The Green Forest tribune., 1915-01-08

Jacquevel, I suspected that young man of more than the crime of which he was accused. If it were only that should telegraph Joffre, asking for a communication of sentence"
 "Of what do you suspect him, sir?'' inquired Captain Jacquevel.
 Espionage" answered the colonel briefly. "He is not Frenchman. Did you not detect his accent?"
 "Alsatian," suggested Captain Jacquevel
 Never" replied Boileau. q spent three months in Alsace. They have the heavy Teutonic guttural in their throats, not that North German burr of Marchands. think"
 But what he thought was never said, for at that moment an orderly raised the flap of the tent.
 "A lady wishes to see you, sir" he said. "A Mme Marchand of Nancy"
 Colonel Boileau looked triumphantly at Jacquevel You see" he said. "A prearranged thing. No doubt another spy, passing as relative. We'll, 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 little old lady came in. Despite his angry suspicious Colonel Boileau rose and offered her a camp stool. For the little old lady was so typically French. Well, madam?" 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 Mme 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
 And, thank heaven, he is here," she continued. q walked from Nancy, starting at noon."
 You walked from Nancy, madam" inquired the colonel incredulously.
 "Six miles? Pooh That is noth. ing. During the war of 1870, when my Philippe was serving on the frontier, I walked from Nancy to Paris. And now 1 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 BoileGu gruffly.
 "Assuredly. His father and I went to America when he Was @ baby, and he obtained citizenship at twenty-one. But Frepehman never forgets France. Now t2ske me to him, colonel!'' Il~< 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 -.Tacquevel coughed in a melancholy manner and looked down at the ground.
 My son is only private now," con- tinued Mme. Marchand. But soon you will see him corporal, and then 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 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 offer our hospitality to Mime. Marchand until return" he said, and, leaving the tent, went to the guard tent.
 Inside, between two corporals, 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 Omcer. It dld not seem strange to them that he should have come for Marchand-pothing 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