The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1915-01-21

the flap of the tent
"a lady wishes to see you, SIR" he
said. "A Nine. Marchand of Nancy
Colonel Boileau looked triumphantly
at Jacquevel. you see," he said. "a
prearranged thing No doubt another
spy, passing as a relative. Well, show
her in, Louis. And we'll keep her
when she comes in" he added to
| Jacquevel, unless she can tell plain
story"
The tent flap was raised again and
a little OLD lady came in. Despite his
angry suspicious Colonel Boileau rose
and offered her camp stool. For the
little old lady was so typically French.
well, MADAME" he asked.
my son has enlisted in your com
pany. colonel" said the little old lady
triumphantly.
Yes, there was triumph in her voice
and all through the story she told him.
For Nine. Marchand had in secret
wished that her son might not forfeit
his birthright, and, learning at Nancy,
by friend who managed to reach her,
that Jean had enlisted, nothing would
satisfy her but that she must go to
the place where he was and see him
in the uniform which his father had
Worn
"A.ld, thank heaven, he is here" she
continued. 81 walked from Nancy,
starting at noon"
"You walked from Nancy, MADAME"
| inquired the colonel incredulously.
six miles? Pooh! That is moth
ing. During the war of 1870, when my
Philippe was serving on the frontier,
l walked from Nancy to Paris. And
now l have come to see my Jean in
the midst of his comrades. To think
that, with all his American citizenship
he preserved his French heart"
did you say he was an American,
madam" demanded Colonel Boileau
gruffiy.
"Assuredly. His father and l went
he obtained citizenship at twenty-one.
But Frenchman never forgets France.
| Now take me to him, COLONEL"
Colonel Boileau sat staring into the
little old lady's face. She was typi-
| cally French, SO smartly attired, de-
spite her widows weeds. Captain
| Jacquevel coughed in a melancholy
| manner and looked down at the
ground.
my son is only private now" con-
tinued Nine. Marchand. "But soon
you will see him corporal, and Thea
sergeant He will be promoted for
gallantry upon the field and made lieu
tenant, then captain, major-who
knows but that the end OF the war
may see him a colonel?"
/ Colonel Boileau could find nothing
to say. For long while he sat star
| ing at the little old lady. At last he
arose
Captain Jacquevel, you will otfer our
hospitality to Nine. Marchand until
return" he said and, leaving the tert
went to the guard tent.
Inside, between two Eorporals, sat
Jean Marchand. He was seated bolt
upright, staring out into the darkness
| The terror had not yet come upon
him, for it all seemed like disordered
dream-all the incidents since his en-
listment.
Colonel Boileau led the prisoner
outside the tent The corporals
| springing to their feet, saluted their
officer. 1t did not seem strange to
them that he should have come for
Notwithstanding seemed strange in
times like these.
When they had gone little way
Colonel Boileau shouted, Halt"
The prisoner faced him expectantly
He did not know that the hour of ex
ecution had not been advanced.
"Marchand," said the colonel, "your
mother is here"
Jean Marchand's hand went up to
his hat brim mechanically, in the man
ner he had learned.
"Marchand, you will die at SUNRISE
said Colonel Boileau. "But you will
appear before your mother and tell
her that you are a free man. She
will think that you have been killed
| in action. Do you understand"
The young man nodded, and Colonel
Boileau brought him to the tent door
and conducted his mother out to him
Half an hour later wagon, drawn by
| four horses and escorted by file OF
soldiers, conveyed Nine. Marchand
back to Nancy. Her eyes were brim
ming with tears of happiness at the
thought of her sons future.
Jean Marchand stood at the colonel's
door. He was awaiting the soldiers
who were to conduct him back to the
guard tent.
Colonel Boileau took him by the
shoulders and pointed southwark.
"Yonder lies Tourville," he said
''The Army of the East is recruiting
there. Your future lies there. Off
cially, you die at dawn. But Jean
Marchand is not unique name, and
it is possible that another Jean Mar
chand may win honors in war and
serve the army of his mother land
/ Copyright. 1914, by w. G. Chapman.)
BARRIERS Endanger Royal Lives.