Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-10-26

goal.
The officer stretched out his arm toward
the plain. That is the route to be taken
by the first courier, who, with a rapid
salute to his chief, leaped on his horse and
disappeared in the gloom of the evening.
The second is to cross the mountains.
But as the night grows darker it is diff
cult to indicate a path through this I'M
known country.
"Mount your horse,o commanded the
Captain, sand follow me ! l will show
you the way farther up"
The rain had ceased Through the
gloomy night the two horsemen assembled, at
the labored pace of their exhausted ami
mails, the steep and rocky slope that over
looked the encampment. The moon had
risen. ard now shed faint and mournful
light over the humid plain which glistened
in the distance.
''You understand, cayalier ?" said the
curt voice Of the Captain. 'You are to
put the dispatch into the Generals own
hand. He is awaiting our arrival to be-
gin the attack. He must know that we
are here"
"Have no fear, mon Cdpitoine, it shall be
donew
And the two men relapsed into silence,
unbroken save by the noise of the horses
hoofs as they clattered along the stony
ascent.
The Captain rode pensively, studying
the soldier, who had unconsciously allowed
his horse to precede that of his COM
mander. He noted the lads robust, rosy
neck, above which clustered the crispy
waves of his light brown nair, closely
cropped, according to the regulation. With
his large, sloping shoulders, his shapely
back, boldly, yet gracefully outlined be-
his uniform, his nervous, muscular limbs
firmly pressing the TANKS of his horse, he
presented the pure type of that fine Gallo
race so bold and so healthy, the descend
ants of whom, unhappily, are being rapid
ly undermined by the debauchery and dis
sipation of the cities, which, with slow but
deadly march, invade the rural districts.
One could not but feel that warm and gen.
erous blood flowed through those youthful
veins to brave and ardent heart.
And the officer unused sadly over those
other brave soldiers, whose route could be
traced by their whitening bones, and in
whose hearts, now cold and still, once
flowed the same glowing, bright-red blood
And he said to himself, as he gazed on the
youth before him, that the moon would
not set, perchance, before he, too, so strong
and handsome, would go to join his fallen
comrades, and would sleep, in his turn, in
the trackless rice field, struck down by
the ball of some Black-Flag, or, more hor-
rible still, dishonored by infamous torture.
Then, over there, under the blue sky OF
France, one more mother would mourn, with
tear-hollowed eyes, while on the rostrum
some Minister spoke in learned terms OF
the march of progress, of new conquests,
and of civilization Such was war, how
ever Such was his calling
"From what part do you come, capalier %
asked the officer, abruptly.
"From Guerigny, on the Loire, near
Neyers, mon Capitaine," answered the sol
der.
The officer started.
"You know the placer" asked the SOL
der. "You were perhaps in garrison at
Nevers? There are artillerymen at that
post"
Eyes" assented the Captain, quickly,
'that was it. But, tell me, how old are
your"
81 shall be p years next St. Martins
day."
"Any brothers or sisters~
"None, Cdptaine | am an only son."
''Ah, indeed Then your departure
must have given your mother great PAIN
81 have no mother. She died when |
was quite small, and l may say | never
knew her"
as your father advanced in years ?"
II have no father, either" replied the
soldier, in a hollow voice. "He left be-
fore l was born, and / do not bear his
name"
"Ahw calculated the Captain. Then he
added, gently, "Pardon me-"
There is no offense," replied the young
man, sadly. "You could not have known
my shame. Up to the age of 10 years, l
was ignorant Of it, myself. / heard 1t for
the first time one day at school, when, in a
quarrel with one of my schoolmates, he
applied to me an insulting epithet. / did
not comprehend its significance, but from
his tone knew it was an insult, and, as |
was no coward, felled him TO the earth,
altEOuSH ne WIS luutH Stronger tu@u 4.
When evening came | asked my grand
parents, whom called papa and mamma,
the meaning of the wor1 that had not
understood They looked at each other in
CONSERVATION but, after moments hest.
tation, papa told me that, rs | was l0years
old, was now little man, and ought 10
know the truth"
"Ah!" exclaimed the Captain, "and
what was the TRUTH"
almost what I have just told you,
Cdpitaine-that my own father had aban-
doned my mother and that the poor
woman had died of grief two years after
bringing me into the world, leaving me to
the care Of my grandparents. 1t seems
that was the meaning of the ignominious
epithet, and that others have right to
insult to those whom it can beapplied."
poor childw said the officer suddenly
relapsing into his former thoughtful mood
And, as if speaking softly to himself, he
again murmured; 'ePoor childw