The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1871-07-08
AfN0BLE SACRIFICE
OR
The Three Friends of Yaux yilaine
AN EPISODE OF THE LATE WAR.
IConchded.l

once happy village-what vengeance in
blood or fire would the Prussians re-
quire for this ill,adviscd aud cruel dee 4 |?
They y-were not long left in suspense.
/. "a 'beautifuLs sunrise in which brought
the light of day to Vaux Vilaine on
that fair autumn morning. The heavy
dues which had fallen the night before
glittered like scattered gems in the
early sunshine, and the air was sweet
the breath of flowers, yielding up their
perfum torthe soft, warm breeze. The
bleating sheep and cattle, lowing in the
fields, seemed to call the people to their
usual peaceful occupations, and the lit
tie church bell, with its silycry tone,
gave notice that the cure meant to cele-
bratc an early mass on behalf of their
dear 1'atrie, SO sadly in need of aid irem
heaven. All things were as they had
been many morning before, when the
people of Vaux Whine rose to carry on
the gentle, peaceful life, which made so
sweet an cxistancc for them, and nature
still was doing her part in beauty and
bcncficiencc. The skies failed not to
shed on all their brightest smile, but there
were human passions at war upon earth,
and, truly, the records of this trcmen.
dous struggle might well lead one to
believe, that if all the demons of hell
bad been let loose, they could hardly
have Iade more terrible havoc in Gods
fair world.
While yet the peaceful church bell
rung, and the sunLcams str"amny
through the lnilicc windows Of the cutta
scs woke tho. children in their cradles.
there Mas heard c'nning, ever nearer
|ard nearer de heavy tf;sa,fi hii'sa. larsis
body of mounted Btlaus, gallopi,g down
upon the village. In moment more
they were swarlning, u fierce and ner
cilcss crowd, in the main street. and in
every lane and valley in the place. 4
certain nuuber were told off, who dis.
mounted, and, entering into all the hou-
ses. from end t, eud of the village, they
dragged out every man they could find,
and drove them in n mass into the
church, where q very different scene was
to be enacted from the quiet holy ser
vice the good cure had Intended to
hold.
The woman, who would have followed
their husbands and brothers, were dri
ven back with blows and curses by the
uhlans, and the church dJors were shut
upon the whole male Inhabitants of the
village. Init would be done 10 them
now? The poor women shrieked and
wept as they asked themselves that
question.
Leonie and VeTette, united by the
anguish of their commoa sense and ter.
ror, crept, hand in hand, nearer to the
church than my of the others dared to
go, and hid themselves behind the very
tree beneath whose branches the three
young men had held their conversation
on that bright, peaceful evening, before
even the shadow of war had cast its
gloom Oh the earth, aud when they were
looking forward so gaily to the fulfil
! mert e'F -"eir various plans of happi-
ness.
Meanwhile strange scene was taking
place in the church. The cure, already
robed for mass, was thrust rudely aside
by the Uhlans, and knelt down in a cor
ner, praying fervently, while the com.
manding officer Of the troop of avengers
went and stood on the steps Of the altar.
There, in loud, ringing voice, which
was heard over tho whole church, he
announced tho tribute of blood which
the clcmency as he expressed it, of his
| superiors would alone exact for the mur-
der of the colonel. They would not
burn down the village, as would have
been but just, nor would they put the
inhabitants to the sword, richly as they
deserved it, but they would be satisfied
with the lives of three men out of
those now assembled in the church, who
must be executed instantly, before the
troops resumed their conqnering march
through Francc--not an hours delay
could be accorded The officer added
that the choice of the victims might be
made by lot, among themselves, but it
must be done then and there, without
| loss Of time. AS he concluded ha held