The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1893-09-29

and handed 1t to the sufferer. AS he
went out again four armed men stood
before him, and before he had time to
give the alarm he was disarmed and q
prisoner. Sounds Of hushed footsteps,
rendered almost inaudible by the deep
snow, now approached, and body Of
men came to a halt. Their captain, q
Bavarian, ordered the prisoner into the
house and questioned him in French,
but Claude made no reply.
ANSWER me, rascal" said the officer
after pause, "or your lips will be
opened by bayonet through your body,
Where is the main guard stationedg"
The young soldier was silent.
Here, men, spike this pigheaded fel-
low" but an imploring voice exclaimed:
"Stop!" la surprise the captain turned
around, saw the man lying in the corner,
recognized him as one Of his own com
pany who had been left for dead, and
learned how compassionate the prisoner
had been to him.
Very well, will spare his life" said
the officer, but we must take him with
us. Muller and Hermann, bind his
handsAnd lead HIM between you, and il
he makes the least noise strangle him
with mis- own voice, Forward We shall
soon find the French"
| Gaude Latapie was in despair. He
hYd deserted his post, had failed to give
the alarm, and consequently his com
rades were about to be surprised and
massacred. How could he prevent itf
What could he DO to save thems
He marched along quietly, rejoioed
for minute at perceiving that his cap
tors were taking the wrong direction,
but the Captain soon discovered his ere,
and changed the route. This time 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 man snatched at the weapon, but
Claude hung on, and in spite of hi;
hands being bound succeeded in his de
sign, Then he felt for the trigger Her
munm pierced him with bayonet, ant
Claude, mortally wounded, felt his hole
relax; ,convulsively he made another ef
fort and the gun went off, A loud re
port echoed through the darkness, ant
with all his remaining strength ht
shouted;
'"To arms!"
Then, pierced through the body, ht
reeled and stiffened, biting the snow.
But the report and theory were heard
The French, aroused, attacked th,
enemy; their main guard came up, ant
after a short engagelsent the Germans
finding themselves surrounded, laiC
down their arms
Claude Latapie was lying in AN am
bulance when the general Of the corp
camerup, bringing him the viaticum o
! the brave, 1.-the cross of the Legion o
Honor. The young man, however, mad
"a wild gesture as he exclaimed:
"N0, no; you do mot know how i
2 was"
II 4Snowvyou are a brave man," re
plied the general.
= "Ah, mySGod!" sighed Claude, ''mus
1 proclaim my own dishonor before
: die? d,deserve court martial instead o
the crSss," And hnmbly, in Noic
broken by'sobs, he confessed his momen
tary dessrtion from his post, adding i,
conclusion: ...a..
1.-The whole outpost might have beel
DESTROYED through my fanlt yet lcoul'
, not help pitying that miserable Ger
maE4
4 "His comrades made but a poor re
turn for W0ur compassion," " said the of
iioer.
r "'rlsey wTned me. knew what b
3 expect, Claude answered simply, IAN,
| am happy, for die for France, Tha
| is more than deserve"
"Giye me your hand, my brave fel
| low cried the general You hay
\ more than atoned, am proud to com
mand such man,as your and stoopinI
he laid the medal ON Claude's breast an
7 gave him the acaolade. The soldier
I face was illuminated as he grasped tn
0 medal in his hot hands, and gasping fo
5 breath he murmurea:
"This is for my mother, Will yo
: send it to herr"
And on receiving the generals prom
Use the conscript smileda and died, -Fror
the French Of Georges de Lys.
Fifty Years Advance.