The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1884-04-18

frst names i READ IN the llst OF arrivals
were those of the Count and Countess
de Valmont. We met with JOY after
our long separation. Eugene intro
duced me TO his wife-a lady as lovely F.
as she was charming and showed me 4
with pride his son-a fine. chubby 4
child, with curly hair, and the splendid .
blue eyes of its mother. He simply 4
worshipped this boy-poor fcllOw,-and
his life and soul seemed wrapped up in
its being and existence. And now, as
to the sad sequel to my tale.
- De YalmOnt was on leave. and At
his wife's desire they were about tovisit
Italy. Not to fatigue the child their
route was mapped out in short stages.
They were resting two days at Mar
settles before going to Genoa by La Cor (
niche, so / decided TO stay and see them
of
:. In the afternoon of my arrival, -
the weather was glorious, little Lucien 4
was sent with his nurse down to the
sea, on that magnificent beach where
the splendid palace of Prado stands.
Two hours after this nurse returned
alone. looking like mad woman. The
eyes were starting out of her head, and.
sobbing and crying, she threw herself
at the Countess feet, and said she had
lost the child She and her charge
were playing on the beach, where they
were attracted by the performance OF
some acrObats. 4 small crowd had
assembled, and the boy was not out oil
her sight for half a minute. On looking
round he was gone; aud she sought HIM
in vain. lie seemed TO have been
spirited away She called his name at
the top of her voice. and ran up and
down the beach until exhausted. BY
ISLANDERS who heard her cries helped
her in the search but they found
nothing"
WAS Lucien drowned2' asked the
/ Sub-Lieutenant
This was the question started. but
it was well-nigh impossible. The child
could only toddle. and the seas was too
far from the place indicated by the
nurse. So this hypothesis was given
up. The police considered it a ease OF
I kidnapping and went to work, but
failed TO find a clue. They searched
for weeks through all the Sums oil the
citv-the low quarters where the dregs
of the population congregate, the scum
of the Mediterranean-but with no sue
cess. 4 description of the child was
sent TO every consul, with orders TO
make full inquiry. De Valmont HIM
self obtained special leave of absence
from the War Office and spent year
in irving to solve the mystery. He re-
turned more dead than alive to bury his
wife, whom grief had killed.
''As to the Colonel, at first he had
serious intentions of joining the Trap
psts and retiring from the world. But
( hope snstains him still. He believes, ii
his bov was not drowned. that Proyi-
/ dence will take pity on him and yet re-
store him. Vain delusionl 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 sOr-
rowful and talks about presentiment.
LA Severina. | believe, has kept her
word and wreaked terrible revenge.
Brisac finished his story and wished
al good night.
I'VE have six hours for sleep, my
BOYS. and them
On the morrow. at the early hour of
six o'clock, double line of smoke eX-
tended 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 replied with a we'll
directed fire. In this artillery duel,
which lasted for some hours, the adj
Vantage remained with the French. The
superiority of the Austrian position was
more than counterbalanced by the
deadly eie. of the ride guns OF the
French, which were first employed IN
warfare at the memorable battle OF sol
ferino. The carnage was frightful anc
the result disastrous to the Austrians
who were obliged to retreat
At three o'clock on that day-23C
June, lS50-the French were formed
up TO advance under whitening mus
kerry fire TO assault the Tower Of Sol
ferino. the KEY of the enemY's position
Marshal Benedeck then called on m
cavalry to make supreme effort
which. had it been successful. woul
have changed the fortunes of the day
The Austrian cavalry were massed be
hind a fringe of wood which effectuall
: concealed their movements from th
French. Suddenly they were seen |
; emerge from their shelter and 10 pr
pare for determined charge, to tax
1 in flank those battalions which had
; ready reached the slopes of the hlll'
General Mel saw the danger, and IN
mediaielv hurled against them the Ma
: guerte division OF cavalry. IN whlc
n DE Yalmont's Light Dragons charge
q in the first line.
/ The shock was terrific, The ell
= ments contributed to swell the frightf
u storm of war. Peals of thunder be
4 lowed forth and vivid lightning play'
y over the ghastly sight beneath.
1t was after the delivery of the chars
=, ..home'' that Colonel de Valmont su
~ denly saw rise before him about do
10 en- hussars. in white, of the Archdni
Albrecht's regiment. Led by a YOU
T. Lieutenant with fair hair and a buddil
se mustache, they sabred the Fren'
d dragons with maniacal fury, MAXI
I" their way through them like canno
:, hall. With one bound of his horse [
III Lieutenant was at the Colonel.
e Valmont saw his sabre flash as he rails
II il 10 cut him down. He had only til
P to pull the trigger of his pistol and
ieI' Austrian fell, killed by bullet in
!" forehead.
M At heend of the engagement Color
20 de Valmont, returning 10 camp, pass
"a over the scene of the conflict. I
10 body of the Lieutenant still lay the
~ on its back. A thin trickle of bio
-, marked the spot of the bullet-wour
~ The face of the young officer was
gb calm and placid as child asleep.
e. Valmont gazed at him with profou
emotion. A few yards off some
for mounted men were guarding Austri
zoe prisoners. among whom was an offiS
70 of Albrecht's Hussars. Pointing to |
,he dead body the Colonel asked:
'sSir, can YOU tell me the name of Il
at brave fellow?n
no Karl Gottfried,' was the answer.
i'm One month after the peace of VII
no franca, Eugene de Valmcnt returned
tho Paris with the army Of Italy. where
ZEN found the following letter awaiting
dv arrival:
y MILAN. 9Th August is
eu- MYDqaR OH FRIEND: You know tn,
err am still 1T the Military Hospital here whel
a,- shall remain until all our wounded are
oi moved They brought in the other day