Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1898-09-07

would pray others to do for you. Give
me one hours liberty, and will give you
my word OF honor to return and give
| myself up Is life itself worth q prom
/ ise brOkenT"
| While he wns speaking the command
ant was pacing to and fro. tugging vic
iously at his mustache, and evidently
struggling hard to appear unmoved.
my word he murmured. This
! urchip talks Of my word as though he
were a knight Of the Round Table"
He stopped abruptly in front Of his
prisoner and asked. In a severe tone,
your n1-,e3"
"Victor Oury"
"AgeT'
sixteen on the 18th Of July next"
"Where does your mother liver"
AT Belleville"
"What made you to leave her to fol.
low the CommuneT
For the thirty sous chiefyi one must
eat! Then the neighbors and my com.
rades threatened to shoot me II did
not march with them. They said l was
tall enough to carry a musket. My
mother was afraid Of them. and wept
and prayed"
You have no father, thenr'
He was killed.
'And wherer
AT BOurGet. fighting for his coun.
try"
The commandant turned toward his
staff as though he would consult them
at glance All seemed to interest and
pity.
We'll, then, II is understood" the of.
fcer said. gravely, after a moments
reflection. You can 60 and see your
mother. You have given me your word
Of honor to come back In an hour. C'est
bien. shall know then whether you
are a man Of character or simply q
cowardly boy. l give you until even
l shall say that you are a braggart, and
care more for life than honor. Allons!
Quick march,
Il thank you, mon commandant. At
eight will be here"
You are sureT'
Certain"
''We shall see when the time comes"
The boy would have thrown his arms
about the officer in his wild Joy and
gratitude, but the latter repelled him
gently.
No, not now" he said. This even
ing. IL you return, I will embrace you
in front of the firing party" he added,
grimly. "Off with your
Victor ran like a hare. The officers
smiled as they watched him disappear.
Twenty minutes later he knocked at
his mothers door, and the neighbOr
who was tending her opened 1t to him.
She started and exclaimed when she
saw him, for like every one else, she
believed him dead. He would have
rushed to his mothers room. but the
woman stopped him.
go in quietly" she said, In a low
voice; "she is asleep. She has been very
Ill since you went away, but she Is lit
tie better now. The doctor said yes
terday that If she could sleep she would
soon get stronger; she must not be
Poor thingI she will be glad
to see you, for she has asked for you
SO often. When she was not calling
you she was praying the bon Dieu to
preserve you and to restore peace in the
land. Helas! one would say He had
u.s. the bon Dieu, and let
men do just as they like. 1t is awfulw
But. Victor. impatient, thought he
heard his name called In a faint voice.
He moved on tlp-toe toward his moth
er's bed. He had not been deceived-the
sick woman's eyes were opened wide.
Victor! my boyr' she cried. in her
thin. weak voice. Without . word he
lay down beside her, and her arms
closed round him hungrily.
And now the boy who had faced
death 30 impassively could do naught
but sob. Now, In his mothers arms, he
became a child once more. timid, de
spairing.
The sick woman, who seemed to gain
strength from bis presence, sought in
vain to console him.
why do you distress yourself 80, my
child. my best belovedT she asked.
You shall never leave me again. We
Will throw that hateful uniform away;
never want to see 1t more. I will make
haste and get well; feel SO much
stronger since you came. Soon you will
go to work again. and you will grow
mp and marry some good girl. The past
will only look like q bad dream then. |
and we win forget 1t completely; com.
Dletely. dear"