The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1893-09-30

The fortunes OF France are on the verge
of ruin, and you have no other care than
TO realize your future. To morrow the
enemy will be at our gates, and you strs %
up your valise and Fly like coward II
was not enough 20 have plunged your
family into mourning and despair. You
must infict this shame, too, upon them Z,
A quick blush rose to his forehead. A
| light shone ia his eyes.
| Pardon, monsieur, pardon. These
are very grand words, II seems 10 me.
You are too young and am too old for
US 10 understand each other. I am not
running away. / am going away. There
is nothing here TO keep me. Paris does
not interest me. II 10 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 I should
be forbidden TO seek for myself, In Brus-
sells, or Ia London or Florence, the
peace and security they enjoy in Brit
tsny."
Ny heart was sick and disgusted. 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. saw beyond the bridge
Of Solferino an immense crowd, who
came on singing. 1t was a slow, grave
chant, almost religious, and had nothing
in common with tho bursts of song 10
which we were accustomed. 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, rccog-
lied the chant ne In Bretdgne and then
sound OF the binio !: the goydes ma0biLes
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 az
they advance with correct and firm
step, marching by platoons and filling
the whole width Of the guai At their
head on horseback rides the chief Of the
battalion; behind him, the chaplain and
two lieutenants. The head of the col
umn is now only few steps from US. IL
Is my turn 10 be startled. look at Jean.
His hand falls upon mine. "My father
My two brothers, he says in low
voice. And he sees passing before him,
under their most striking forms, the eter-
nal truths that he has 80 long disowned
or forgotten-God, country, duty and
family! The long pageant Of his honest
and noble days defiles before him singing
rs the troops go by. ! gave him the last
blow. On one Of the balconies of the
qu,i 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 her
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 de Thom-
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 was
forgotten"
what is your name"
my name is Jean, answered the vol
unteer, lowering his eyes.
"Who are you"
"a man who has lived badly"
"Whnt do you wishW
''To die we'll"
care you rich or poorY"
fortune. j have resigned it voluntarily.
/ have now only my musket aud my
knapsack."
THAT Is we'll" And with gesture
he ordered the young man to return TO
the ranks. There was long silence. The
Commandant had again taken his place
In front of the battalion. 'Jean dc |
he called out. A manly
voice answered: "Present"-IF From the
French of Jules Sandeau.