The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1863-07-01
srlrtt Slistellaun.
Female Courage.

A striking trait of courage in a lady forms
the subject OF conversation at present in
the French metropolis Madame Aubrv
lives in Il solitary chateau, not far distant
from the town of ---. The family consisted
only of NJ Aubry, his wife, child about
year old, and ono maid servant In httle
town, every light is out by ten o'clock. and
of course the moot perfect solitude rcigns ut
that hour in their house, which lies off the
road, and is completely hidden by trees.
One night last winter, Madame Aubry was
sitting alone, reading. Her husband had
left her III tho morning to visit u friend
some sly or eight miles of, and. rs he cX-
pectcd to bring home considerable sum
of money, be had taken the usual prcCau-
ton of arming himself with u pair of pis-
tolls.
At about six o'clock, the lady went mp to
her bed room to put her child to bed. Her
apartment was II large room on the second
floor, filled up on one side by an old-fash-
Toned chimney and on the other by deep
and spacious alCovc, near which stood her
infants cradle. The night was gloomy
one, cold, dark, and every now and thon
dash OF rain beat against the gothic win
dows. The trees in the garden bowed to
the wind, and their branches came sweep
ing against the easement in short, it was a
night in which the solitude of the mansion
was moro complete and melancholy than
usual. Madame Aubry sat down on low
chair near the fire, which by its sudden
flashes, cast an uncertain light over the
vast apartment, throwing its antique cary
ings and mouldings, by turns, into brighter
relief or deep shade,
She had her child on her lap, and had
Just finished preparing it for the cradle.
She cast her eyes toward the alcoyc TO
sec if the cradle was ready to receive its
little occupant, whose eyes were already
closed. Just then the fire flashed up
brightly, and threw a strong light on the
alcovc, 10y which tho lady distinguished II
pair of feet Cased in heavy nailed shoes,
peeping out under the curtain in front OF
the bed. A thousand thoughts passed
through her mind in an instant. The per-
son hidden thero was thief, perhaps an
assassn--that was clear. She had no pro-
lection, no aid at hand, Her husband was
not to return ill eight at soonest, ahd it
was now only halfpast six. What was to
he done? She did not utter single cry,
or even start on her seat
The servant girl probably would not have
had such presence of mind.
The robbcr doubtless meant to remain
quiet where he was until midnight, and
then seize the money her husband was to
hria. "ith him; but if he should find he
was discovered, and that there was no one
III the house but two women he would not
fail to leave his hiding place and secure
their silcncc by numbering them Besides,
might not the girl he the robbers accom-
plicc? Several light causes of suspicion
occurred to her at once, and all these rellec-
tions passed through her mind in less time
than we tako to write them. She decided
at once what she would do, which was to
send the girl out of the room.
"You know that dish my husband likes"
she said, without betraying her alarm by
the least change in the tones of her voice.
" | ought to have remembered to have it
got ready for his supper. Go down stairs,
and see about it at once
Does not Madame require my help here,
as she generally does ?"
"No, no. | wlll attend 10 everything
myself know my husband would not be
pleased, if he was to come home after his
ride in such weather, and not find Il good
supper ready
After some delays, which increased in the
ladys mind that suspicion she was forced
to conceal the girl left tho room, The noise
of her steps oft the stairs died away gradu-
ally, and Madame Aubry was left alone
with her child, with those two feet motion
less at their post, still peepinG out under
the curtain. She kept by the fire, with her
child on her lap, continuing to carcss il and
sing to it and play with it, almost mechani-
caly. The child cried il wanted to be put
to bed, but its cradle was near the aloove--
near those dreadful feet how could she
find courage to go near them, At last, she
made a violent effort Come, my child"
said she, and got up, Hardly able to Stand
erect, she walked toward the alcovc, close
to the rohber She put the child in the
cradle singing il to sleep rs usual. We
may imagine how much inclination she had
to sing. When the child fell asleep, she
left it, and resumed her seat by tie fire.
She did not dare ta leave the room il would
arouse the suspcons of the robber, and OF
the girl, probably his accompliCe. Besides,
she could not bear the thought of leaving
her child even if il was to purchase her
own safety. The clock pointed TO seven.
An hour yet, whole hour, before her hus-
band would come. Her eyes were fixed
on those feet, threatening Lor with death
at any moment, with sort Of fascination.
The deepest silence rcigued in the room.
The infant slept quietly, We do not know
whether ovon an Amazon, in her place,
would have been bold enough 10 try strug-
gle with 4 robber, Madame Aubry had no
weapons besides, she made no claims to
valor, but only 20 that passive courage,
founded ON reflection, which is far the rarer
of the two. Every few minutes, she
would hear noise in tho garden. In
that noise, a ray Of hope shonc on her for
Il nloment-it was her husband, it was de-
iyerapcc tut mott was the wind and
rain or the shutters creaking, What an
age every minute seemed 10 be, Oh, heav-
ems the feet moved! Does the thief mean
to leave his hiding place! No. II was