Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1881-12-29

sq' piiseu at seeing the solitary soldier
II don't know where they have gone.
but at two o'clock this morning thew
sailed with the greatest haste and in
the completest silence"
"Gone - said the sentry. ''and thew
nave abandoned me | shall be set
down AS deserter. Damn the cor
poral-he not only left me on watch
six hours but he has ruined nv repu-
tation -dishonored me. Now / under
stand poor Capuchin's visit he came
to warn me that they were going, and
|, dull fool that Twas, could not under
stand him. Good dog, i kicked him
the first time one of our men ever
struck him. Oh, Capuchin, Capuchin,
why didn't you think of tearing the
corporal's coat too? ?"
And the sentinel burst into tears of
regret and despair.
Come, come, my son." said the
peasant, kindly don't give way so.
Crying won't mend matters. Stay
here; you can't do anything else. If
the French return and take you, l will
explain everything"
But you don't understand what
martial law is-if they return there will
be no pity shown,me."
"Tut-tut That is absurd. You can
not be punished for crime you never
committed. If anybody is to blame it
is your superiors, who forgot every
thing about YOU"
| Firman Bonard made no answer, but
swept with despairingly hopeful eye
the distant horizon. Alas, there was
not the white heck of single sail to be
seen, and again he gave way to his
grief.
Take my advice" said the old man,
and bear up with good heart. You
are from rural parts, unless am great
ly mistaken, and can find in me a
friend if you will only let me befriend
you"
81 am an old man and long accus-
toned to read the faces of my fell
lows" said the peasant, smiling. " Be.
fore you took up the musket you have
i held the plow | need laborcr, Wig
orous and intelligent like yourself.
Come with me and | will feed, lodge
and clothe you, and see that you have
something in your pocket every Satur-
day night for a Sunday frolic."
~ accept your offer thankfully"
said Firman Bonard, ,"and you shall
see that French soldier is not less
faithful to the pillow, by which he gains
livelihood, than he was to the flag of
his distant country"
As the farm of Peter Baxen, the
peasant with whom Firman Bonard
had fallen in, was one of the largest on
the island, the soldier returned to his
old calling, did not lack for opportu-
mites to show the skill and industry,
and speedily convinced the rich peas
ant of his value.
"My friend" he said to Firman one
day. +" | love you as | would my own
son.
If it we're not" replied Firman.
g that my old father in France walks
and hopes anxiously for my return,
should never care to leave Rugen."
"You will see him once more" said
the farmer; and when you go to
France to see him why should you not
bring him back to Rugen with you
That, however, we can talk Of at some
future time. To-day / wish to speak
to you concerning my daughter"
A flush covered the young French
mans face, which the peasants keen
eye saw. eff am not wrong" he
continued, =" she and you are very
friendly ?"
| Firman stammered something unin-
telligible.
"In fact" the old man went on,
the neighbors say you are in love with
her"
"What? Who says 500 swear to
you, sir, that have never addressed to
your daughter one word which would
make her aware"
Precisely, that is why she has de-
sired me to ask you to. You shall
marry her. have already promised
her that it would be so, and she hug
ged me so for quarter of an hour by
the clock that l really thought she
would strangle me-"
Firman Rugged him too, and fort
night later became the husband of the
old mans only child, the rich, pretty,
and and amiable Amelia.
Four years passed away-four years
of toll and love. Firman Bonard
thought often of France, but came to
forget his technical desertion. The
prattling of his two children the en-
braces of his wife, were n present that
answered for the future; small wonder
that he forgot the past.
So matters went on, till one morning
the signal was made that several YES
sells were in sight, then as they drew
nearer tho word went round the island
1T is the French They are going
to land ~
| vi.
The words came to Firman Bonard' s
ears like alarm guns, and he felt chat
he was lost man. A sudden thought
came to him, however, and treasured
him somewhat; rushing to his dwelling
he put on his old uniform and shake
and ran to the spot where some five
years before be had been so strangely
abandoned.