The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1892-01-16

panied Claude's words, but his feverish
thirst made hims change his mind. He
opened his mouth and the other man
poured into it a stream of warm coffee
from the canteen, then, standing up,
tossed off Il bumper as his own share and
rushed out Of the cabin in sudden terror
at the thought of having deserted his
post.
That was Il hard tug" said Claude,
between his teeth.
II = X n y \
AT the end Of half an hour, partly for
the purpose q lea-ning how the wounded
man WIS getting on and partly to shield
himself from the cutting wind which
dashed his face, the young sentry again
entered the cottage.
The poor German. still tortured with
fever, stretched cut isEaaG for the can-
teen, ana filed with pity, Claude La5a-
pie forgot his former repugnance, hur-
riedly detached the gDurd from his beit
and handed tito the sufferer. As lie
weat out again. four armed men stood
before hiIa,aa ard before he had time to
give The alarm he was disarmea and !
prisoner. Sounds Of hushed footsteps.
rendered almost inaudible by the deep
snow, now approached, and a body Of
men came Is Il halt. Their captain, Il
Bayarian, ordered the prisoner into the
house and questioned him in French,
but Claude made no reply.
'AnsWer me-. lascal," said the officer
after a pause, "or your lips viii be
opened by q bayonet through your body.
Where is the main guard %stationed:"
The Young soldier was silent.
"Alere, men, spike this pigheaded fell
low. but an impiorirg voice exclaimed:
stop In snIprise the captain turned
around, saw the man lying in the corner,
recognized him as oac OF his W com
pany who had been left for dead, and
learned how compassionate the prisoner
had been to linn.
Very we'll, l viii spare his life" said
the officer, but we must take him with
US. Muller and Hermann, bind his
hands and lead hm between you, and If
he makes the least noise str2ngle him
with hisown voice. Forward, We shall
con lud the French"
Claude Latapie WAS III despair. He
had deserted his post, had failed to give
the alarm, and consequently his com
rades We're about 10 be surprised and
massacred. How could be prevent it,:
What could he do to save them?s
Ee marched along quietly, rejoieed
for 4 minute at perceiying that his cap
tors Were taking the wrong direction,
but the captain soon discovered his error
and changed the route. eThis'tine they
were. on the right road; the little band
of Frenchmen. would be easily captured
all was lost,
Suddenly the prisoner stumbled and
fell, and as his guardians stopped to
drag him up again his fingers clutched
the. trigger guard Of Muller's musket.
The ma snatched at the weapon. but
Claude hung on, and in spite OF his
hands being bound succeeded in his de.
sign. Then he felt for the trigger. Her
mann pierced him with a bayonet, and
Claude, mortally wounded, felt his hold
relax; convulsively he made another eff
fort and the gun went off. A loud re-.
port echoed through the darkness, and
with all his remaining strength he
shouted:
"To arms!'
Then, pierced through the, body, he
reeled and stifened, biting the snow. .
@Bat the report and the CRY We're heard.
The French, aroused, attacked the
enemy; their main guard came up. and
after q short engagement the Germans,
finding themselves surrounded, laid
down their arms. Z
Claude Latapie was lying III an am
bulance when the general OF the corps
ans up, bringing him the viaticum Of
the brave, the cross of the Legion Of
Honor. The young man, however, made
a wild gesture as he exclaimed:
NO, 10; you do not know how it
was!'
I know YOU are q brave ran" re-
piled the general.
Ass*Ah, my Codm sighed Claude, must
Iproclaim my OWN dishonor before |
die: deserve court martial instead of
the. cross" And humbly, in a voice
broken by sobs, he confessed his monen-
tary desertion from his post, adding in
conclusion:
''The whole outpost might have been
destroyed through my fault. yet l conld
not help plying that miserable Ger
man.
lis comrades made but a poor re-
tnrn fer year compassion said the Of
ficer.
g Na-aed me. | knew what to
expect" Claude answered simply, End
| am nHnnE. for | die for Franca. Tint