Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1893-10-28
rbe fortune. of Franco are on the verge

Ihe fortunes OF FRANCE are on the verge
of ruin, and you have no other care than
to realize your future. Tomorrow the
enemy will be at our gates, and you strap
up your valise and fly like a coward 1t
was not enough to have plunged your
family into mourning and despair. You
must infct this shame. too, upon them !"
A quick blush rose to his forehead. a
light shone in his eyes.
Pardon, monsieur, pardon. These
are very grand words, it seems to me.
You are too young and am too old for
us to understand each other | am not
running away. am going away. There
is nothing here to keep me. Paris does
not interest me- 1t is only just that she
should be punished. As for my family,
they are safe enough from the dangers
of war, and do not see why | should
be forbidden to seek for myself, in Brus-
sells, or in London or Florence, the
peace and security they enjoy in Brit
tany."
Ny heart was sick and disguised. I
turned away. when suddenly Jean
started with surprise. Listen" he
said. | listened, and heard strange
music, the tones OF which, vague at first
and indistinct, grew louder and seemed
to be coming toward us. | looked, too,
as | listened. l saw beyond the bridge
! of Solferino an immense crowd, who
came on singing. 1t was slow, grave
chant, almost religious and had nothing
| in common with the bursts of song to
which we were accus oncd. Jean
leaned against the parapet. | saw that
ne was very pale. In the mean
time, the confused mass approached
nearer and nearer, and became less
and less confused. Now, | recog-
lied the chant de Ia BretagRe and then
sound of the binio., the gardes mobiles
of Finisterre were entering Paris. The
tuft or ermine in their military caps, the
gray cloth uniforms, the knapsack
strapped behind, tell all ABOUT them as
they advance with correct and firm
step, marching by platoons and filling
the whole width of the Quai. At their
head on horseback rides the chief of the
battalion; behind him, the chaplain ond
two lieutenants. The head of the col"
umn is now only few steps from us. IL
| is my turn to be startled. look at JEAN.
His hand falls upon mine. "My fathott
NY two brothers." he says in a love
voice And ne sees passing before him.
under their most striking forms, the eter-
nal truths that he has so long disowned
or forgotten country, duty and
family The long pageant of his honest
and noble days defies before him singing
as the troops 90 by. gave him the las,
blow. On one of the balconies of the
on | have just seen his mother.
"You unfortunate fellow | eXclaim.
''You said there were no longer any wo-
men. Look, there is one; do you recog-
niZe herr"
Madame de Thommeray waves her
handkerchief. the Breton chant redoubles
in fervor, and the chief of the battalion,
with the courtesy of knightly gentle
man, bows in his saddle and salutes hel
with his sword. Mute and motionless,
with sad eyes and dry eyelids, Jean Seems
turned to stone. | leave him to the
mercy of God.
The next day, in the courtyard of
the Louvre, the Commandant dc Thorn
meray called the roll of his battalion.
The call finished, he passed down the
ranks, when soldier stepped out and
said.
"Commandant, one of your men wat
forgotten
'What is your name"
"lIy name is Jean, answered the voE
unteer. lowering his eyes.
''Who are you.'
"a man who has lived badly"
"What do you wish"
"To die we'll
''Are you rich or pooi?'
r Yesterday posse sed an ill-gotter
fortune. | have resigned it voluntarily
? l have now only my musket and my
knapsack."
THAT is we'll" And with a gestur
2 he ordered the young man to return #
r the ranks. There was a long silence. Tn
j Commandant had again taken his plac
in front Of the battalion "Jean d
Thommeray he called out. A mani
voice answered: "Pyesem"-. From tn
French of Jules Sandeau.