Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1873-10-27
MADAME M'MAHON.

gray, may be seen to leave the Execu-
tive Mansion at Versailles, leading lit
tie girl by the hand. and devoting her
attention Immediately to a number of
poor people who seem to have waited for
her. and among whom she and her pref
ty little companion then distribute aims,
addressing few benevolent words to
each of the recipients of their charities.
When the two, whom the most casual
beholder will at once recognize to be
mother. and daughter, appear, the two
sentinels respectfully present arms.
They leisurely walk down the superb
avenue, and move among the other prom
enaders in the most unostentatious man.
ner. standing still every now and then,
and exchanging few pleasant words
with acquaintance. But for the glances
which most of the passers-by send after
the lady. you would believe that she
was the wife of some government en-
ploye-perhaps of a deputy in the Ma
tional Assembly for she wears simple
black dress, and her bonnet, although of
faultless shape, can not have cost many
dollars. And yet she is at the present
time the foremost lady in France, the
consort of Marshal M'Mahon, President
of the French Republic.
The career of this eminent lady, al
though the papers have had very little
to say about her, has nevertheless been
an eveEtful one, and in her present ex-
allied station. Notwithstanding her quiet,
unobtrusive demeanor, she is known to
exert momentous influence upon the
decisions of her husband. The latter
admires pluck, and it may be truly said
that he has most plucky wife. In.
deed, it was an act of heroism on her
part that first attracted his attention to-
ward her.
1t was on the lst of December, 1888,
at an advanced hour of the night, that a
fire broke out in the female seminary of
Limoges. The flames spread with such
rapidity that the fair young inmates
could be rescued ouly with the utmost
difficulty. At last, when all of them
were believed to be assembled, shiveriEg
in their thin night dresses, in front of
the burning edifce, the cry resounded
suddenly, 'Louise de Bailly is still in
the building!''
| The lookers-on stood as if petrifed,
and the firemen did not venture to enter
the house, which now looked like fiery
furnace Poor Mademoiselle de Bailly
was already given up as hopelessly lost,
when all of sudden tall young girl
with her blonde hair hanging loose over
her shoulders, and her deep blue eyes
flashing out the heavenly fire of inspira
ton and indomitable courage, rushed
from among her terrified young sisters
and exclaiming, Il will try to find her =
ran toward the burning building.
A thousand voices shouted, '.Do not
risk your life thus foolishly !"
Others prayed for dear Heloise.
who thus recklessly risked her own life
in order to save that of one of her young
; classmates. But none of the warning
EXPLANATIONS deferred the heroic CIR
from her purpose. In few seconds she
had entered the front door. undauntec
by the binding smoke and the fame
that were momentarily gaining ground
For the spectators of this thrilling
scene this was moment of supreme sus
pense. The strongest hearts quailee
when the heroic girl did not immediate
ly return. A minute, nay, two elapsed
. and minutes under such circumstance
are eternities. But all at once he
white nightgewn appeared in the door
Yes, it was she; and by the hand sh,
led the missing. terrified Louise de Bail
ly.
Such a shout as went up from tn
hearts of the relieved crowd Sucl
praises as were showered upon the brav
young girl
But she herself was half ashamed O
being thus feted. "Mon Dieu!" sh
J. exclaimed, sit was easy enough for M
to ascend that stairway it was not ye
, on fire. Only the smoke troubled me
r little. Had | waited minute longer
poor little Louise would have been lost.
E At the reopening of the seminary,
t few months later, M. Sarreguin aske
, Mademoiselle Heloise to step forward
and presented her, in the name of Kin
| Louis Philippe, a handsome gold media
for saving human life, and praised he
$ courage and devotion in eloquent term
8 of enthusiasm.
r The girl thus honored blushed deeply
o and when the hall in which the openin
d ceremonies were held resounded wit
IS heartfelt applause, Mademoiselle Hell
d Use was more confused than at that men
e orable moment when she had rushed il
I to the flames.
Among the spectators on this occasie
was young officer of the garrison
: Limoges, who seemed to be deeply inte
. ested in the heroine of the day. T
. .,-Lof -, ell $500 -,