New-York tribune., 1882-04-09

on our way-bill every moment one night FARMER
Seryan took us each by the arm aud led us 10 an
inn and this is what he said to us as we emptied
q bottle of Moselle wine.
-" NV boys you are good and faithful Ardennais,
eoual in merit. love you with all my heart One
of YOU shall be my sOn-in-law that is understood.
Marguerite will wait seven years She has no pref
erence either for you, Puvouxs or for you, Gheyau
cheux. but she loves both of you, and she Will make
happy the whom fortune shall choose; These
are the conditions on which one of You shall marry
my daughter you start the same day IL Is t9paMpie M
that YOU will return on the same day. We'll. the
one who first comes and shakes hands with Farmer
Servan. and says: Here am. my time is ont: he
/ swear, shall be the husband OF MarsTerte;; ,.,,
Il was astonished. thought that had mlsun,
derstood. J looked at Pierre PuvouX ana he lookd
at me- and. although we were SAD enough al heaI'
we were certainly ready TO burst out Laughing. 8,
But Farmer Servan was not joking: lie had
discovered this means OF getting out OF the diih-
cnlty and he meant TO stick to it. | held ont my
hand and swore TO act neither by ruse nor violence
and to lei Pierre PuviOuX marry Marguerite. IL ne
returned to Mezieres before did. Pierre stood np
and swore the same, and then we shook hands WHO
'"Now the rest is vour affair. The only thing Is
to escape bullets and to return safe and sound.
: He filled our glasses once more and we drank
Before leaving | wished to see Marguerite.
Jnst as | was arriving under her window-it was at
same direction. | stopped short 1t was tIelre
PuviOux. He seemed veXed TO una me thefc;,
was not particularly pleased TO meet m niiI' We
stood there moment like two slmnlet0ns look
ING at the toes of our boots. Then with moment
of courage | said TO PnviouX;
Shall we go in together ve,,;.
we entered and took our farewell of Marguerite.
She listened to us without saving anything hut
there were tears at the tips OF her blonde eye ashes
Suddenly Pierre, who was taking osloppGn anu
began to sob, and TO do the same Then Margle
rite Joined in, and there we were al three shedding
tears and pressing each others hands.
when the diligence that took us away rom
Mezeres began ia rattle on the pavement the next
day felt inclined to throw myself down II ON the
imperial and get crushed under the whee l.; The
more so as there was LOrialrer at my side who
was singing in melancholy voice song oi his
country and said 10 myself IL Is all over. Jean,
YOU will never see her again."
We'll, you see. Time passes. Inc seven years
are over and who lInOwsy Perhaps am not only
going TO see her again but TO marry her. go
There are indeed strange chances IN llle con :
tiuued Jean ChevaucheuX. Pierre ana started on
the same day and at the same hour, ana we were
placed in the same regiment. AT first was vexed.
i should have liked to have Known IL s at ne ne was was
far away. As You may imagine, could n0t iove
him much But | reelected afterward that If
Puvioux was with me | could at least TAX apout
her That consOled me. We'll! ] sald 10 mNsen'
am in for seven years Of it, After ALL one gets over
In the regiment became fast friend of Pierre
PuviouX. Tie proved 10 he an excellent eood
fellow and at nlgnt in order 10 Kill time, we used
often to talk of Meziercs OF Father SerVah ana OF.
Marguerite. We used 10 write to MezIereS Often
but each told the other the contents OF his letters
II was struggle, il is true, but II was loyal.
When Marguerite old Servan replied. the letter
was for both of IA. An equal dose Of hope was
One day the colonel took it into his head to ap-
point me corporal. ] was vcXed and proud at the
same time. You see. | was no longer ihe equal oi
Puvioux. My stripes gave me the right to command
him. and in the eyes Of our Ardennais that was no
small advantage. But did not glory in my rank
on the contrary. it made me Ill at ease. | tId not
dare to talk to Puvioux any more Then | reflected
that there were more WAYS than one of getting rd
of my new rack ! neglected my duty anu WAS
forthwith degraded. But who should be made
corporal in my stead but PuyiOux. Bat Puvloux
was not to be outdone; at the end OF week he
resigned. After that there was no danger OF any
propositions being made 10 MS 20 make any change
in our inform. We Were condemned to remain
~ So mnch the better" said Puyoux. "What
When we had served our seven years-for do
not mean to tell you our history day by day-I said
.aWelii now is'the tlmc to start, ch :"
9" Yes" he replied we are expected"
'"You know said, the game will not he
finally won until both of Us have arrived at
Mezieres, and until the loser has declared that the
combat has been loyal
e" Agreed" said Puvioux.:
And 80 one morning, with GOOD shoes on our feet,
and stick in hand, we set out for MeMcres from
Anglers, where we were il garrison. AT htst we
walked along in company; rot saying much. think
ing good deal and walking above everytnlnG.
The weather was terribly hot and dusty: Hail way
on one of marches | sat down on the roadside
Are you going to stay there 2" said Puvioux to
YesD
:" An revoIr y
4 watched him as he went on with firm step az
if he had only Just started When ! saw him dis
appear at bend of the road, and when was once
alone as it abandoned. felt great despair.
| made an effort. rose and began to walk again.
That little halt had done me good. | walked.
walked aud walked until had caught up PuyIOux
At night too was well ahead. but was worn
ont. entered an inn 10 sleep little. | slept all
night. In the morning ! woke up. saw that the
day was getting on; was furious and called
someone:
10Y You have not seen a soldier pass on foot"
&" Yes monsiear 'c wiitdire very late last night.
He asked for a glass of water"
All | was outstripped in my turn! ! started
hurriedly. At O'clock in the afternoon ] had not
caught mp PuyiOuX. nor at o'clock either. AT
night | took my rest while ate, and started to
walk again. walked q good part of tie night but
my strength had limits. Once more stopped |
knocked ut an inn. The door opened, and there sit
ting i'll a chair saw Puvioux, pale as death. lie
made movement of displeasure when he saw me.
that was natural. We did not talk much What
could we sayY We were both tired! The great
thing was to know who should get up first the next
The next morning was this morning Since thh
morning ! have been walking taking a rest now
ting close Rethel is the last stage between Angers
and Meziercs. | know my map OF France now
The last stage Good heavens, if | arrived too
later
And Pierre Puvionx,' asked my father, has be
Mo- replied Chevauchcux. 4 am ahead, If
could start now should be saved
start I In this state lmpossiblev
Il knOw-ny feet are swollen and cut-and pro-
vded that to- -mOTTOw'
To morrow you will be rested. YOu will be able |
10 walk
DO you think so p said the soldier, with look
ardent as lightning.
u promise You
NV father then advised the soldier TO 60 to bed |
Chevaucheux did not refuse. The bed was ready !
lie shook hands with and went up to his room. |
IL was 10 o'clock
i viii wake you at o'clock said my father.
1t was not yet daylight Oh the following morning |
xnen my father, already up. looked out OF the |
window to see how the weather was. While he |
vas al the window he heard some heavy footsteps |
IA the road below. and in the obscure light that |
,rC ccdes daybfeak he perceived soldier who was |
l-..-... IN. al..l l.rn.L .Ll1A..n ~ L.