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e village justice stood before him； and gazed at him with a melancholy smile。
〃I knew I would find you here； Father Buschman； and I came for you。 The time is come； we are all assembled on the square awaiting you。〃
〃I come！〃 said the old man； as he stood up resolutely； giving a last loving farewell glance at his wife's grave。
The old man no longer needed his friend's arm to support him； his steps were firm； his form manly and erect； his venerable countenance glowed with energy。
By the side of the village justice he walked to the square； under the great linden。 There every thing looked bright and gay。 The boys had taken advantage of the dinner hour to make worthy preparations for their festival。 They had brought fresh evergreens from the woods； and had made wreaths and festooned them from tree to tree around the square。 The ground was covered prettily with flowers and leaves； and the bench under the tree was decorated with a wreath of field…flowers。
On one side of the square stood several tables covered with bottles of wine and beer and cake and bread； not far from the tables was a throne adorned with flowers； where sat the fiddler； gazing proudly around him； like a king who knows he is the crowning point of the feast。
It certainly had been a long time since the merry sound of the fiddle had been heard in the village of Brunen。 The throne was surrounded by little boys and girls listening with wondering delight at the gay music。 But the grown girls stood afar off and did not look even once at the enticing fiddler； but hid themselves timidly behind the mothers； who were standing with stern faces gazing at the groups of men waiting anxiously on the other side of the square。
The stillness and universal silence began at last to make the boys uneasy。 They had tried in vain to engage the men in conversation。 They received no answer to their questions； and when they turned to the women and the maidens； they also remained dumb。 The returned soldiers then went to the other side of the square to talk to the fiddler and the children； but when they began to fondle and play with the little ones； they were called by their fathers and mothers and bade to remain at their side。
The boys gazed questioningly at one another。
〃I am curious to know what this means； are we to remain standing here all night？〃 muttered one of them。
〃It appears to me that they are waiting for some one；〃 murmured another。
〃They are expecting my father；〃 said Charles Henry； 〃and see； there he comes from the churchyard。 The justice went for him。〃
When the old man arrived at the square the men advanced to meet him； conducted him gravely to the bench under the great linden； and assisted him to stand upon it。 There he towered above them； and his pale； venerable face； his silver hairs were visible to all。 Every eye was directed to him； and breathless silence ensued。 The old man raised his arm and pointed toward the side where the twelve boys stood。
〃Come to me； Charles Henry Buschman；〃 he said； solemnly； and as his son advanced rapidly to him； he continued： 〃I ask you in the name of God； if what you told me yesterday is true？ Have you secretly left the flag of your king； our sovereignthe great King Frederick of Prussia？ Is it true that you have forsaken your regiment and the flag to which you swore to be faithful？〃
〃It is true；〃 said Charles Henry； with assumed daring； 〃but we were not only justified in doing soour duty compelled us。 We are no longer Prussian subjects； but subjects of the King of France。 You all heard to…day what the minister read to us in churchhow the archbishop commanded us to be faithful to our new sovereign。 We could no longer wear the Prussian uniform or be Prussian soldiers； therefore we returned to our village。〃
〃You returned as dishonored； faithless soldiers！〃 cried the old man； looking angrily at his son〃 you returned covered with shame miserable desertersto the disgrace of your fathers； mothers； your brothers； sisters； sweethearts； and your friends。 You have deserted the flag of your rightful king； to whom you swore the oath of allegiancean oath which God received； and which no man can annul。 Men of Brunen！ shall we stand this shame that our sons bring upon us？ Shall the world point their fingers at us and say： 'These are the fathers of soldiers who deserted their regiment； and were false to their king？'〃
〃No！〃 cried they all； as with one voice〃no； we will not stand thiswe will have no deserters as sons！〃
The old man bowed his head in silence； then turned slowly to the side where the women stood。
〃Women and maidens of Brunen！ Will you allow your sons and brothers who are covered with shame； to stay amongst you？ Will you receive the deserters in your houses and at your tables？ Will you open your arms to them and call them sons and brothers？〃
〃No； no！〃 cried the women and maidens； simultaneously； 〃we will not receive them in our houses； or at our tables。 We will have no deserters for sons or brothers！〃
The old man stood erect； and； as if inspired with a mighty enthusiasm； raised his arm toward heaven； and his countenance beamed with holy light。
〃They must return to their flag；〃 he cried； in a commanding voice 〃With your blood you must wash the shame from your brows； and from ours。 If God preserves your lives； and you redeem your honor as brave soldiers of the King of Prussia； then and then only we will receive you as our sons and welcome you to our arms。〃
〃So shall it be！〃 cried the men and the women； and the maidens murmured their acquiescence。
The old man stepped from the bench and walked forward slowly to the other side of the square where the twelve young men were standing gazing at him with terrified faces。
〃Return！〃 cried the old man； stretching his arm toward them〃return to the flag of your king； we want no deserters amongst us； away with you！〃
〃Away with you！〃 cried the men〃away from our village！〃
The children； influenced by their parents； cried out with shrill voices： 〃Away from our villageaway！〃
The youths were at first stunned； and gazed with staring eyes at the crowd of angry faces and flashing eyes which menaced them； then seized with terror； they fled。
〃Away with you！ away with the deserters！〃 was thundered after them。 〃Away with you！〃 cried their mothers； fathers； brothers； sisters； and friends。
This fearful cry sounded to them like the peal of the last judgment。 With trembling knees； and faces pale as death； they rushed down the principal street of the village。 The crowd started after them； and like the howling of a storm； shouted behind them： 〃Away with you！ away with the deserters！〃
On they ran； as if pursued by furies； farther； farther down the street； but the villagers still chased them。 Once only Charles Henry dared to look around at the pursuers。 It was a fearful sight。 At the head of the rest he saw his old father； with his pale face； his white hair flying in the wind； raising his arms threateningly toward him； he cried out in a thundering voice： 〃Away with you！away with the deserters！〃
Charles Henry rushed onwarda cry of terror escaped his lips； and he fled like a madman。
They had passed the borders of the villageit was quiet behind themthey dared to look backthey were alone。 But on the boundary… line the villagers stoodtheir faces turned toward the fugitives and like the distant croakings of a raven there sounded in the air： 〃Away with you！away with the deserters！〃
Breathless； with tottering knees； the boys sank downwith hollow eyes； speechless with terror； sorrow； and humility； they gazed at each other。
They did not dare return to the village。 Perhaps to appease the anger of their relations； perhaps because they repented of their cowardice； they returned to their regiment； acknowledged their crime； and prayed for forgiveness。
Thus the brave fathers of the village of Brunen punished their cowardly sons； and drove the dishonored and faithless boys to their duty； perhaps to their death。 ＇Footnote： This account is historical。＇
CHAPTER VI。
THE TRAITOR'S BETRAYAL。
Count Ranuzi was alone in his apartments。 He sat at his writing… table reading over the two letters he had just written； a triumphant smile was upon his lip as