A Romantic Incident in Boulanger's Career.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 32, 8 February 1890, Page 4 (Supplement)

A Romantic Incident in Boulanger's Career.

One night young Boulanger (says F. Turner, private secretary to Count Dillon), whilst going hi 3 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 tho natives who had been tali 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 bhe 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 thab 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 thab they had resolved to live or die together, he determined to set them free, they having both sworn, with tears in their eyea and by all they held sacred, to re-

main perfectly quiet during tho whole campaign. Having watched themleavo bhecamp hand-in-hand, weeping with j_y and gratitude on finding themselves, free, George Boulanger returned to his tent, wibh thab 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 ; buo he escaped with a severe reprimand from Major Pechot, the officer commanding the battalion.