The sun., 1903-12-13

-. .r-,.- .,-.--t-a. ---,,.- -
an hour ago And here / come and cannot
find him. We must believe that this
| idiot -"
Perhaps he is not far--call him, inter-
'uIie1 iouvsaui EoIveau! Louveaul' cried
the corporal in furious voice. NO one
replied. The Captain speaks severely:
VI do not compliment you on the zeaI
Of your men. Corporal Rabnt; Try to heip
me find this man who puts himseI m an
to me at the assembly tomorrow morning.
! And he continues his walk straight ahead
| in the darkened street. At another time
| this incident would have taken all ms
! attention, all his vigilance. lie thoush'
, For he really suffered too much ana
| from a blow too unexpect ed and too harsh.
! All the thinking faculties Of his brain we're
ooncent rated on the idea Of his lost happl-
ness and he asked himself r II it ,;,b T9uia sI nII
| from his revolver In hie head.
| His poor old mother hardly surmlsed,
| in spite Of her clear-sight edness, what
deep love he had given to her who had 20
betrayed him. He was one 81 81 thSse nee wao was
broken and could not be repaired.
He sat down on a stone in the road to
think over his despair. The tiresome min
utes passed, perhaps hours.
All at once a sound broke q he deep SILENCE
and aroused him from his stupor. Inc
noise approaching became distinct; ne re-
cognized Il as that made hy man running
in the road and making for the village
Very soon the man appesred-he
was a soldier. Once more professional
concern awakened the Captain to his senses;
He jumped out OF the shadow and barred
the way Of the runner, who stopped, out OF
breath.
The man answered not hing, but ne recog-
the military salute and brought his heels
together. . .u,., ~. c.,.
aLouveau-my Captain" stanmered the
soldier.
"Louveau!-but you are the sentinel
Corporal Rabut was looking for just now.
You have left your post.
The man bowed his head.
LET me see-answer something. why
did yO, not stay on duty? DO you KNOW
to what you expose yourself?
Louveau began to sob.
these tears do no good. and are hardly
dignifed for SOLDIER said the omoer,
rudely. Besides, they are badly chosen
to clear up the story. Give yourself up i'm
will explain ourselves.
Louveau salllted, and without saying an
, other word walked toward the village.
The Captain followed, puzzled enough ~
this adventure. and wondering what couid
| have melted him, whom he knew to be
quiet and punctual soldier, to commit q
fault so serious al that Of abandoning his
post. He hurried his steps and overlook
him.
shv laft m NJ
| ment9'
I,ouveau stopped. He was a sturdy lad
from Lorraine, as could be surmised from
his frank behavior -,
am going to tell thI whole truth. First, it
will soothe me, and then, too, perhaps you
will see have an excuse.
Side by side now the officer and the SOL
dier continued their walk, and Louveau
began. ,,,.,,,, Il. ~, lnou th.t .n,
from vaudeurres, the village half a league
from here. That road there leads straight
to it, and it is from there that have come
"To see your parents9'
"No, / have no parents hving-and
would not have wanted to 60 down there
! if -. Well-I WAS on guard very happy
| and contented, when boy from Vaudeurres
passed on the road and recognized me.
ave chatted. For that my Captain, !
was wrong and understand that one must
chat wss on dS the ss, soun1 asked
Not much, he answered, only that
Leontine is going to marry the son Of
Dufour' And he went away without
waiting to talk longer. as he We: In hurry
sI-my CAPTAIN, after hearing that
believed I was 6ecomlhg fo6ftsf.. bsoGtinee
is my betrothed. We became engaged
when l went into the service-and have
no one in the world to love but her.
"Then do not know what passed In my
head. knew that We were going to set out
again on the morrow, and that We would
| never again be as near Vaudeurres. 1t was
only half league That was nothing
| in quick steps.
Il was sure that would find Leontine at
home. She would explain. and ] would re-
turn before the end Of my watch. At last
"And did you see this young grip" asked
the Captain with singular sweetness.
them open the door for me. Only her her
mother came to the window, and called
to me to go away, that it was shame
for me to come and wake up people az
such an hour-and also that Leontine die
not wish the visits of rascal OF my kind
$50 here l am. When you stopped me
just now Twas coming from there, This j. j,
an ,nlucky day for me. At this hour life
holds no charm for me
louveau ceased. The village was only
a hundred steps away. The Captain stopPee
and put his hand on the shoulder OF hi
trooper.
said he. "This will pass as all else does
| Everything haG an end. You are going II
Join your squad and tell your corporal tha
have seen you and that you explained
your absence to me. l will not punisl
| you this time. Co
Thus spoke Capt. Hermont, who up K
| xho< xlo 1,oJ rauar rricpad n SrrOY