Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1933-09-28

The tent flap was raised again and
q 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.
swell, 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 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 60 to
the place where he was and see him
in the uniform which his father had
worn.
,"And, thank heaven, he IL here" she
continued. II walked from Nancy,
starting NJ noon"
"You walked from Nancy, MADAME
inquired the, colonel incredulously.
"Six miles? Poohi That is moth
ing. During the war Of 1870, when
my Philippe was serving on the from
tier. I walked from Nancy to Paris.
And now have come to see my Jean
in the midst Of his comrades. To think
that, with all his American citizenship
hc.preserved his French heart"
!sDid you say he was an American,
madam" demanded Colonel Boilsau
gruffly.
,"Assuredly. His father and I went
TO America when he was q baby, and
he obtained citizenship at twenty-one.
But a Frenchman never forgets France.
Now take me to him, eolonel!"
Colonel Boileau sat staring into the
little old lady's face. She was typi-
cally French, 80 smartly attired, Dc.
spite her widows weeds. Captain Jac-
queyel coughed in q melancholy man
ner and looked down at the ground.
my son is only q private now" con
tinued Nine. Marchand. "But soon
You viii see him a corporal, and then
sergeant. He will be promoted for
gallantYy upon the field and made lieu
tenant, then captain, ma5or-who
knows but that the end Of the war
may see him q eolonel?"
Colonel Beile&u could find nothing
to, H4y. Fer . long while he sat star
ing, at the little old lady. At last he
arose,
Captain Jaequevel, you win offer
cur hospitality to Mime. Marchand I'M
til I 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 1t all seemed like a disordered
! dream-all the Incidents since his en-
listment.
Colonel Boileau led the prisoner out.
side the tent. The corporals, spring.
ing to their feet, saluted their officer.
It did not seem strange to them that
he should have come for Marchand-
nothing, seemed strange In times like
these. "a
1 When. they had gone a little way
Colonel Boileau shouted, "Haltl"
The prisoner faced him expectantly.
He did not know that the hour Of ex-
ecution had not been advanced.
yMarchand," said the colonel, "your
mother is here
Jean Marchand's hand went up 20
!. his, hat brim mechanically, In the man
ner he had learned.
"Marchand, you win die at sunrise, I"
said Colonel Boileau. "But you will
appear before your mother and tell
her that You are q free man. She
will think that you have been killed
In action. Do you understands
The young man nodded, and Colonel
Boileau brought him to the tent door
and conducted his mother out to him.
Half an hour later a wagon, drawn
BY four horses and escorted by a 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 colonsl'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. ON
cially. you die at dawn. But Jean
Msrchand is not unique name, and
1t is possible that another Jean Mar
chand may win honors in war and
serve the army Of his mother land"