A Romatic Incident in Boulanger's career.

Te Aroha News, 15 February 1890, Page 6

A Romatic Incident in Boulanger's career.

One night young Boulanger (says E. Turner, private secretary to Count Dillon), whilst going his rounds to all the sentry posts in Algeria, observed a woman glide furtively into the camp. On making inquiries he discovered she was the fiancee of one of the natives who had been ta'en prisoner the previous evening. Ordering the girl to be arrested and brought before him, the young officer inquired the reason of her visit to, the French camp. The trembling girl, a handsome specimen of native beauty, not more than 17 years old, told her story in a very frank and courageous way when once she saw with what kindness she was being treated. Her fiance, quite a young man, had allowed himself to be led by imprudent friends into taking part in the resistance against the French troops. When she heard he had been taken prisoner she determined to rejoin him. and share his lot, whatever it might be. Boulanger knew that if they remained they would meet the fate of all prisoners, and be shot at daybreak next morning. Seized with pity for the two unfortunate, lovers, who were so fond of each other that they had resolved to live or die together, he determined to set them free, they having both sworn, with tears in their eyes and by all they held sacred, to re main perfectly quiet duritig the whole campaign. Having watched themleave thecamp hand-in-hand, weeping with joy and gratitude on finding themselves free, George Boulanger returned to his tent, with that satisfied, contented feeling we always experience after having performed a good action.. . From a strictly military,, disciplinarian point of view he was, no doubt, very wrong ; but he escaped with a severe reprimand from: Major Peehob, the office commanding the battalion.