Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-11-08
A. Brave School Girl.
How Gen. MMahon of France fOund
his Wife.

How Gen. M'MahOn OF France fOund
his Wife.
1t was on the 1st of December, 1888,
at an advanced hour of the night, that
fire broke out in the female seminary
of Limoges. The flames spread with
such rapidity that the fair young in
mates could be rescued only with the
utmost difficulty. At last, when all of
them were believed to be assembled,
shivering in their thin night dresses, in
front of the burning edifice, the cry
sounded suddenly, "Louise de Bailly
is still in the building /"
The lookers-on stood as if petrified,
and the fremen did not venture to en-
ter the house, which now looked like
| fiery furnace. Poor Mademoiselle de
Baflly was already given up as hope
lessly lost, when all of q sudden tall
young girl, with her blonde hair hang
ing loose over her shoulders, and her
deep blue eyes flashing out the heaven
ly fire of inspiration and indomitable
courage, rushed from among her terri
fed sisters, and exclaiming, "I will try
to find her |" ran toward the burning
building.
A thousand voices shouted, "Do not
risk your life thus foolishly le "a
Others prayed for "dear 'Heloise, 1"
who thus recklessly risked her own life
in order to save that of one of her young
classmates. But none of the warming
ordinations deferred the heroic girl
from her purpose. In a few seconds
she had entered the front-door, un-
daunted by the binding smoke and the
flames that were momentarily gaining
ground.
For the spectators of this thrilling
scene this was moment of supreme
suspense. The strongest hearts quail
ed when the heroic girl did not imme-
diately return. . "A minute, nay, two,
elapsed, and minutes under such cir
cumstances are eternities. But all at
once her white night gown appeared in
the hand she led the missing, terrified
Louise de Bailly.
Such shout as went up from the
hearts of the relieved crowd Such
praises as were showered upon the brave
young girl
But she herself was half ashamed oi
being thus .feted. Mon Deu!" she
exclaimed, "it was easy enough for me
to ascend that stairway it was not yet
on fire. Only the smoke troubled me a
little. Had waited a minute longer,
poor little Louise would have been
lost"
At the reopening of the seminary, q
few months later, NJ. Sarreguin asked
Mademoiselle Heloise to step forward,
and presented her, in the name of King
Louis Philippe, a handsome gold media.
for saving a human life, and praised
her courage and devotion in eloquent
terms of enthusiasm.
The girl thus honored blushed deep
ly, and when the hall in which the open,
ing ceremonies were held resounded
with heartfelt applause, Mademoiselle
HelOise was more confused than at that
memorable memont when she had rush.
ed into the flames.
Among the spectators on this occa.
; sion was yonng officer of the garrison
of Limoges, who seemed to be deeply
interested in the heroine of the day.
He asked what her full name was, and
was told that she was the daughter OF
M. Antoine Gilbert de NORM, Seigneul
de Valleau.
This information made the inquirer
somewhat thoughtful. Perhaps the
fact that NJ. De NORM was one Of the
, wealthieit and proudest noblemen of the
surrounding country had something tc
do with this.
Captain M'Mahon (that was the name
of the young oficer), however, was not
much disturbed by this information
True, he was then but captain in the
French army, and had nothing but his
pay to depend on, but then he had ex
cellent prospects of once becoming rich
his family was as old, if not older, thar
that of Heloise's father, and French
soldier always has marshal's baton il
his knapsack.
How he managed to get acquainted
with Mademoiselle De NORM we car
not tell, but certain it is, when the
!, young lady, some time afterward, was
told by her father that he had selected
husband for her, she startled him by
the announcement that he might save
himself that trouble, and that she hat
already made her own choice.
The old gentleman was at first aston
ished, and then became furious. Bu
his daughter briefly told him that she
wanted no one but Captain M'Mahon
E of the Fourth Regiment of the Line.
And now began curious struggle be
; tween the exasperated father and thu
t determined daughter. Notwithstand
ing the efforts of NJ. De MORN to inter
! cept Heloise's correspondence with he
lover, frequent letters were exchanged
D between the two and when Captain
M'Mahon was sent to Algeria, the.
: pledged themselves to remain true t,
one another. This separation LASTED
Y three years, until 1S42, when M'Mahon
who had greatly distinguished himsel
: in Africa, suddenly fell heir to consid
S erable property. This softened the OBJ
t durate heart of M. De NORM, and il
Q 1874 Heloise became the wife of Lieu
{ tenant Colonel M'Mahon, now the lead
u ing man of France.