The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1893-09-21
AVOLUNT]E[!'El I r

III General, Won seem occupied
4 quist when with me. Can 1t b
N l1om lack of Interest,""
Thus spoke the pretty Counties
S Alvb ZelinslEa in . volt tone Of re
" roach, accompanied by the mos
" gracious Of smileA to . French on
Scer sitting by her side. N IN
This young officer was the Draw
h Calviniac, IN Auvergnese highland
er, who, before his thirtieth year
had won already upon the battle
field his epaulets as a general Of cav
u airy. b, a. =
They happened to be alone in 4
vast salon at one Of the old palaces
\ 81 Warsaw, the home of the countess,
4 who had been left q widow at 20,
"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
tims Of this story, was remarkable
on account Of it's severity. It 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 i'm
pose by force on all Europe the Of
fective execution Of his projects
against England. For that he resolved
to pursue the remnant Of the Prus-
fap troops to their last intrenchment
and to 60 to meet the Russian army,
which was still intact and under
the command Of General Benning-
zen.
you are still mute, general" con-
6nued the countess. Have lost
your confidence7"
pardon me-" replied Calviniac.
'sYou must excuse me for being
dreamy and preoccupied. You know
the emperor has withdrawn from
me the command Of my brigade for
= month because I expressed too
frankly my opinion Of his indiher-
ence to the sad condition Of your un-
happy country. The emperor has
punished me severely, and here l
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, az an ally, as a
friend. You, the energetic and en-
thusiastic patriot, have kept up my
spirits, have permitted me the pleas
sure Of seeing you. Of oonfiding in
you my cares and dreams, Of admir-
ing you, Of low
.Ah, general!" ..s.... "a. ~
YES, I was going to say Of loving
you But am I worthy Of express
ing such q sentiment when ! ought
10 make q strange oonfessioni You
80 me sad and preoccupied because
there is in me q violent combat. I
nm happy, intensely happy, yet at
the same time, in spite of the charm
which chains me to your side, I
would like to be elsewhere. The in
action to which I am condemned
brushes me. curse tho severity of
my sovereign. I would like this in
slant to mount a horse, cross War
NV and rejoin the army, which
means to leave you, to fee from
syour beautiful eyes, in order to see,
sface to face, the horrible mustaches
ne the Cossacks of Bennington.
''You are always frank, general
However, I admit this unforeseen
declaration has surprised me q little.
After Is days Of repose you become
dull and disconsolate. You are home
tex. for camps and battles. My sa-
Ion seems to you less attractive than
pour tent in the midst of the snow. "
s5'' Permit me to explain. I heard
yesterday that the work of concen-
tzation 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 I
s1edect. My brothers in arms are
going into danger and honor. I
ish to share their lot However,
when think Of you am cowardly.
sresGain my feelings. Thus you
- me here near you, as usual. But
u feel that my conduct merits re-
preach. II you esteem me, you can
not blame me for this indecision
which fortunes me. You cannot i'd
We me to remain inactive, In the
midst Of luxury and comfort, in .
sIich palace, when tho dragons
whom I commanded yesterday, camp
Slng now in the snow, now marching
gh the mud or crossing tho Vistula
he bridge 5of boatea azeagoing
Sonce more to brave the dangers 81
I ~ Tor the glory Of France and per
aps for the liberty of Poland"
IE3~A S,1,s,SH keoa ~,<,rn ~ -