The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-09-16

family. The privations of the siege, the
long and weary waiting at the butch
ers' and bakers shops when the scanty
dole of food was distributed in the rig
ors of tnat terrible winter, had stretch
ed his mother on the bed Of suffering,
where she lay slowly dying.
One day when he had gone with 9TH
ers to dig for potatoes in the frost
bound plain of ST. Denis Prussian
bullet broke his shoulder, and after
wards, driven partly by hunger, partly
by fear of his companions threats, he
had enrolled himself in the Army of the
Commune. Like many another, fear
and fear only had led him into and
kept him in the ranks; he had no heart
for a war of brothers, and now that his
life was about to pay the penalty he
was glad that he could lay no mans
death to his charge. He was innocent
of that, at any rate.
The things he had seen and suffered
during the few last months had given
him dread Of life. He hated to think
of leaving his mother in this terrible
world-his mother whom he loved SO
uCdAAJ, WIN u0u d4 DtGu SO HEX
pressibly good to him; but he comfort
ed himself with the thought that before
long she would come, too-she could not
have much more suffering to undergo,
she was so weak when he last saw her,
four days ago.
kiss me again, dear-again," she had
said, "for feel that may never see
you more"
"Ah," he thought sadly, '1f they
would only trust him-would give him
only one hour Of liberty-how he would
run to her and then come back and give
himself up to the hands that hungered
for his life. He would give his word,
and he would keep 1t. Why not? Save
his mother-and she, too, was dying
he had no one to regret. To see her
again, to kiss her dear lips once more,
console, encourage her, and leave her
hopeful-then he could face death
bravely."
He was in the midst of these sad re-
flections when the commandant, fol-
lowed by several officers, approached
him.
"Now, my fine fellow, you and have
score to settle; you know what awaits
you?"
Eyes, mon commandant and I am
ready"
"Really? So ready as all that? You
are not afraid Of death?'
LESS than of life. I have seen SO
much the last six months-such awful
things-death seems better than such
life"
Il wager you would not hesitate If 1
gave you your choice. If l said: Put
your best foot foremost and show me
how soon you can be out of sight you
would soon be off, I'll warrant"
'Try me, mon commandant, try me!
Put me to the proof; it's worth trial.
One more or less for your men to
shoot, what does 1t matter? One hour
of freedom only, not more; you shall
see whether 1 will keep my word, and
whether / am afraid to die'
"Oh! da! you're no fool, but you must
take me for one. Once free and far
away, and then come back to be shot
just as you would keep an ordinary ap-
pointment? You will hardly get me to
swallow that, my boyp'
Listen, sir, beg Of you. Perhaps
you have good mother; you love her.
your mother, more than aught else in
the whole world. If, like me, you were
just going to die, your last thoughts
would be of her. And you would bless
the man who gave the opportunity of
seeing her once more, for the last time
Mon commandant, do for me what you
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 prom
ise brokenY
While he was speaking the command
ant was pacing to and fro, tugging vic
iously at his mustache, and evidently
struggling hard to appear unmoved.