 90 feel fresh and strong, and
suffer no more En- route J"
"And quickly" replied my father.
"Puvioux has just passed through
Rethel."
ssPierre Puvioux?"
ST have Just spoken to him. He
passed under our window going along
as if the devil were after him."
"Ah, mon Dieur' exclaimed Chevau.
cheux. as il he had been struck down.
He repeated once more: "Ah! mon
Dieu?" Then he buckled on his KNAPP
sack, and cried: ''After all, what yor
have told me gives me courage. Let me
be off.
In the room below, my mother, already
ND, was filling q wallet with provision.
for Chevaucheux. But he refused. Ht
was not hungry. Nevertheless he le
her fill him a flask of brandy, and put
ting on pair of my fathers shoes ht
started, blessing my mother and leaning
on nv fathers arm to take the frs
step.
Three or four years after this we hat
heard no news Of Chevaucheux. W.
used often to talk of that evening wheI
the soldier had come into our hous'
bleeding and weary. What had become
of him? What had been the end OF tina
romance of love SO strangely begun?
One day my father had to 60 to Mezi
ers on business. He took me with him
At Mezieres he wished to enter the frs
BARRIERS shop that he saw to get shaved
On the doorstep little child was sit
ting with its legs apart, and smiling a
the sun.
"Will you allow me to pass? aske'
fo&1ar launching
sNo. I won't, replied the child witt
little lisp.
AT that moment the door opened, ant
a man In his shirt-sleeyes appeared--th,
father-and took the child up in hi
arms, saying: I\-.s
"Pierrel Pierre. do you want to driv
y away the ctlstemers?">
/ recognized the voice, and so did m,
father. We looked at the barber. Tn
r barber looked at us. It was Jean Chev
aucheux! a go 7l
He laid the child down at once an,
held out his hand. His face was al
red and beaming with pleasure. =
"What, is it you? All! and to thin
: that have never written to you. All
, you don't know. It is who marrie'
her; arrived first. +" e, =
huu IuouluB iutO tuo DtsCh SIOp. MaI
guerite! Marquerite!" he cried, "Come
!. come!"
He was wild with JOY. A young VIC
man appeared, blonde, pretty, blue-eyed
!, with pensive and gentle air. littl
: sad. s -4. q.
q "You do not know?" said Chevar
3 cheux to her. "It was this gentlema
who took care of mo 80 well at Retht
: the night before I arrived at yourfather
. house. I have often and ofte
!. talked to you about him. IN
! is the gentleman"
|. Marguerite fixed her large, calm ey,
upon, saluted us and thanked US softl,
then, as her husband continued to evol
the past, she looked at him tenderl
% with look that supplicated and wi
- not ,xifho,it ranIoach : Ruk ,Iean aa