Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1906-12-06
HIS WORD or HONOR.

'hNy "tIS 5blIE W SDtCL MIN,
The company Of the commun-
ards" to which he belonged had just
been overcome and put to confusion
by the army Of Versailles, the govern.
ment troops Captured, his weapons
still in HIS hand. with about dozen
of his comrades he had been brought
with them to the commandments
hendquarters
Struck by his youth and the aston.
ishing serenity Of his face, the com
mandant gave orders that he should
be placed on one side and guarded
while the execution Of his companions
was attended to-
printers apprentice up To the
time when the demon Of war was let
loose over France, he had lived a
contented. happy life with his father
and mother. peaceful workers them
selves and totally unconcerned IN
matters Of politics
Al the beginning of the war his
father had been killed by the Prus-
SLAMS. The prvations OF the siege.
the long hours Of waiting before the
doors OF the gtoaer3 and the butchers
in the snow and ice, had brought
his mother to . weary bed of sick
ness on which abe was slowly. dying
One day, when he had gone, like
no many others. TO gather some pota-
toes, at the risk Of his life, on the
plain Of ST. Dents, a Prusslan bullet
had hit him, lodging In his shoulder.
Later. half to win a little some.
thing to eat and half out Of fear. he
had thought il was his duty to enroll
In the army Of the eomune. Like so
many OF his comrades, the battle.
fields caused him keen regret. He
fratriedal war And now, when he
was on the point of paying with his
life for thing which he had always
hated, he could congratulate himself,
at least, that he had not n single
death with which TO reproach himself.
Still, whether he had killed anyone
or not, his own life was forfeit The
thought gave him sad idea of the
linc of things But IL mattered
little to him now whether he lived
or died. What he had seen and suffer.
cd during gthe last few months.
caused him real fear OF life. To be
sure, II was hard to leave his mother
he consolod himself as best he could
with the thought that probably she
had not much longer to suffer. When
he left her four days before, she had
been much weaker My poor boy"
she said TO him kiss me we'll, for
doubt indeed II ever see you again
Ah, he thought, II they would only
trust him; If they would only give
him an hours liberty, he would hur-
ny to see her and then come back to
those who seemed so eager to shed
his blood. lie would then give them
his word of honor to return. and he
would do SO What was there to
keep him
He was lost ia these sad reflections
when suddenly the commandment,
followed by several officers, ap,
preached
ITS your turn now, my man You
know what awaits you"
Eyes, sirl I am ready"
What! ready Have you no fear
of death?'
Less than Of life, sir. nave
nved through such horrible things
during the last ak months that death
seems beautiful IN comparison"
still, If | gave YOU a chance to
choose, all that YOU say would not
make YOU hesitate for moment, If
| should say Take TO your heels and
get out Of here you would 30 quick
ly. Eh, young man? And YOU
would not come back again."
Try 1t, sir For the very rarity of
such Il thing. put me to the test It
Ia worth IL. II matters little to you,
one or less 60 he shot Liberty for
single hour. not more. You will sec
how promptly shall return and how
little | fear death
HIM You don't look like SO
much of fool as YOU take me for.
Once free and away from here | sup.
pose YOU vii! return as willing to be
shot as If you were going to meet
your sweetheart Not muchl'
"But listen. mri know YOU are
ldndhearted, and It Is doubtless be
cause you have good mother. one
you love more than anyone If. like
me, you stood at The point OF death
your last thoUgb would be for her
You would bless HE man who could
give the supreme consolation of en-
brucing her tor The last time Ahl
sir do for me what YOU would wish
somebody else go do for YOU, Grant
me an hours Iihertytto say goodbye
to my mother and give you my
word of honor 10 return at the end OF
that time and yield myself to you"
The commandant STROBE up and
down the room while the young fol
low was speaking pulling his nous
tache and trying in vain to hide tn,
emotion that mastered him.
My word" ne muttered, this
mere lad talks like a knight of older