The morning call., 1890-12-07

single him out he will at least have had the
| consolation OF having heard from home be-
| fore dying"
| BGulanger had seen his eomrade hurry
| away to the rear, ard Immediately guessed
| the object of his errand. The Partisan
| could feel tie cold perspiration beading on
| his brow as he waited Tor Guiilot to return.
| AT length the young officer came in sight
| and took up his place with his company. A
| strange pallor had overspread his face
| Bonlanger made haste to aecost him.
| Wen, well, what news. my boy?"
| on mean the letter." answered Guillot
| with a vacant stare in his eyes; "Oh, Pve
not ened it yet. / have it here. It's not
from Madeleine. don't know the hand
| writing"
| BuulangeTs heart rose into his throat, but
| he managed TO pull himself together
| Come. come, Armand" he cried out, in
as CHEEKY tone as possible; courage,
! comrade! Why, it may bring you the very
best of news. Open it aud read it, for
things are going to be pretty lively in a half
| hour or So"
Guillot drew the letter forth, and with
| trembling hands broke the seal. A pitiful
expression Of suffering came over his face
as he read the letter. His lips moved, but
the storm of battle had already burst upon
| the French lines, and no one heard what he
| said. Before Boulanger could get word
| from him the bngles sounded an advance
and the comrades were separated As Bou-
l
more glance Of Guillot's face. 1t had
| changed its expression completely. A de-
moniac look WAS uponit. The lirS quiyered
and the eyes were fixed upon the enemy s
advancing lines All the world seemed
| dead 10 the young officer and he faced the
| furious fire of the Celestials as if it de-
pended upon him alone to stem that wild
| onset.
Then the smoke of the French batteries
which now opened fire swirled up between
l fun fri nd mt m f..,.
had called out his name did Boulanger face
1 about and manifest the old-time eagerness
to lead his men into the fray.
| Although the Celestials withstood the
furious onslaught OF tue French troops with
| admirable stead!ness, yet they were gradu-
| ally forced back within the lines of their
| fortifications. and it was not until late in
| the afternoon that the reserves were or
| dered up and the command gwen to carry
the fort at the point OF the bayonet Here
| 1t was that Boulanger after long search
found his unfortunate friend Guillot
| stretched upon bed of straw tenderIy
watched over by several of his men. 1t did
| not call for the trained eye to see that he
was mortaily wounded. but his mind was
! perfectly clear and he welcomed his COM
| rade with smile, saving, as with great
| effort he held out his hand to him:
| Alb, Andre; I'm glad YOU have come. l
have something to say to you before it's all
| over. These villainous ceiestials, thew
thought my heart wasn't heavy enough so
they've laid an ounce or so Of cold Lead very
| near il"
| Boulanger, who had thrown himself upon
his knees and was holding his comrade's
chilly hand clasped between both of his,
| turned his face away to hide the tears
which, in spite of his efforts to appear calm,
| were tricklIng down his cheeks.
Never mind, Andre" whispered Guillot.
-" 1t has happened just as wanted it, 1t is
| my own doings. had nothing to live for. !"
What has Madeleine proved false to
your" gasped Boulanger, "Oh, the vile
| creatureI'
| No. no, Andre" replied GulIot; don't.
oh, don't say that; don't breathe O word
against Madeleine. cannot believe that
she WAS false to me. They have deceived
her. Dumontier, Dumontier, has done it all.
Read, read, what they write to me-" And
the young officer drew the fatal letter from
his breast and handed it to his comrade. For
an instant, as his gaze fell upon the crimson
stains which in one place seemed to have
set seal Of blood at the end of the letter
| and in another with merciful intent to have
| plotted out the beloved name OF Madeleine.
Boulanger could not read word His tears
| blinded him and his hand trembled as If
smitten with palsy. Butgradually he got the
mastery OF his feelings aud read the mes
| sage from B0sc-Mesnil which had wrought
such dire effect. The letter purported To
| come from Maitre Zephyre and contained
| these words:
| 10 the Lieutenant armand Gutliot-How