Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1893-12-08
ing of what the soldier said. He called 70,

chair. then saw tears start to his eyes.
He was young man, thin, wiry, dark
complexioned and nervous, with a look of
energyin his face-not a man to weep at
trihes. Those tears in his eyes puzzled me.
az shall not I've able to walk before to-
morrowl' he cried in a tone in which an
ger was mixed with notification
"Walkl' exclaimed my mother in alarm.
Continue your trampl' cried my ia
ther.
The soldier shook his head
"You do not know" he said 81 must
do tits VOW"
l saw my father look intently into the
young mans face with II dumb, question
ing gaze
"I'll tell you all about it," said the
young soldier, "for you have perhaps saved
my life, and | owe it to you to tell you
who ] am. My name is Jean Chevau-
cheux, and my father is lath splitter at
Mezieres-ap honest man, resembling
you, monsieur. Seven years ago, when
was drawn for the CONSUMPTION, was wild
~ in love with Marguerite Servan-a girl
as good as she was pretty. had already
asked for her hand, and her father had
not said me nay, but at the same time as
myself Pierre Puvioux had asked to be
her husband. Pierre PuviouX is about
my own age, IA good fellow, who carries
his heart in his hand, as the saying is. l
ought to have detested him, and he re-
manned my friend. Judge. Daddy Ser
van held out his hand to me and said:
You are worthy to become my SON
in-law, but you must get Marguerite's
consent.
"When the question was put to her,
Marguerite said she would willingly have
me for her husband, but she said exactly
the same in regard to Puvioux. She loved
one as well as the other and could not de
eide which of us to select. She could not
marry both of us, however.
"For moment was in great fear, /
confess. 1t was said at Mezieres that Pu-
vioux had rich aunt, who was going to
buy him substitute. If he staid behind,
he would marry Marguerite, and /, sure
of having to go, for was poor, already
heard the wedding fiddles tearing my ears
and heart.
on must know that Marguerite Ser
van has not her equal. If lose her, now
that | have waited for her seven years,
on my honor think shall blow out my
brains. Fortunately Pierre PuviouX's
aunt did not buy him oH-she died, in
TACT, leaving behind hernothlng but debts.
He hadn t a sou more than had, so we
were both obliged to shoulder the musket
and await our order OF march.
lone evening Daddy Servan took us
both under the arm and led us II caba-
ret, and then said, while we emptied u
bottle of moselle:
"'My lads, you are pair of worthy
Ardennais, equal in merit, and love you
with all my heart. One OF you shall be
my son-in-law. That's bargain. For
that Marguerite will wait seven years.
She has no preference either for you, Pu-
viouX, or for you, CheVaucheuX, but she
loves both of you and Will make happy
whichever of you fate shall select for her
This, then, is the condition on which one
of you is to marry my daughter:
You will go away on the same day,
and it is probable that you Will come back
on the same day Well, whichever of you
is first to shake hands with Daddy Servan
and say to him, "Halloa here am; I've
served my time, swear he shall be the
husband of Marguerite.
81 was astonished. could not believe
my ears. looked at Pierre PuviouX, who
looked at me, and though we were both
greatly distressed in mind we were both
as strongly inclined to laugh.
But Daddy Servan was not Joking.
He had thought of this way OF getting
over the difficulty, and he held to it, See
ing that it was So held out my hand to
him and swoTe to act with all fairness,
neither to resort to trickery nor violence,
and to allow Pierre PuViouX to marry
Marguerite If he returned to Mezieres be-
fore me. lie rose and took the same oath,
and we shook hands, while Daddy Servan
said;
The rest is now your affair. You
have, each Of you, got to manage so that
no kabyle bullet overtakes you, and to
come back safe and sound.
" He reiillvd the glasses and we took a
farewell draft
Before starting wished to see Mar
guerite. When | came beneath her win
dows-it was in the dusk saw some
body approaching and stopped. 1t was
Pierre PuviouX. He appeared veXed at
finding me there, and was anything but
delighted Mt meeting him. We stood for
a moment facing each other like pair OF
idiots, looking down at the toes OF oul
shoes; then, by my faith, sudden thrill
,,f e-oi1 10