Year: 1868

|, he was detected-he has been tried


and condemned. He must suffer ~
j They asked Lefebvre If he would
see the condemned.


mo, mop the Marshal replied
, quickly. "Should 7 see him and lis
ten to his story / might pardon him,
| and that must not be done. Let him
die u'at thousands may be saved"
The time fixed for the execution OF
Dubois was the morning succeeding
, his trial. The result of the interview
with Marsl Lefebvre was made
known to him, and he was not ut all
disappointed. He blamed no one, and
was only sorry that he had not died
on the battle field.


j ~ have tried to I've good soldier, Ire
said To the captain. ri feel that
have done no crime that should leave
stain upon my natne.n


The captain took his hand and as
suied him that his name should he
held i'm respect.


Towards evening Pierre Valiant
with his wife and child were admitted
to see the prisoner. This wrs visit
which Jerome would hladly have dis
pensed with, as his feelings were al
ready brought up to pich that al
most unnamed him; but he bracel
himself for the interview, and would
have stood it like hero, had not lit
tie Natalia, in the eagerness of her
love and gratitude, thrown herself on
his bosom and offered to die In his
stead. This tipped the brimmingcup,
and his cup flowed freely.


Pierre and Lisettc knew not what
TO say. They wept and prayed, and
they would have willingly died for
the noble fellow who had been thus
condemned.


Later i'm the evening came a COM
panion, who, if he lived would at
some time return to JerOme's bOyhOOd
home. First the condemned thought
OF his widowed mother and he sent
her message of love and devotion.
Then he thought of brother and
sister. And finally he thought of
one-a brighteyed maid-whose vine
clad cottage stood upon the Seine
one whom he had loved with q love
such as great hearts alone can feel.


"Oh, my dear friend !" he cried
bowling his head upon his hands; "you
need not tell them a falsehood; but If
the thing is possible, let them believe
that i fell I'm battle"


His companion promised that he
would do all that he could, and If the
truth could not be kept back, it should
be so faithfully told that the name of
jerome Dubois should not bear dis
honor in the minds of those who had
loved him i'm other days.


Mnrninn nnr,,o flttn aud n,la
with driving sleet and snow, and at
an early hour Jerome Dubois was led
forth to meet his fate. The place of
execution had been fixed upon low,
barren spot toward the sea; and thith-
er his division was being marched to
witness the fearful punishment. They
had gained not more than half the
distance when the sound of some
strange commOtiOn broke upon the
wintry air, and very shortly an aid
de-capm came dashing to the side
of the general of the brigade with the
cry,


are out i'm force. Let this thing he
stayed. The marshal directs that you
face about and advance upon the
Peninsula ~


In an instant all was changed in
that division, and the brigadier gem
eral who had temporary command
thundered forth his orders for his
countermarch. The gloom was dist
pated, and with glad hearts the
soldier turned from the thought of
the execution of a brave comrade to
the thought of meeting the enemy.


"What shall we do with the prison.
er?" asked the sergeant, who had
charge of the guard.


"Lead him back to the camp ~ ex-
claimed the captain.


The direction was very simple but
the execution thereof was not to be
so easy, for hardly had the words es-
capped the captains lips when
squadron of Prussian cavalry came
dashing directly towards him. The
division was quickly formed into four
hollow squares, while the guard that
had charge of the prisoner found
themselves obliged to flee.


"In heavens name !" cried Jerome,
cut my bonds and let me die like a
soldier.''


The sergeant quickly cut the cord
that bound his elbows behind him,
and then dashed forward to the point
where his own company were statiOn-
ed. The rattle of musketry had COM
menced, and the Prusians were vainly
endeavoring to break the squares of
the French troops.


Jerome Dubois looked about for some
weapon with which to arm himself,
and presently he saw a Prussian, Of
ficer, not far of, reeling In his saddle
as though he been wounded.


With quick bound he reached the
spot, pulled the dying officer from his
seat and leaped in the saddle.


Dubois was fully resolved that he
would sell his own life on that day
sell it i'm behalf of France-and sell it |
as dearly as possible. But he was not
needed where he was, He knew the
Prussians could not break those hol-
low squares; so he rode away think
ing to join the French cavalry, with |
whom he could rush into the deepest
danger. Supposina that the heaviest
fighting must be upon Nehrung, he
rode his horse in that directions; when
he reached it he found he had been
mistaken. Upon a slight eminence
toward Hagelberg the enemy had
planted battery of heavy guns, sup |
ported by two regiments OF infantry,
and already with shot and shell inn
mense danger had been done.


Marshal Lefebvre rode up shortly
after the battery had been opened,
and very quickly made up his mind
that il must be taken ut all hazards.


"rake that battery" he said to a
colonel Of cavalry, "then the battle
Is ours,n


Dubois heard the order and saw the
necessity. Here was danger enough, |
surely; and determined to he the first /
at the fatal battery, he kept as near to
tI,., Ian.ln. Al. ha In ,.aI Hale thn Ito.