The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-05-03

In the search but they found-nothlng.
"Was Lucien drowned ?" asked the sub
Lieutenant.
This was the question started, but it
seemed well-nigh impossible. The child
could only toddle, and the sea was too far
from the place indicated by the nurse. So
this hypothesis was given up. The police
considered it case of kidnapping, and
went to work, but failed to find a clue.
They searched for weeks through all the
slums of the city-the low quarters where
the dregs of the population congregate, the
scum of the Mediterranean-but with no
success. A description of the child was
sent to every consul, with orders to make
full inquiry De Valmont himself obtained
special leave of absence from the War Of
fee, and spent year in trying to solve the
mystery. He returned more dead than
alive to bury his wife, whom grief had
killed.
GAS to the Colonel, at first he had serious
intentions of joining the Trappists and re-
tiring from the world But hope sustains
him still. He believes, if his boy was not
drowned, that providence will take pity on
him and yet restore him. Vain delusion
But we humor him in his hope, He has
since devoted his whole life and soul to his
regiment; but the wound at his heart has
never healed, and when it breaks out afresh
he becomes sad and sorrowful, and talks
about presentiment.
"La Seyerina, l believe, has kept her
word, and wreaked terrible revenge p
Brisac finished his story and wished all
good night.
ave have six hours for sleep, my boys,
and then"
On the morrow, at the early hour of 6
o'clock, double line of smoke extended
for distance of two miles on each side of
the plain The French had brought almost
all their guns into action. The Austrian
batteries posted on the opposite hills re-
piled with well-directed fire. In this
artillery duel, which lasted for some hours,
the advantage remained with the French.
The superiority of the Austrian position
was more than counterbalanced by the
deadly effect of the riAed guns of the
French, which were first employed in war
fare at the memorable battle of Solferino.
The carnage was frightful and the result
| disastrous TO the Austrians, who were
obliged to retreat.
At 3 o'clock on that day-2nd June,
1859, the French were formed up to ad-
vance under whitening musketry fire to
assault the Tower of Solferino, the key of
the enemy's position. Marshal Benedeck
then called on his cavalry to make a su-
preme effort, which, had it been successful,
would have changed the fortunes of the
day. The Austrian cavalry We're massed
behind fringe of wood which etfectually
concealed their movements from the French
Suddenly they were seen to emerge from
their shelter and to prepare for a deter
mined charge, to take in flank those bat
talions which had already reached the
slopes of the hills. Gen, Mel saw the
danger, and Immediately hurled against
them the Marguerite division of cavalry, in
which De Valmont's Light Dragons
charged in the first line.
The shock was terrific Ihe elements
contributed TO swell the frightful storm of
war Peals of thunder beloved forth and
vivid lightning played over the ghastly
sight beneath,
1t was after the delivery of the charge
"home' that Col. de Valmont suddenly saw
rise before him about dozen hussars, in
white, of the Archduke Albrecht's regi-
ment, Led by young lieutenant with
fair hair and budding moustache, they
sabred the French dragons with maniacal
fury, making their way through them like
cannon ball. With one bound of his
horse the Lieutenant was at the Colonel.
De Valmont saw his saber flash as he raised
it to cut him down. He had only time to
pull the trigger of his pistol and the Aus
trian fell, killed by bulletin the forehead.
At the end of the engagement Col. De
Valmont, returning to camp, passed over
the scene of the conflict. The body of the
Lieutenant still lay there on its back A
thin trickle of blood marked the spot of the
bullet wound. The face of the young Of
fcer was as calm and placid as a child
asleep. De Valmont gazed at him with
profound emotion. A few yards off some
dismounted men were guarding Austrian
prisoners, among whom was an officer of
Albrecht's Hussars Pointing to the dead
body, the Colonel asked:
"Sir, can you tell me tho name of that
brave tellow?'
''Karl Gottfried,' was the answer.
One month after the peace of Villafran-
ca, Eugene de Valmont returned to Paris
with the army of Italy, where he found the
following letter awaiting his arrival
MILAN, 9th August, 1859.
Ny DEAR QLp FRIEND You know that |
am still at the Military Hospital here, where
! shall remain until all our wounded are re-
moved. They brought in the other day sew
eral marauders caught by our men rifiing the
dead and on some of them who tried to es-
cape they fired. Among them was an old
woman disguised as a man. A bed was found
for her. as she was on the point of death. |
offered my services to dress her wound, and
Judge of my amazement when | heard her say;
i'You don't remember me, Dr. Brisae. | ain
La Severina. Under the withered features of
the woman recognized your former acquaint-
anqe in Algiers. By what series of misfor
tunes she came to be a despoiler of the dead
shall not attempt to explain. Enough to
know that before dying she allowed the priest
| TO communicate q part of her confession, and,
as | have for long thought, she it was who
stole Lucien at Marseilles.
| Alter q host OF adventures, winch snail
tell you later on, poverty compelled her to
abandon the child at Vienna. She left it to
the charity of the landlord where she lodged
No. 20 Rosenstrasse-and never heard of
the boy after. This address will give you
some trace. Apply at once to the Austrian
Embassy, Tout a toi. BRIsAc.
Mad with joy, the Colonel ran to the
embassy and explained the object of his
mission. For fortnight after, which
seemed to him lifetime, he lived in fever
of suspense, and was going to bed one night
when his valet brought him an official
letter, with large red seal bearing the
Austro- Hungarian arms. He read as fol
lows:
MONSIEUR LIE CoMrE Il am instructed by
the Minister for Foreign Affairs to inform you,
in answer to your inquiries, that the child
abandoned in Vienna at the address given, on