The Opelousas courier., 1893-10-28

tone of reproach, accompanied BIZ the
most gracious of smiles, to a French
officer sitting by her side.
This young officer was the brave
CaIviniac, an Auvergnese Highlander,
who. before his thirtieth year, had
won already upon the battlefield his
epaulettes as a General of Cavalry.
They happened to be alone in a vast
salon at one of the old palaces in
Warsaw, the home Of the Countess,
who had been left a widow at twenty
two. A large fire burned in the
enormous fireplace of rose marble,
upon the pediment Of which the arms
Of Zelinska were finely sculptured.
The month of January, 1907, the
time of this story, was remarkable on
account of it's severity. 1t is well
known that Napoleon, after the battle
of Jena and the overthrow of Prussia,
conceived the gigantic idea of a Con-
~tinental blockade and, instead of
enjoying in peace his triumphs and
his glory, wished to impose by force
on All Europe the effective
execution Of his projects against
England. For that, he resolved
to pursue the remnant of the
Prussian troops to their last intrench-
ment, and to go to meet the Russian
| army, which was still intact, and
under the command of General
Bennington.
sYou are still mute, General, con-
tinued the Countess. "Have l lost
your c~onfdence?'
Pardon me-" replied Calviniac.
tsYou must excuse me for being dreamy
and preoccupied. You know the En-
peror has withdrawn from me the
command of my brigade for o month,
because I expressed too frankly my
opinion of his indifference to the sad
condition OF your unhappy country.
The Emperor has punished me severe
ly-and here / am, far from my brave
soldiers. / was quite happy in my
disgrace, since it gave me the pleasure
of being received by you, in the mids'
of the most glorious representatives, o
Polish nobility, as an ally, as afrlehd
You, the energetic and enthusiastic
patriot, have kept up my spirits, have
permitted me the pleasure of seeing
you, of coniding in you my cares ant
dreams, Of admiring you, OF Low
"Ah! General"
"Yes. | am going to say Of loving
YOU. But am ] worthy of expressing
such d sentiment, when | ought t.
make a strange confession? You SCI
me sad and p~reoccupied, because Their
is in me a violent combat. / an
happy. intensely happy; yet OF tn
eane time, in spite of the charm which
chains me by your side, | would lik
to be elsewhere. The inaction t.
which I am condemned brushes me.
curse the severity Of my sovereign.
would like This instant to mount
horse, cross Warsaw, and reioin tn
f~rny-which means to leave you, t,
flee from yonr beautiful eyes, in orde
10 see, face-to-sace, the horrible mus
taches Of the Cossacks OF Benning
sen"
"You are always frank, General
However, | admit this unforeseen dec
laration has surprised me q little
After fifteen days of repose, you be
come dull and disconsolate. You ar
homesick for camps and battles. NJ,
talon seems to you less attractive thai
your tent in the midst cf the snow"
aPermit me to explain. ! heard yes
terday that the movement Of concen
tration goes on rapidly; that tn
Russiens are going to be forced to &C
cept battle. Ny blood boiIs at tn,
news. They are going TO fight I re
feet. My Notwithstanding are goin,
into danger and honor. I wish to shar
their lot However, when ! think 0
: you, I am cowardly. I restrain m,
feelings. Thus you see me here men
you as usual. But ] feel that M
conduct merits reproach, If yon es
teen me, you cannot blame me 70
this INDIGESTION which fortunes me
You cannot advise me TO remain inat