The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-03-16

NN--N"
shoot him."
A corporal tapped me on the shoulder
and motioned me toward the doo-.
was so surprised at the colonels last
words that stood motionless, but when
l realized their full meaning sudden
ly found tongue and rated the whole
group in forcible English. The colonel
shrugged his shoulders and repeated his
commands, and the file of soldiers began
to hustle mo out Before we reached
the door, however, he stopped us.
Spy" said he, I'VE will give you a
chance. Tell us all you know of the
slider your case"
. shall do no such thing" said l.
II am English gentleman, and will
not do dirty work for either French or
Prussian.
Take time, said he. "Think it
over. Corporal, call in a sous lieuten-
ant and two men,"
A young officer and two privates en-
tered the room of the farmhouse in
which we were standing and saluted
You see this mani" said the old
colonel, pointing to me. Keep him
safe till daybreak. Then bring him to
me-" He turned to me again. Think
over my offer, Mr.. Spy. If you accept
it, well; if you don't, you will be shot
in the morning"
The young officer and the two men
marched me out into the fog again and
took me to cottage close by. | was
n n xtrt,n Era I,t1t ,.I
the hearth and an oil lamp shed some
little light ON plain deal table. My
guardian signed TO me to sit down. and
then one of the soldiers, after a whis-
pered colloquy with the lieutenant, left
the cottage and presently returned with
food and drink, which he set before me-
Desperately placed as l was, ate my
supper and when | had finished filled
and lighted my pipe. thought things
over and could see no chance of escape.
Monsieur, said /, addressing the
young officer, who sat near me on the
hearth. II shall certainly have to die
tomorrow morning if your colonel per-
sists in his foolish conduct, and should
like to write last letter to my friends.
Will you have the goodness to provide
me with writing materials?"
The lad responded in the affirmative
and bade one of his men fetch pen,
ink and paper. While he was gone the
young officer, who was certainly not
more than IS or 10 years of age and had
a frank, open face, looked at me curl
ously and presently inquired if was
really an Englishman. He spoke Eng
lish SO we'll that was surprised.
Certainly l am," l answered.
And anybody but your colonel would
have recognized as much. l am an Eng
lishman and what | represented myself
to be when questioned -
II am sorry for you, sir, said he
II wish could help you."
Then promise to forward this packet
for me, )" said I. You can show it to
your colonel il you like"
He replied that he would do his best
to oblige me, and set to work at my
letter. | wrote out full account of
my afternoon's adventures and ad-
dressed it TO the proprietors Of my jour
nal. Then | took off my watch and
chain and rings and laid them on the
letter, intending to wrap them all up to-
gether. ! had another ring In my purse,
and drew tue letter from my pocket
and opened il. As 1 did SO the bronze
medallion escaped and fell from the ia.
Bile to the floor. Tho young officer
stopped. and picking it up laid it by my
hand. The light from the lamp shone
full on the inscription. He uttered an
exclamation and picked the medallion
up again. looked at him in astonish-
lnent. His face was flushed and eager.
He stared at ma with wide open eyes.
Monsieurl'' he gasped-"m monsieuri
For the love of heaven, tell me-this
medal, where did you get it
The medalf'' | said. "Oh, I got
1t some years ago In England. !"
But wheret" he said Where,
monsieurY All, do not trifie with me
tell Inc where. For, see you, monsieur,
am Jules Malan!''
looked at him wonderingly. This,
then, was the jules over whom the lit
tie Frenchman had waxed SO eloquent
on the race course at Doncaster.
80 you are Jules7" said. "Then
You are the son of the man who gave
me that medal. -
"And you are my fathers benefac-
tor" he cried. ''1t was You of whom
he told us that day when he came home
from the race. F."
well, this is strangel" said 1.
"But, come, tell me something about
your father. Is he back in his native
France? Is he we'll? l have often
thought of him. "
ALAS, sir, my father is dead and my
mother also. But let me tell you've
prospered IN England, for my father
had money left soon after your meeting
with him, and he secured free pardon
for his political oifenses, and we re-
turned to Paris. We were very happy,
monsieur, until last year, and then my
parents died. They never saw me in
my uniform" be added. with a broad
smile, as he turned the bronze medal.
lion over and over In his fingers. All,
monsieur, how we'll | remember win
ming this at the school in your foggy
England! ~ father used often TO talk
of ~, 3 i / t4f,iz r4lffGf rypl HI