The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-04-17

VI niS haIridSc anu Jne Dlrtn OF one
son, whom he called Lucien. He con-
tinually pressed me to exchange and 90
back to France.
AT length l got appointed to a
cavalry regiment quartered in Paris,
and left Algiers to take on nv new
duties. Landing at Marseilles, put
up at the Hotel Castellane, where the
first names read in the list 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
as she was charming-and showed me
with pride his son-a fine, chubby
child, with curly hair, and the splendid
blue eyes of its mother. He simply
worshipped this boy-poor fellow!-and
his life and soul seemed wrapped up in
its being and existence. And now, as
to the sad sequel to my tale.
| DE Falmont was on leave, and at
! his wife's desire they were about to visit
Italy. Not to fatigue the child their
route was mapped out in short stages.
They were resting two days at Mar
seilles before going to Genoa by La Corr
niche. so l decided to stay and see them
of.
81 In the afternoon of my arrival, rs
the weather was glorious, little Lucien
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 a mad woman. The
eyes were starting out of her head, and,
sobbing and crying, she threw herself
at the Countess's 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. A small crowd had
assembled, and the boy was not out of
her sight for half minute. On looking
round he was gone; and she sought him
in vain. He 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
standers who heard her cries helped
her in the search; but they found
nothing"
"Was Lucien drowned?" 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 case of
kidnapping and went to work, but
failed to find clue. They searched
for weeks through all the slums OF the
city-the low quarters where the dregs
of the population c0ngregate, the scum
OF the Mediterranean-butw with no sue
cess. A 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 trying 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
pists and retiring from the world. But
hope sustains him still. He believes, if
his boy was not drowned, that Provi-
dence will take pity on him and yet re-
store 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 sor-
rowful and talks about presentiment.
LA Severina, believe, has kept her
word and wreaked terrible revenge"
Brisac finished his story and wished
all good night.
''We have six hours for sleep, my
bows. and then-r'
On the morrow, at the early hour of
six o'clock, a double line of smoke ex-
tended for a distance of two miles on
each side of the plain. The French
had brought almost all their guns inJo
action. The Austrian batteries posted
on the opposite hills replied with we'll
directed fire. In this artillery duel, |
which lasted for some hours, the ad-
vantage remained with the French. The |
superiority OF the Austrian position was
more than counterbalanced by the |
deadly eae t of the rifle guns of the |
French, which were first employed in |
warfare at the memorable battle of Sol |
ferino. The carnage was frightful and |
tho sosult disastrous to the Ausrians,
who were obliged to retreat.
At three o'clock on that day-23d
June, 1S50-the French were formed
up to advance under withering mus
kerry fire to assault the Tower of Sol |
ferino, the key of the enemy's position. !
Marshal Benedeck then called on his |
cavalry to make supreme effort. |
which, had it been successful, would |
have changed the fortunes of the day.
The Austrian cavalry were massed be- !
hind a fringe of wood which effectually |
concealed their movements from the |
French. Suddenly they were seen to
emerge from their shelter and to pre- |
pare for determined charge, to take |
in flank those battalions which had al
ready reached the slopes of the hills.
General Mel saw the danger, and i'm
hurled against them the Mar
guerite division of cavalry, in which
De Valmont's Light Dragons charged |
in the first line.
The shock was terrific! The ele-
ments contributed to swell the frightful |
storm of war. Peals of thunder bel
lowed forth and vivid lightning played
over the ghastly sight beneath.
1t was after the delivery of the charge
nOIuO tud1 SOlOuCt uc dltuOub SUD-
denly saw rise before him about doz-
en- hussars, in white, of the Archduke
Albrecht's regiment. Led by young
Lieutenant with fair hair and budding
mustache. they sabred the French
with maniacal fury, making
their way through them like a cannon
ball. With one bound of his horse the
Lieutenant was at the Colonel. DE
Valmont saw his sabre flash as he raised
it to cut him down. He had only time
to pull the trigger of his pistol and the