Connecticut western news., 1891-01-07
THE BLUE NECKERCHIEF.

pinioned-as brave looking lad as ev-
 CT that glorious noon-day sun shone
 upon. Tears stole slowly down the
 cheeks of many hardy veteran as the
 sentence was pronounced The prisoner
 alone remained unmoved; not A sound
 escaped his lips, not quiver passed
 over his features Calmly and motion
 less he heard his doom-Death! He
 he had been tried by drumhead court
 martial, and found guilty of theft.
 The war between France and Germany
 had been raging for some time when my business called me to certain little village in France. One morning shortly
 after my arrival noticed small group of soldiers in the midst of which was a woman gesticulating wildly, and speak ing in excited tones. Hurrying to the spot learned the cause of her trouble, which was this She was, it appeared, g repasseuse or getter-up of fine linen and
 such like. The previous evening she had, amongst other things, hung out on the line silk neckerchief a t1imsy, gaudy tritle of no real value, but which
 had nevertheless disappeared.
 The village was full of soldiery, and an encounter with the Prussians might at any moment be expected. Numerous complaints of theft had reached the general, who had at length given out that an example would be made of the next offender imprisonment having failed to produce any salutary effect We'll, search was instituted and the missing neckerchief was found, slowed away in the knapsack of a young Breton soldier. Asked what he had to say he admitted his guilt. courtmartial was hastily summoned, the young fellow tried before his comp and sentenced
 10 be shot,
 "Henri Le Blanc," said the colonel,
 "have you anything to say why the
 sentence should not be carried out ?"
 "No, mon colonel" answered the sol dier, nothing am guilty. For my self it matters little. but" here the poor fellow glanced towards small table placed close by, upon which lay g faded letter, "Colonel, will you read me that letter one last time ?"
 The officer, taking up the sheet of paper, read as follows:
 "Mon Petit Henri Cheri:
 When you get this, my poor boy, you will be far away from me far from her who loves you more than life. Will you ever return, oh my beloved ?* Henri, mignon, I have one request to l make have nothing, dearest, to re- member you by. Do send me; your own little Marie just one little souve-
 mir. and oh if you can, let it be silk | neckercbief. Thine in life and death, l MARIE" In the original, this document was l couched in the most affectionate and endearing language language in I which some poor village maiden had | poured out her whole hearts love fo1 this glorious-looking young soldier; Ian. guage which, in it's touching simplicity, | moved even that stern old colonel, and 1 caused his voice to falter.
 "Thank you, colonel" said the young fellow, when the reading was finished. Then turning to comrade he asked
 "Pierre, will you give this woman g franc for me? I cannot repay you, old ! man in this world-but in the next His devoted friend having complied with his request, the prisoner, address | ing his accuser, said: Madame you now
 have received the price of your necker | chief which l, i'll a weak moment. stole
 May God forgive me-"
 Once more turning to his comrade
 he continued: ''Pierre, should you eve,
 return to our village, take this little
 neckerchief to her-to Marie. Tell hel
 I had no money, but paid for it, Pierre paid for it ,cih mv lye! Farewell
 Marie, adieu ma bien-aiane," murmured
 the poor lad, "In heaven, perhaps, sweet girl, shall meet thee. May God keeI
 and watch OCT thee, adored one!" | turned away from the scene, too ! greatly overcome to remain longer. Ere
 reached home loud volley told mt
 that all was over-that poor Henri hao indeed paid for the little neckerchief. VIM HOWARD.
 Falls Village, Conn. 5..r