Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-12-12

which saves her from the Desetung 1ault
of the beauties of Holland, tameness and
But now her face is rather
sad, and well it may be. Her lot Is
thrown in very troublesome times dis
tress and danger are gathering round
her three-fourths of Holland are in the
hands of the enemy, and two or three
days at fartheest may send the tide OF
war into Muiden itself. There is a step
on the garden walk she starts up and
the door opens-a tall, strong built
man enters, throws off his dripping cloak
and folds her in his arms.
"Well, father ?"
" It is too true" is the reply. "The
French are in full advance on Naarden.
They say the place cannot hold out a
day, and then-it is our turn"
And what do you mean to do p
i stay here, French or no French.
1t shall never be said that old Gerard
van Kempen left his post without orders.
But you must to Amsterdam, and that
by tomorrow at latest"
But, father, cannot leave you here;
1 will not, indeed If it is your duty to
stay by the sluices, it is mine to stay with
you."
You must not think of it, Elsie. The
French soldiers are devils in human
form. have heard of doings of theirs
at Woerden, which makes ones blood
run cold. Go you must, and that by
daylight tomorrow; and | shall step out
and hold council with the rest how we
may best send the women there, by land
or by sea. By noon tomorrow there
must be nothing but men in the place
must stop a moment to explain as
briefly as may be how affairs then stood
in Holland. Louis XIV, claiming the
United Provinces in right of his wife, as
a portion of the Spanish monarchy,
poured an army of 10000 men, under
Conde, Turenne, and Luxemburg, from
the southeast, GuelderIand, Overyssel,
and the Provence of Utrecht were over
run. The city of Utrecht opened its gates.
Town after town, fortress after fortress
was captured. Scarcely an hour but
brought intelligence to Louis, then keep
ing his court in a villa in the pleasant
village of Ducbergen, of some new con-
quest. His ally, our charles H., was
straining an exhausted exchequer to
equip feet capable of matching that of
De Ruyter: and the terms-if terms
they can be called-which were proposed
to the Dutch, almost involved their ami
hilation as a separate people. William
of Orange had an army such as it was,
of 10000 men, but the greater part had
never been under fire, and the whole
were demoralized by surrender upon sur
render, and retreat after retreat. The
allies attempted to bribe him to desert
the cause of his country, by Offering him
the Independent crown of the province Of
Holland. You cannothope," said they,
otherwise to escape seeing the ruin OF
the United Provinces That" he re-
piled, lies in my own hands; L shall
die in the last ditch before that ruin
comes
Grieved, terrified, perplexed, Gerard
was true HolIander in one respect
he never lost his appetite. Little taste
had poor Elsie for her supper that eve
ming; but her father, seating himself with
great deliberation at the table, and forti
flying himself by his accustomed dram
commenced fearful attack on the good
brown bread and well cured bacon which
adorned it, cutting slice after slice O
both one and the other, repIenishing hi
tankard more than once, and concluding
his repast with still vigorous assault Oh
the Purmerend cheese.
Come, Elsie" he said, "you mus
keep up your spirits, and be glad that W,
have refuge so near at hand. How
long Amsterdam itself will be safe, Cox
only knows; but it is safe at least as yet
your good aunt will be glad to give yot
a home, know, till I find lodgings fo
US both there"
at is you I am thinking Of, father
If those terrible French come here
what viii become of you?"
shall be safe enough, child; II
warrant, you that l have taken care Q
myself before. When they are fairly o.
! the road from Naarden, shall be off o.
: that to Amsterdam !; but there are rea
sons why, till that, my post is here. Ge
g what things you want together, and re
e member that you will most likely neve
S see again whatyou left behind. I dar
q say shall be out for couple of hours.