JEAN-VICTOR.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXII, Issue 50, 15 December 1904, Page 24

JEAN-VICTOR.

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time. I was always hungry but i never stlole a'nytihiine;. I always remembered the Sister ,of Charity who taught me to be honest. When I was tempted, I seemed to feel her cool hand on my forethead, as 1 had often felt it when a chilri. At last I enlisted. Yioiu know how miuch a sioldiear has at any time, afrti now we have siege and famine.'

The l>,uke was kind-hearted ; and on listening to this terrible story ot privation from a soldier wfhose ulniioiin was ex/aptly like his own, he felt deeply moved. It was well for his high-bred indifterence that tihe evening breeze dried his eyes which were wet with teajs. ' Jciajn,' he s«.id, 'if we live through tfhis 'dreadful war, I may be able tio be of service to yon. At piesant there is no place to get food except at our commussianat ; but as 1 have mjore rations than my appetite craves, we will share then*, won't we, comrade ? ' The hand-clasp which sealed this compact was sincere ; t|ien, as it was getting dark, the tw,o we-nt into the tavern -whe r e about a dozen men were stretched out on heaps of straw, and, lying down side by side, they too soon slept the deep sleep of fatigue. About midnight Jean-Victor awoke, roused by the paing-s of hunger, doubtless. The wind had swept away tjhe cLomds, and a ray of moonlight, streaming in through a hole m the roof where the ohiminey had been, ill\umiined the graceful blo'mde head of the Dujke, making him look like an Etatlymion. Jean-Victior was looking at tihe sleeping figure with mute admiration, wlhen the door opened and the sergeant called out the names of the i\\\e men who were to relieve the sentinels posted along tihe road. The Duke was of t,ne number, but so squadly was ,he sleeping that he did not hear the call. ' Let me g,o in his place, Sergeant,' siaid Jeam. 'He's ti*red oiit, and I'm his comrade.'

4 As you please,' replied the officer. Half an hour later near and rapid fiirUig resounded tjhrcyugjh the night air. In an instant the men were on liheir feiet. They crept out of the taver.n, their fingers on the triggers of their guns, and looked cautiously up tine roajd, whircih shone white in the moonlight. ' Wlh/at time is it ? ' asked the D'uk>e. ' I was to go on duty to-.night.' ' Jean-Victor went in your place,' someone replied. Just then n soldier came tunning down the road. 1 What's gping on ? ' all asikeid, as he halted to get his breath. ' The Prussians are coming ! Lot's get to the fort i!n 'a fiurry.' ' AjUd your oomr'ades 9 ' ' Ttey're all coming— all but Jean- Victor.'

' Whqre is he ? ' cried the Duke. ' I>ead ' hit m the head with a bullet. He didn't have time to think. He ne\er knew what hurt him, Pioor fellow J — ' Aye Maria.'