Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-07-14

announced that he was on the eve of EN-
barking for Tonquin. After that Annette
received no word from her dear Andre.
In the village they were always talking
of the Black Flags, the Chinese, the Ton
quinese, the Anamites, and all sorts of
bandits and assassins, and with much ex-
aggeration they related most frightful
murders and massacres. Annette was in
constant dread and suffered mortal an
guish. She pictured her son bleeding,
pierced with sabre strokes, and thrown
with hundreds of others into deep pit on
the day after a massacre.
To the torments of each waking moment
was added the profound sorrow which she
felt at the deplorable and scandalous con-
duct of her eldest son. No longer re-
strained by Andre, he took baselessly and
shamelessly every sou from the poor old
woman, and even went so far as to maltreat
her. Fortunately, Mother Annette was
greatly esteemed by all the worthy people
of the village, and they never failed to aid
her in her necessity.
At length 1t was learned that peace had
been made with the Chinese. and that our
brave soldiers, who had fought like heroes
IN Tonquin, were going to return to
France. 1t was said that they would all
be in Paris on the 14th of July, the great
national holiday, that they would be seen
In grand military review, and so all be-
gan to make preparations 10 give a perfect
ovation to those children of France.
Mother Annette wept more bitterly than
she had yet wept; she had received no let.
ter from Andre, therefore he was not
among the number that returned. Andre
was dead
The poor mother passed the whole OF
the holiday in lamentation and mourn
ing. In her old age she found herself as
lone and friendless as when she was little
child. All. what was now left for her but
to die
Very late in the evening her vagabond
son came to see her. 1t was the first time
she had set eyes on him for fortnight
The good-for-nothing fellow was drunk,
lie had heard that his mother had re.
ceived ten francs from the municipality in
honor Of the festival, and he had come Ia
take them from her. The old woman en-.
deavored to prevent him from searching
the cupboard; but, in his fury, the mon.
ster dealt his mother several blows in the
face and breast, and, having found the two
tlve-tranc pieces, made his escape.
The unhappy mother spent the entire
night, sitting in a chair, a prey to the
most violent despair, and to the horrible
! temptation of throwing herself in the
river. At the same time she buried her
self deep in the past, recalling all the bit
! terness and desolation of her miserable
existence.
1t is long after daybreak. The morning
is superb, a beautiful summer sun shining
in cloudlesS sky. All at once, the door
of the hut is opened, and old Annette sees
on the threshold Porcherot, the old village
postman, who was formerly soldier in
Africa. Porcherot looks sad, and tears are
stealing down his cheeks. He takes from
his bag letter with large envelope and
silently, with trembling hands, drops it in
her lap
The large white envelope is bordered
and sealed with black, and in one corner
Annette sees the printed words, minister
of War" She divines the contents of the
letter, and utters piercing shrek. The
old postman stands with bowed head. for
he, too has OWNED the fatal news, and
weeps in sympathy.
The heart-broken old mother breaks the
seal, unfolds the letter, and reads that Ser
geant Andre Pitois was killed in Tonquin-
that her son died on the field of honor.
This time, hopes and fears are both over;
all Is finished. She will never again see
her beloved son, her only child, for the
other has lost all claim to maternal for
bearance.
What the stricken woman felt cannot be
described; she was motionless, as if par
alyzed, and there seemed to be a strange.
choking sensation in her throat.
Meanwhile the old postman has disap-
peared.
Suddenly, from without, a great clamor
is heard, cries of Joy and gladness. Mother
Annette starts and rises up, alarmed. Her
cheeks are bathed in tears, her throat is
full of sobs. That wild tumult is before
her hut. What is the meaning of those
shouts? She turns her head quickly
toward the door, which is now Just opened.
A man enters; he wears at his side a
sword, on his right shoulder the golden
epaulette, and on his breast the cross of
the Legion of Honor.
SPECIFICS, Mother Annette takes a step
forward, recedes, then advances again. As
she gazes on that handsome officer, she
feels herself thrilled to her very hearts
core; it seems to her that the sun-browned
face is not unknown to her.
l trow: 1t is not unknown to her. 1t is
Andre!
Mother! Mother" cries the young
man with outstretched arms.
The aged mother has only time to utter
a cry ofjoy ere she is folded in the arms of
her SOB, who presses her to his heart and
rains kisses upon her withered face.
She cannot believe her eyes, for a short
time before-the letter-and Porcherot-
But in vain her glance seeks the black
bordered letter. As to the old postman,
for more than ten years he had been re-
tired on a pension and no longer carried
the mail.
Then, in her turn, the mother strained
her boy feverishly to her heart and muir
INJURED:
"Ah! l slept, and-it was only a dream p