The Opelousas courier., 1893-10-28

inc IN the mud or crossing the Vistula
BY the bridge of boats, are going once
more to brave the dangers Of war for
the glory of France and perhaps Tor
the liberty of Poland!'
The Countess remained standing be-
fore the General, listening eagerly to
his words. and expressing by her pas
sionate looks the admiration which
this martial ardor inspired in her.
81 love you thusl" said she. ING
matter how much / may miss you, !
feel, alas! that you ought to go. L
thank you for having given me o day.
A dav is much in these troubled times.
Yes, General, go-go where duty calls
YOU: the command OF your
troops. and return victorious.
s'Thanks. Countess. You under
stand me, / wish to render myself
worthy of your noble friendship; but
see to what an extreme an implaeable
will has reduced me. I have no right
to resume my arms and rank. To go
to the Emperor, to implore his par
don, to seek to reinstate myself IN his
favor. would be q bold and useless
step. The Emperor has nc tlmS for
audiences, and then, ought to deny
nv sentiment for Poland; to retract
the words which I spoke SO freely?
Oh, no! To-day, less than ever.
Therefore, I am forced to seek a way
of resuming the service without being
recognized by my superiors. have
reflected for sometime, and when you
]reproached me for my silence, l was
lust making a definite resolution. l
will present myself to the outposts as
8 Poland countryman, DESTROYS OF
fighting for his country"
why General, do you wish to en-
list as a simple soldier? You will have
to obey, instead of command. to march
in the first ranks, to struggle hand-to-
hand with the enemy! It is to certain
death you voluntarily u Oh! What
have I done? I. who have rather en-
eouraged you in your resolution. l
who admire you only to lose you! l
was wrong. I was misled by blind
patriotism. Renounee your projects !
It is your duty to execute scrupulously
the orders of the Emperor"
No, Countess, myduty is to be where
| the French are exposing their lives
to bravnthe dangers that they run
Gwen breaking your word?'
81 do not violate my oath since I
enlist as 8 volunteer"
tYou are immoyable. Do therefore
as YOU wish. My best wishes accom-
, pany you, and I will pray for you.
| God grant that your temerity may not
, be punishedi Think of me sometimes.
She extended her hand, which he
, kissed passionately, while she turned
aside her head to conceal the great
tears which glistened like diamonds in
, her eyes,.
February 9Th, 1907, at daybreak,
the French and Russian armies met,
The troops of Bennington covered the
mountain tops in front Of the little
town of Eylau. The Emperor relied
upon this village, the cemetery OF
which he occupied with the guard.
The vast plain which separated the
two camps was gloomy and desolate.
A white shroud of snow, recently
fallen, entirely covered the hard
ground. The sky was grayand gloomy.
The rays of the sui could not pene'
trate the thick, frosty atmosphere.
Upon the left, q little back of Eylau,
was massed the cavaly of Murat. In
the first rank, among the dragons OF
General Grouchy, was a simple caval-
Ter, sword in hand, without a dlstlnc-
tive mark, without a decoration, but
superb in his martial and determined
bearing. It was Calviniac.
After the scene which Wa have de-
scribed, the General lost no time.
Having dressed himself in the clothes
of acountryman, and crossed the plains
of Lithuania, he presented himself for
enlistment to the first Colonel of dra-
goons whom he met. Thanks to his
disguise, he was not recognized, and
he was soon able to put on the green
tunic with it's yellow cuffs and to take
his place in the midst of his new com
panions, wearing, like them, the white
brooches, the regulation boots, and the
helmet with an ornamental plume Of
black.
The battle was in progress oil the
morning. About eleven o'clock. the
snow fell in large flakes, binding the
eyes Of the French, who began to
waver. The Emperor believed that
his good luck had forsaken him. He
saw that a ~superhuman effort must be
made. Calling Murat, he said:
"Welll are you going to allow these
men to devour us? March forward
with all your cavalry"
At the osder Murat started like flash,
and drew up his eighty squadronsin line
of battle, placing ahead the dragons o.
Grouchy. Oalvlniac's heart beat fast
at last he was going to fight IS a sim
pie soldier to devote himself obscure
", lost in numbers; to sacrifice hi
life, without hope of recompense, TO
the love and glory of his country. HI
thoughts transported him to the sailor
of the palace at Warsaw where he hat
said adieu to the Countess Zelinska
Il seemed to him that he could still
: hear her voice, could see her smile
Thus encouraged, it was with joy tina
> he threw himself against the regimen
: Of Cossacks who, with their sabres
: were cutting down the army of Au
!, gereau.
! The snow ceased, and one could CON
] template, in all its horror, this i'm
q mense plain covered with the dead
e the dying and the wounded, the bloo'
. making horrible spots IN the whit