The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-04-10
A TERRIBLE REVENGE.
An Incident of the Battle Of
S0lferin0.


under a broiling sun, exhausted by fatigue,
Were encalapol on an immense plain, shut In
bv n chain Of hills on which lowered the white
houses az the town. Lightning playing among
the lealen-colsrel Clouds illurlined at intervals
with luIid lght the battlefield OF the morrow.
Nothing else III up the camp. No fires were
allow ed, as q measure Of prudence.
All were not asleep. however. Besides the
outposss and pick els, many in camp were
wide awake. Here and there groups Of men,
lying on the grass around t.leir tents, con-
versed ia q los tone and discussed the probable
issue Of the ce1ning battle.
in the middle Of a small group OF officers who
talked over the chances OF the morrow, was
Col Eugeae de Ealmoi.s, who commanded
regiment OF Eight dragons. lie had the we'll
earned reputation Of being ono of the most
splendid alic2rs in his own branch OF the serv-
ice Although strict dlscipinaraa, he was
beloved ia the regiment by officers and men
alike, and deseryodly 50.
Col ae Naimont appeared TO pay but little
attention TO what was ssid.s lie seemed ia a
profound reverie, as he BIT, rather than smoked,
a halt-consamed cigar. Turning suddenly 10
his surgeon major, a veteran with Well
bronecd lace, lac said
Brisac, DO You believe IN presentimentsf"
1t depends Colonel. One may have them,
no doubt: but 10 admit that they are ever real
lied is aaether matter"
Eau lock upon them rs valueless, devoid Of
any rgaphytic importance? z"
sQgitc So"
Ahl 1t is true, rs is said, that all you doc
tors arc Iaore OF less mateTialiss" After pause,
he added: . You are right, perhaps, and so
much the better. There are some thoughts
which should BE- banisled on the eve OF a DAY
Ike wha, tomorrow premises to De"
So saying lie got up aud add d: " shall
turn ID and get some rest and advise you ali TO
do the salae. ln few hours We shall need all
the strength We can command
One by one the group broke off and pres
emily there was lett emily three oihcers-the
mailer. a captain aud sGb-iieutenallt.
rs hat did the colonel mean by PRESENT.
ments I" asked the younger of them. We
know lac has no fear about tomorrow: yet his
manner and his Last words, TO say the least, are
not feassErlng."
Had you been longer In the regiment, young
fellow, replied the major, :" You would know
that the Colonel periodically gets the blues;
bat we take no notice OF them. They soon pass,
and he becomes himself again"
But what is the cause of his recurring de-
pression2"
rIhe cssnse2" said the captain 'Why, all
the regiment know the cause"
Except myself. Ionly joined three months
ago"
Wen, here is Brisac back from his rounds.
He can tell the story best"
The surgeon major being appealed to, lay
down upon the grass. lit cigar, aud said:
lin lo54- DE NAlniont- appointed lieutenant
IN the lhasscars Z Antique, winch had just
been raised, landed in AIgiers, where was as
6istant -sHB ge0n attached 10 the military hos
pitaI Though ! was older than lie, we soon
s.rElk up al acquaintance that ripeEea into
frieliGSh III when time has not impai red.
I-daens was young. good looking. and man OF
fascinating manners. de came OF dis
tiHgulshed fairly, aud his friends kept his
purse well filled; in short, he could get money
as fast - he wished 20 spend il.
Eve served three years together, when DE
Kall9it rot lcave 10 exchange and return To
France. lis mother Eas the cause OF this, foE
she had in view for HIM marriage with rich
heireSs. Leaving Algiers Wonld have been al
plain sailing except Tor bidding farewell
10 d certain lads called - Saverina, danseuse
Gt the the4ter. In appearance she WAS de-
ciardiy handsome, 81 Ill 0iiFe-colortd COM
pleEl0n. aid with ravel-black hair. In her
laTIc expressive eyes and In her frTaly-cut
muGtl tAlrc was significant indication Of de-
term ION which suggested that the young
lacy would be- more desirable as friend than
a. al ene1ly Size said she was an Italian,
having been born at Rome: but her parents
were bo8epi4Bs. who Travelled through all
r0natries-ropa-dan by profession.
Ia ScFegina had conceived for Eugene a
Ehe heard Oh his proposed departure she was
wild; when size learned the motive Of il, she
turlad a demon. Failing IN determined
attempt to haAik his plans by stabbing him
Rsth z Etiiet.o, she assured him with her
last words that she would be revenged. DC
Aainolt laughed at the threat. i, however,
determined T. keep al eye Oh the actions Of the
young ia1y. In this resolve, however ] was
foile1. She left Algiers about month alter,
and i never knew what became Of her.
Nearly faEr years had passed since Eugene's
return. We kept up constant correspondence
snd learned of his marriage and the birth Of
one son, whom he called Lucien- lie continu-
ally pressed me TO exchange and go back Il
France.
AT length i got appointed to cavalry regi
mont quarleTed in Paris, and LETT Algiers TO tax.
Oh lily new duties. Landing at harseiiies,
put up at The Hotel Casfellane, where thu
first nzneE A read In the list Of arrival
were these of the Count and Countess d,
ka8mont. We met with JOY after our lon;
separation. Eugene introduced me TO hi
wiGe-a lady AS lovely as she was charming
and showed me with pride his son-a fine
chubby child, with curly hair, and the spien
did blue eyes 81 lis mother. he simply wor
shipped this b0y-poOr leilOwl-and his liz
and soul seemed wrapped up in its being ant
existence. And now, as to the sad sequel Il
my tale.
Dt AAAIAD1L Was on leave, ana at ms VIE
desire they were about to visit italy. Not u
fatigue tine child their route was mapped out il
short stages. They were resting two days a
harseiiles before going TO Genoa by La Cor
niche, * decided TO stay and see them of
lii the afternoon at my arrival, as tb
weather was glorious little Lucien was sen
Wiz bis nurse down 10 the sea. ON that nagnif
cent beach where the splendid palace of Prad
stands Two hours after this nurse returne,
alone, looking ike mad woman. The eve
were starting Out Of her head, and sobbing an
cryfng, she threw herself at the Countess ieel
and said she had lost the child. She and he
charge were playing on the beach, where the
were attracted by the performance OF som
EcTobats. "A small crowd han assembled, an
the boy was not cut Of her sight for half mir
ute. On looking round be was gone: and sh
sought him In vain. de seemed TO have bee
spirited away. She called MS name al the 10
Of her voice, and ran mp and down the beac
until exhausted bystanders who heard he
cries helped her ia the search; but they found
nothing"
Was Lucien drownedY" asked the sui
lieutenant.
This was the question started, but
seemed weil-nigh impossible. The child coul
only toade, and the was too far IRON III
place indicated by the nurse SO this hypotf
eSis was given up. Tie police considered it
case OF kidnapping, and went 10 work, bI
Jailed To hnd clue They searched for week
through all thes Sums Of the city,-the low qua
ters where the dregs Of the population congr
gate, tie SCUM of the ELECTROMAGNETIC wit
lao success A description Of the child vi
sent 70 every consul. with orders 70 make fu
IN.