The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1893-09-07
A VALOROUS VOLUNTEER.
The Deserved Reward of a Brave
French Soldier.

"You are sober, general; you seem
preoccupied, sad and quiet when with
me. Can it be from lack of interest?'
Thus spake the pretty Countess Avis
Zelinska, in soft tone of reproach, &C.
companied by the most gracious of
smiles, to a French officer sitting by her
side.
This young officer was the brave Cal
viniac, an Auvergnese Highlander,
who, before his thirtieth year, had won
already upon the battlefield his epaul-
cites as a general of cavalry.
They happened to be alone in vast
salon at one of the old palaces in War
saw, the home OF the countess, who had
been left widow at twenty-five. A
large fire burned in the enormous fire.
place of rose marble, upon the pediment
of which the arms OF Zelinska were
finely sculptured.
The month of January, 1907, the time
of this story, was remarkable on ac-
count of its severity. 1t is well known
that Napoleon, after the battle of Jena
and the overthrow of Prussia, conceived
the gigantic idea of a continental
blockade, and, instead of enjoying in
peace his triumphs and his glory, wished
to impose by force on all Europe the eff
fective execution of his projects against
England. For that purpose he re-
solved to pursue the remnant of the
Prussian troops to their last intrcnch-
ment, and to go to meet the Russian
army, which was still intact, and under
the command OF Gen. Benningsen.
You are still mute, general" con-
tinued the countess. "Have lost your
confidence"
Pardon me-" replied Calviniac:
''You must excuse me for being dreamy
and preoccupied. You know the en-
peror has withdrawn from me the COM
mand of my brigade for a month, be-
cause l expressed too frankly my opin-
ion of his Indifference to the sad condi-
ton of your unhappy country. The
emperor has punished me severely
and here l am far from my brave sol
diers. / was quite happy in my dis
grace, since it gave me the pleasure of
being received by you, in the midst of
the most glorious representatives of
Polish nobility, as an ally, as friend.
4Ou, JAC CilST&CllC anu uSluStlC
patriot, have kept up my spirits, have
permitted me the pleasure of seeing
you, of con6ding in you my cares and
dreams, of admiring you, of Low"
"Ah! generalv
YES l am going to say of loving
you. But am l worthy of expressing
such a sentiment, when l ought to
make a strange confession? You see
me sad and preoccupied, because there
is in me a violent combat / am happy,
intensely happy; yet, at the same time,
in spite of the charm which chains me
by your side, would like to be else.
where. The inaction to which l am
condemned brushes me. l curse the Sc
verify of my sovereign. would like
this instant to mount a horse, cross
Warsaw, and rejoin the army-which
means TO leave you, to flee from your
beautiful eyes, in order to see, face to
face, the horrible mustaches of the
Cossacks of Benningsen."
You are always frank, general.
However, admit this unforeseen decla-
ration has surprised me little. After
fifteen days of repose, you become dull
anu ulScOnSOldVc. lou are nOmcSlcE fOl
camps and battles. My salon seems &c
you less attractive than your tent in
the midst of the snow"
Permit me to explain. l heard yes.
terday that the movement of concentra.
taon goes on rapidly; that the Russians
are going to be forced to accept battle.
My blood boils at the news, They are
going to fight reflect. My brothers
Sn arms are going into danger and
honor. Iwish to share their lot How.
ever, when l think of you, am COW.
ardly. l restrain my feelings. Thus
you see me near you, as usual. But
feel that my conduct merits reproach.
If you esteem me, you cannot blame me
for this indecision which tortures me.
You cannot advise me to remain in
active, in the midst of luxury and com
fort, in a rich palace, when the dra-
goons whom | commanded yesterday,
camping now in the snow, now march
ing in the mud or crossing the Vistula
by the bridge of boats, are going once