Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1893-10-27
A VOLUNTEER.

Alvis Zelinska in a soft tone of re-
-proach, accompanied by the most
gracious of smiles, to French Off
Ger sitting by her SIDE
This young officer was the brave
Calviniac, an Auvergnese highland
or, who, before his thirtieth year,
had won already upon the battle
field his epaulets as a general of cav
airy.
They happened to be alone in a
vast salon at one of the old palaces
in Warsaw, the home of the countess,
who had been left widow at %.
A large fire burned in the enormous
fireplace of rose marble, upon the
pediment of which the arms of ze-
linska were finely sculptured.
The month of January, 1907, the
time of this story, was remarkable
on account of its severity. 1t is
well known that Napoleon, after the
battle of jena and the overthrow of
Prussia, conceived the gigantic idea
of q continental blockade, and in
stead Of enjoying in peace his tri-
umphs and his glory wished to inn
pose by force on all Europe the eff
fective execution of his projects
against England. For that he resolved
to pursue the remnant of the Prus-
sian troops to their last intrenchment
and to go to meet the Russian army,
which was still intact and under
the command of General Benning-
sen.
you are still mute, general, con-
tinued the countess. Have lost
your confdencep
Pardon me-" replied Calviniac.
"You must excuse me for being
dreamy and preoccupied You know
the emperor has withdrawn from
me the command of my brigade for
month because / expressed too
frankly my opinion of his indiffer-
ence to the sad condition of your un-
happy country The emperor has
punished me severely, and here /
am far from my brave soldiers. /
was quite happy in my disgrace,
since it gave me the pleasure of be-
ing received by you, in the midst of
the most glorious representatives of
Polish nobility, as an ally as a
friend. You, the energetic and en-
thusiastic patriot, have kept up my
spirits, have permitted me the pleas
ure of seeing you, of confiding in
you my cares and dreams, of admir-
ing you, OF Low
"Ah, general"
Yes, 1 was going to say of lovini
YOU. But am worthy of express
ing such q sentiment when ough
to make a strange confessionG 70
see me sad and preoccupied becaus
there is in me a violent combat.
am happy, intensely happy, yet a
the same time, in spite of the charr
which chains me to your side,
would like to be elsewhere. The IL
action to which l am condemne
crushes me. / curse the severity
nv sovereign. Iwould like this Il
slant to mount horse, cross Wa
saw and rejoin the army, whlc
means to leave you, to flee fro
your beautiful eyes, in order to Sc
face to face, the horrible mustach
of the Cossacks of Bennington"
"You are always frank, generi
However, l admit this unforese'
declaration has surprised me htt
After Is days of repose you oecor
dull and disconsolate. You are hon
sick for camps and battles. My
Ion seems to you less attractive tn
your tent in the midst of the snow
Permit me to explain. l hea
Yesterday that the work OF conct
tration goes on rapidly; that I
Russians are going to be forced
accept battle. My blood boils at
news. They are going to hgnt
reflect. My brothers in arms
going into danger and honor
wish to share their lot Howey
when 1 think of you am coward
/ restrain my feelings. Thus
Bee me u6IO hSoA J W. -
feel that my conduct merlts
proach. If you esteem me, you c
not blame me for this indecis
which tortures me. You cannot
wise me to remain inactive, IN
midst of luxury and comfort, u
rich palace, when the drago
whom commanded yesterday, cal
ing now in the snow, now marcn
in the mud or crossing the Vls'
by the bridge Of boats, are &c
once more to brave the danger
war for the glory of France ana
haps for the liberty of Poland,
The countess remained standing
fore the general, listening eager
his words and expressing oy
passionate looks the admira
which this martial ardor inspires
her.
i love you thus, " said she
matter how much ! may miss y'
feel, alasI that you ought 10 g
4Go.T- 80, fov. having gwen