Year: 1879

,
to the camp, wher he was put in irons.


On the following morning jerome Du-
bois was brough before court martial
under charge of having deserted his post.
He confessed that he was guilty, and
then permission was granted him to tell
his own story.


This he did in q few words, but the
court could do nothing but pass scn-
tence of death, but the members thereof
all signed petition praying that Jerome
Dubois might be par doned, and this petit
tion was sent to the general of the
brigade, and trough him to tho general
of the division, by whom it was endorsed,
and sent up to the marshal.


Lefebvre was kind aud generous to
his soldiers almost to fault but he could
not overlook so grave an error as that
which had been committed by Dubois.
The orders given to the sentinel had been
very simple, and foremost of every ne
cessity was the order forbidding him to
leave his post until properly relieved.
To certain extent the safety of the
whole army rested upon the shoulders of
each individual sentinel, and especially
upon those who at night were posted
nearest the lines of the enemy.


~ am sorry" said the gray-haired old
warrior, as he folded up the petition and
handed it back to the officer who pre-
sented it. ''I am sure tho man meant no
wrong, and yet great wrong was done.
He knew what he was doing he ran the
risk-he was detected-he has been tried
and condemned. He must suffer ?"


They asked Lefebvre if he would see
the condemned.


"No, ow the marshal cried quickly.
"Should see him and listen to one half
his story, I might pardon him and that
must not be done. Let him die that
thousands may be saved"


The time fixed for the execution of Du-
bois was the morning succeeding the day
of his trial. The result of the interview
with Marshal Lefebvre was made known
to him, and he was not at all disappoint-
ed. He blamed no one. and was only
sorry that he Lad not died upon tho bat
tle-tield.


| ~ have tried to he good soldier" he
said to his captain. l feel that I have
done no CRIME that should leave stain
upon my nane."


The captain took his hand, and assured
him that his name should be held in re-
spect.


Toward evening Pierre Valiant, with
his wife and child, were admitted to see
the prisoner. This was visit which Je-
rome would gladly have dispensed with,
as his feelings were already wrought up
| to pitch that almost unnamed him;
but he braced himself for the interview,
and would have stood it like hero, had
not little Natalie, in the eagerness of her
love and gratitude, thrown herself upon
his bosom and offered to die in his stead.
This tipped the brimming cup, and his
tears flowed freely.
Pierre and Lisctte knew not what to
say. They wepc and they prayed, and
| they would have willingly died for the
| noble fellow that had been thus con-
| demned,
Later in tho evening came compan-
ion, 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 a message of
love and devotion. Then he thought ola |
brother and sister. And finally he |
thought of one-a bright eyed maid
whose vine-clad cot stood upon the banks |
of the Someone whom he had loved |
| with a love such as only great hearts can
feel.


ooh, my dear friendw he cried, bow.
ing his head upon his clasped hands, |
A. c.l-
if the thing is possible, let them believe
fell in battle.
His companion promised that he would |
do all 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 dishonor in the minds |
of those who had loved him in other
days.


Morning came, dull and gloomy, with
driving slcet and snow, and at an early
hour jerome Dubois was led forth to
meet his fate. The place of execution
had been fixed upon q low barren spot
toward the sea, and thither his division
was being marched to witness the fearful
punishment. They had gained not moro
than half the distance, when tho sound of
some strange commotion broke upon the
wintry air, and very shortly an aid-de
camp came dashing TO the side ofthe gen
eral Of the brigade, with the cry


ga sortie! A sortie! The enemy are
out in force. Let this thing be stayed.
The marshal directs that you face about
and advance upon the peninsula" !" S


In an Instant all was changed in that {
division and tho brigadier general, who :
had temporary command, thundered .
G C. l.; 81, L