The Opelousas courier., 1893-10-28

fought with an aadacity that nothing
could stop. Each blow struck, over
threw and killed. His right arm was
injured by a ball, but he seized ms
sabre in his left hand and continued
his course until the sound of the clarion
forbade his furthel action. The work
of this cavalry, perhaps the most as
tonishing in the history of the En-
pire. decided the victory.
The next day the Emperor, in order
to honor in some special mai II the
heroic souadrons of Murat, wished ia
survey the front of this admirable
company of horsemen' Grave ana
sombre, after a victoryso holly d1sput-
ed he passed at a slow gallop before the
soldiers, saluting the flag lowered be-
fore him. Arriving opposite the
eighth regiment of Dragons ne
ylackened his pace and said to Grouchy
who followed him:
"Who is that cevelier in the first
rank. who holds his sword in the LETT
hand? He strangely resembles oRlvl'
MAC"
ssHe is a Polish volunteer, respond.
ed Grouchy. was engaged several
DAVIS AGO. and has fought like a lion
I saw him at work, and ] do not kno"
of one more worthy of reward.
The Emperor approached the pre-
tended Polander,
"Well, my brave fellow" said he'
II have The pleasure of congratulatlng
you upon your courage. One OF my
generals. Calviniac, recently took
the liberty of criticising my actions
T have deposed MIN, You may
replace him. I shall have then at the
head of my dragons an officer worthy
Of them, whom I consider a compatr1ot
and q friend"
He resumed his course, followed by
his escort of superhly-uniformed gen
erals.
The days which followed this battle
were employed in removing the dead
to the shore of the Vistula near War
saw. They we're transported on sledges
across the vast plains, followed by
Aocks of crows. Some, whom the
guard would not permit to be moved,
remained in the convent of Eylau,
now transformed into a hospital.
Among them was General Oalvln1ae,
who was very Ill with q fever. He a
abused his strength. After having
fought all day, his arm in a sling, he
was still at his post of honor, but at
night. when the excitement of the
struggle and the emotion of triumph
we're somewhat Gained, his wound,
which had re-opened, caused him VIC
lent pain. Fever set in, The surgeons
thought amputation would be neces-
sary, but knowing that the ball had
not remained in the flesh and that the
bone wag not injured, they decided to
wait q few days. .
Happily, q woman watched him. A
young and beautiful Polish girl, wearing
the graceful costume of the peasants OF
Ukraine, had presented herself to the
posts, saying that she sought her
brother, a volunteer in the cavalry OF
Murat. The Countess Zelinska, for it
was she, had had a presentiment Of the
result of the battle, and, following her
feminine instincts, she sought among
the wounded for her lover. After a
| day of vain search, worn out and anx-
ious, almost desperate, she conceived
the idea of seeking shelter in the con-
vent of the Benedictines. Seeing that
it was occupied by the wounded French,
she still had strength enough to search
| the large halls. Asking explanations,
giving details, she finally discovered
the little room where, upon a camp
| bed, was extended, not he brother, as
| she said, but he whom she loved more
dearly than a brother, since she had
witnessed his chivalry and patriotism.
The Countess was not recognized
by Calviniac. Delirium had robbed
him of his reason. This condition
lasted for several days, during which
| his devoted nurse watched e him
| constantly. Finally the fever abated.
and the surgeons declared that, if he
avoided all imprudence, recovery was
certain.
One morning Calviniac, while taking
some nourishment, regarded with at
tention the young woman who served
| him with so much devotion. He
thought that he recognized her fea'
| lures, but her dress puzzled him. He
feared that it was q dream or a hsllu'
cination. However, hearing hel
speak he trembled, and remembered
the sweet interviews at the Preside In
the palace of Warsaw. He made an
effort to collect his confused ideas,
and raising himself upon his couch
called feebly:
"AlvisE"
The Countess, unable to repRess ar
instructive movement, turned TOWARD
the sick man. She approached him
their eyes met. They regarded eacl
other a long time without speaking,
but their mute language told the story
and Joy radiated from their faces.
Chow came you here?' asked Cal
viniac. 'fIt is you who have cared TO:
me like an angel from heaveni 1t il
you who have saved mel Let me re
peat to you that word which yo'
stopped upon my lips the day of m,
departure. Let ME tell you that I low
YOU
He extended his thin, pale hand
which Avis took in hers.
General responded she, I'm,
conduct is d confession that my words
do not try to deny. My life belong
to you. / am ready to follow yo'
wherever chance leads you. You
name shall he nv name and ynn