The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1873-08-07

-...e4:. ..:>3. NO. 4. /
:, ...-. IL. .1.il ....,.,a 9. s,x.t. ;!ar ,3.yi
aipowsrful' band Of those iron Prussian |
veterans who had rolled back French
Invasion from Moscow to the Elbe, |
Germany struck for del,yerance, and |
France fof the preservation Of her
European dominion. Austria, ere
long joined 10 the general crusade, and
alter series OF tremendous battles in
the fall Of 1913, the forces of Napo.
leon, decimated and almost destroyed,
were driven across the Rhine. In
few weeks more the allies invaded
France.
Of these stupendous events the
Countess de Lacy was suIlen specta-
tor. A sadness had everywhere fol.
lowed her since her visit to Erfurt.-
She had heard nothing from the Prince
OF Potoski during that long interval.
After the divorce of Josephine she
withdrew entirely from the French
court and cherished an ill.concealed dis.
like of Napoleon. This feeling was
still further embittered by the inva-
sion Of. Russia. In January, 1914, the
allies invaded France on her northren
and eastern frontier, With forces amount
l'iog In the aggregate to nearly three
hundred thousand men. Napoleon
could collect but seventy thousand for
tho defense. But Of all the numerous
gallant armies which France had poured
forth, none was ever composed of brav-
ct or more determined men than those
who now, against formidable odds, with
mournful heroism prepared to die in
defense of . sinking empire .nd fall
inpg' throne. The allies. in spite Of
their immense superiority, we're unable
At once to crush the diminutive band
(which confrouted them. They had d.
tvided their forces aud the genius of
Napoleon, reused by extreme peril,
nsver shone with brighter lustre !; and
the French soldiers, fighting for thei,
own hearttstoues, displayed all the in.
born gallsntry Of their race.
d VII.
Clemanthe was then living on
3 small estate which she had purchased
sf in the vicinity of Montmirail. Devoted
i to literature aud to a life of bene6cenc
8 among her rural tenautrv, she sough
Q only to forget the past. She had rea,
!. uumoved of the tremendous disaster
i. of Napoleon, but the invasion of Franc
}. called forth the slumbering emotions o
q her noble nature. Clouds of Cossack
. and columns of Prussians, still NOR
o merciless, devastated the homes of tha
: fair land which she had adopted
It How often. Is early love rekindlod i
}. times of disaster and of peril .
r the evening Of February 4th, INTEL
. gence reached the modest Wills in whic
f. she lived that powerful column of tt
a enemy had reached Montmirail; tb,
: the Emperor was collecting every avail
i able man to attack them, and that
decisive battle would be fought on tt
morrow. That night Clemanthe sler
, little. Not from fear, for that was NJ
;; in her nature, but from conAlctin
4 emotions. Next morning she attende
mass in her private chapel, and the e1
tire building was shaken by the lou
and increasing cannonade less than
league distant. Alter the close of tt
4 service, Clemanthe called her maj.
domo, and said
"Francis, have Saladin saddled an
bridled, and bring him yourself in'
~ the courtyard"
- He at once obeyed. She then wer
4, to her chamber aud equipped herse
for the excursion. In twenty minute
10 she descended into the court var.
She wore the dark green uniform (
- the mounted chasseurs of the gusrt
"a trimmed with gold lace. By her sid
!, hung Damascus scimiter, the gift (
II the Emperor in happier days. Th
\, noble charger arched his neck At th
= approach Of his mistress. She vau!
l., ed into the saddle, and rode out Of th
o gate. Once on the outside, Clemant th
Ia turned her steed toward Montmirai
!. and gave him the rein. The big
n mettled Anda)usisn charger snuffed tn
- battle from afar and bore her with tn
sviftness Of tho wind toward the fel
y Of carnsgs. The smoke hung thic
/ over the scene Of strife, but she kne,
!. the positions OF both armies aud enter
9 ed on the right Of the French line
The line vas irregular, but the mel
i stood their ground firmly.
}, ''The seldisry amazed, on her
8 AZ on descending angel, gsssd."
II "It Is the Countess de Lacy!" passe,
: from rank to rank. Inspired by he
presence = succession Of rapid ast
deadly vollies rolled along the from
| Of the line. But the enemy could no
be shaken BY musketry, and as th'
cloud Of smoke lifted, Clemanthe be-
held not more than eighty yards ii
front the lofty caps Of the grenadier
Of the Russian guard.
"Soldiers p she exclaimed, in cleal