The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-01-03

away to college. but In the holidays he
always saw 1anneguy. who was employed
on "A farm on the Plsnhoec estate.
II have ALWAYS kept the gum. said
Tsnneguy one day 10 the young visoount
1T was the one one happiness OF my
childhood, and i shall never part with It.
III ever tho day should come when you
should have need Of one. you can count
on me, and the young Breton's voice
vibrated with earnestness. so that Herve
knew that these were no vain words.
Al the age OF ls the young viscount en-
tered TIE military school OF -. Cyr. de-
terEiined ms no was To embrace tine career
OF his ancestors. Two years later the ter
rible war of 1870 broke out, and Herve,
with some Of his comrades cf st. Cyr, was
appointed ofiicer In regiment.
No soouer did Tanneguy hear of this
than he hasteEed To engage himself In the
same regiment, and the poor young peas
ant Ignorant ard uneducated as he was.
proved hin self veritable hero. Their reg
iment belonged TO the army OF the North,
commanded by Faidherbe, and after
every combat tho two friends sought each
other an xiOusly.
In spite OF his heroic efforts Faidherhe
was not BILE 10 prevent the advance OF the
enemy. On the 23d OF Dscem ber, 1870 at
the battle Of PontNoy oyelles. Tannoguy
distinguished himself by his bravery and
was promoted on tie battlefield, anu
Herve at the same time was appointed
captain. On New Years day, 1871. they
were In camp near Arrss and were nearly
worn out with fatigue and privations.
Captain, said Tanneguy, this time
ten years ago was the dav you gave me
the little gun. DO you remembers"
Yes f" said Herve, smiling as he re.
mem bered his own childish delight on
receiving the little weapon.
'You gave II o the only pleasure j ever
had In my life. F." said Tanneguy.
Three days later the battle of Bapaume
took place, and when iJ was growing
dusk and the combat was nearly over
Tapneguy looked around in search of the
Captain dc Plenhoec, knowing that ne
was sure TO be found in the thickest of
the fight. Tanneguy suddenly caught
sight OF him struggling to rise from
under his horse which had just been shot
uead. Prussian was advancing
toward Herve with his bayonet pointed
at the young captain. lie was just prepar.
ing to kill his victim. intoxicated as he
was with the smoke and the blood all
around him. Herve had only just risen
TO mis- feet when he saw the Prussian s
weapon pointed at him, and he felt sure
that mis- last moment had come
Suddenly "A man bounded between him
and his enemy, and with sword thrust LAID
the Prussinn dead before him. 1t was
Ianneguy, who on seeing Herve's peril.
had rushed TO the rescue, bounding over
every obstacle, trampling under foot the
dead and dying and only just arriving in
time TO avert the danger
Tanneguy stopped down, and, snatchinR
from the dead soldier his gun, presented
IL 10 Herve, who was disarmed.
Captain, you once gave me g.Kn.
Let me pay my debt TO you with this
ons''-
Before he had finished speaking and
while holding the weapon out TO Herve
poor Tanneguy staggered back and fell.
A ball had just struck him and pierced
his heart Herve grasped the tirearm, ali
covered with blood as II was, and, as
though in a dream, a vision OF the past
rose before him. and he saw the wide
road in Brittany where he had given his
little gun TO a peasant lad. From the
French OF j. Morand.