The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-09-05

returned without even a scratch, the JACK.
anapes, when my poor Jacque-
Well, we set of again. There was no |
tagging behind this time. About $50 |
meters from the walls the scoundrels gave |
US broadcast In the face. Sapristi, how |
Il rainedl The balls fell 10 the right, TO |
the left, i'm the ricefelds, making "fio- |
foo'' AS they struck the water. We an
swered back, but il was like firing In the
air, the rascals were so well protected by
their walls This fusillade lasted only
about ten minutes, but l shall remember
lt a long time.
However, 1t could not continue In this
way. The bugle sounded the charge
Sapristil That music always sends
SILVER OF gayety through me. Behold US
running with fixed bayonets, like mad
men! But as / have already noticed the
gateway OF the citadel opened upon high
embankment scarcely three meters wide.
To enter that we must climb the narrow
ascent and push in two by two under
terrible fire, and that, too, through pail
sade of bamboo which the rascals had con-
structed to bar the way, already narrow
| enough.
All, 1t was sufficiently difficult without
| that cursed bamboo, and heaven only
| knows what il cost usl l saw my two lieu
tenants fall, the adjutant OF the battalion
| md many others. Impossible 20 pass that
| cursed bamboo. My captain ragged Ike
| demon.
AT last he commanded, "A section up
therel'
This time IL was very serious. No time
to hesitate; all who climbed there were
sure of certain death.
| think the captain must have retained
some spite against Jacque, for he turned
to him and said $50 up there, sir, ana
tear away that bamboo"
IL Is but justice to say that he did not
wait to be told second time. Touching
his cap, with "All right, my captain" he
| started at "a quick run. In passing me he
drew a packet Of letters from his pocket
Take care of This for me, Bertrand. +"
| And In the twinkling of an eye he was up
with his section.
Tear away this. Throw that into the
ditch" He was as tranquil as II superin-
tending a squad of soldiers ON fatigue
duty. And all the time the enemy were
, pouring upon thcm deadly fire, the balls
whistling, tearing the bamboo plowlne
no the ground, every now and then crush
ing In shoulder, carrying away an arm
OF breaking a leg.
-
left there, all my comrades-Jacque among
, the number, but he was the last. Just al
, | the work was finished ball struck hin
4 | between the eyes. AS he raised his arm
10 shout n great Hurrahl'' he fell dead
Q face foremost.
a Perhaps 1t was not very proper what
n did next morning, but truly IL was TO
9 much for me-that packet OF letters tina
n | Jacque gave me AS he went TO his death
i | could not keep them.
g thought: "A boy who acts like COW
: ard, and a few hours after dies like man
, 1t Is unnatural there must be somethin
v under this.
And felt had the explanation thei
:. under my hand in those letters The
, burned me. 1t was Impossible TO kec
T. them. Ma fol- / could not. Then then
drew out the packet.
a, Upon my word there was only one Ie
ter. the one he had received that morning
n Nothing else. All, blood of blood, what
r letter. He was right, poor boy. one ougl
not to receive a letter like that just befol
~ a battle. AS for me, cried like bal
and was scarcely able to read 1t Tor 81
,e tears In my eyes. 1t was from his mothc
ar and here Is what the good woman wro
to her boy as she ended her letter:
~ "Now, my precious .Iacque, take caro-
to | Yourself for my sake. Remember you q
10 all have in this world and II anythii
should happen TO you l would surely
va mad 1t is true the time passes very wc;.Tl
7 when one is waiting, but / try 10 be p
TENT to forget the present and only TIM
Of the future when you will return. Abo
all things my precious boy, he prudeI
ne Do whatever you are commanded to q
no like a brave soldier, but do not expo
re yourself unnecessarily. forbid you,
ma no, my darling Jacque. | forbid y
ar nothing / implore you, before ontcrii
into any engagement, to tLiLk OF yo
n mother, who is always thinking of va
and do not risk too much. Promise !
mo- this, will you notS And remember, IL IN
ri is not a coward because he loves !
H. mother
", The letter fell from my hands. und
"a | stood all now. He had thought OF
no mother, the brave boy, and waited un
it | he was directly commanded to go. Al
,ea no doubt, that morning when he was loo
~ ing far away to that bit of blue sky WHIT
ut there was nothing TO DO seen he
e. thinking of his mother and of that pro
,is ise he had sworn TO keep.
And that Is why Sergeant Jacque, W
m died like hero, with his face to the ei
he my, was considered coward twice In {
ne day-From the French.