Military life in Italy : sketches - Societa italiana di storia militare

320 MILITAR Y LIFE.
epaulettes, and asked in a trembling voice " "
Are : you ready
?
Then placed his hands upon my shoulders, rested his cheek on
my breast, and remained in this position. All were silent. The
"executioner" erect at
the end of the room, contemplated the
spectacle with knitted brows and folded arms. My mother
looked fixedly at me.
A few moments elapsed, and I, giving a glance at the clock,
"
said with a great effort : It is time to "
go !
All sprang to their feet, and took a step toward me. The
" executioner
" approached me and whispered in my ear : " Be a
"
man !
" " Well ! I murmured, putting on my cap.
" " Well ! said the Neapolitan lady resolutely, pressing and
shaking my hand at every word. "
Courage ;
do yourself
honor ;
remember us, and write." Saying which, she retired.
" "
Farewell, Alberto ! exclaimed my brother, throwing his
arms around my neck, and kissing me.
My sisters embraced me, sobbing, and then fled.
" "
Here ! exclaimed the old man, opening his arms. " Here,
my son ! "
And my head on his shoulder, he murmured in a
trembling voice : " If this is to be the last time that I embrace
you
. . .
may heaven grant that I be the first one to go ! "
The " executioner " pressed my hand, looked firmly at me,
and withdrew without saying a word.
My mother and I looked at each other for a moment ;
she
threw herself into my arms, put hers around my neck, and
covered me with kisses of despair ;
then seizing my
arm with
one hand, and pressing the other tightly on my shoulder, close
to my side, she allowed herself to be dragged rather than led
to the door. There I released myself by force, and dashed