The National tribune., 1894-10-18

MAhShAL III
muzzle of his piece. as it you, dear
child ?n
"Yes; and you are good Jerome. Oh,
You will come and help mamma! Come,
she is dyingi"
1t was certainly Natalie, a little girl only
eight years old, daughter of Lisette Valiant.
Lisette was the wife of Pierre Valiant, a
Sergeant in Jerome's own regiment, who &C
companied the army as nurse.
Why, how is this, my dear child ?" said
jerome, taking the little one by the arm.
- What is this about your mother?"
"Oh, good jerome, you can hear her now
Hark!"
The sentinel bent his ear but could hear
only the wind and rain.
Mamma is in the dreadful mud" said
the child, and is dying; she is not far
away. Oh, can hear her crying"
By degrees jerome gathered from Natalie
that her father had taken her out with him
IN the morning, and that in the evening,
when the storm came on, her mother came
after her. The Sergeant had offered TO send
a man back TO camp with his wife but she
preferred to return alone, feeling sure THAT
she should meet with no trouble The way,
however, had become dark and uncertain,
and she had lost the path and wandered off
to the edge OF the morasS, where she had
sunk into the soft mud.
oh, good Jerome" cried the little one.
seiZing the mans hand, cant you hear
her? She viii de if you do not come and
help her! At that moment the sentinel
fancied he heard the wall of the unfortu-
nate woman. What should he do ? Lisette.
the good, the beautiful, the tender hearted
Lisette was in mortal danger and it was in
his power TO save her. 1t was not in his
heart to withstand the pleadings of the
child. He could 90 and rescue the nurse
and return 10 his post without detection.
At all events be could not refuse the child
ish pleader.
Give me yonr hand, Natalie; I'll go
with you"
With cry Of JOY the child sprang to the
soldiers side, and when sue had secured his
hand she hurried HIM along toward the
place where she had left her mother. 1t
seemed long distance to Jerome, and once
he stopped as though he would turn back.
He did not fear death, but he feared dis
honor.
HaTk J" uttered the child.
The soldier listened, and plainly heard
the voice of the suffering woman calling for
help. He besitated no longer. On he has
sunk to her arm-pits in the soft morass.
Fortunately tult of long grass had held
| her head above the fatal mud. 1t was no
easy matter TO extric&te her from the miry
| pit, as the workman had to be very careful
! that he himself did not lose his footing
At length, however, she was drawn forth,
! and Jerome led her TO his post
who goes there cried a voice from
/ the gloom.
Heaven!" gasped Jerome, stopping and
! trembling from head TO foot.
Who goes there?" repeated the voice.
Jerome heard the click Of the nusket
| lock, and he knew that another sentinel
had been stationed at the post he had left
The relief had come while he had been alb
sent. Friends, with the countersign," he
replied TO the last call of the new sentinel
He was ordered to advance, and when he
had given the c0untersign, he found him
self in the presence OF an officer of the
guard. In few hurried words he told his
story, and had the officer been alone he
might have allowed the matter to rest
where 1t was, but there were others present
and when ordered to give up his musket
Jerome obeyed without q murmur and ST.
lently accompanied the officer to camp
where he was put in guard-house.
On the following morning Jerome Dubois
was brought before a court-martial, under
charge OF having deserted his post. Hs
confessed that he was guilty, and then per
mission was granted him to tell his OWL
story.
! This he did in few words, but the court