Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1875-06-24
A BRAVE GIRL.

none put the brave deserves the fair.-DRrDRE
1t Is but few gears since that couple
of brothers, named Henri and Alive La,
porte, lived in the neightorhood of Paris,
close by the Bois de Boulogn. These
brothers we're rich, mean land of miserly
disposition, and seemed to live only for
the pleasure of accumulating gold,a work
in which both had been engaged for many
years. '
The brothers were bachelors, and had
a young maid>of.all-work named Marie
de la Font, sweet and pretty girl,
modest, economical and industrious. She
made all the purchases for the house, and
in her modest way, Marie was fully trus.
ted by the brothers Laporte. She was
almost too pretty to Gil such situation,
it was said, living all alone with the
brothers, but then they were old enough
to be her father, either Of them.
Such pretty faces as Marie's do not
have to wait long for a partner. By-and
BY Henri Duco, thrifty young baker in
the neighborhood, was seen to pay fre>
quent visits to the house of the brothers
Laporte, and it was pretty well under.
stood that he did not come to see either
of the old fellows up stairs. The infer>
ence was very natural and very correct,
that he was paying his addresses to the
pretty maid, Marie. There was one lit
tie drawback as to the consummatiop OF
such love by the marriage ceremony
the young people could not afford it,
They we're too poor.
Still these people, each respectively
twentyoue years Of age, resolved to enter
the bonds Of Hymen and trust to fortune.
So Marie informed her two masters
that she must leave them at the end of
the next month, as she was about to be
married. In vain did the brothers ex.
postulate with her, and try to dissuade
Marie from throwing up a good and com.
Portable home to run tbs chance of pover>
ty ind misery. She told them that she
had given her word to her dear Henri,
and she must keep it and be married.
So it was finally arranged that she
should quit the service Of the brothers at
the close Of the next succeeding month.
In the meantime tho brothers sold
large and valuable piece OF real estate one
day, and received the payment therefor
IN cash, of Bank Of France paper, some
100000 francs. 1t was received after
bank hours, too late to deposit, and so
the brothers brought it home, and felt
very nervous about having SO much mon
ey in the house over night. The neigh
borhood was rather .. dangerous one
burglaries were often committed there.
The house was somewhat Isolated aud
stood not far from the banks of the Seine.
Marie was Instructed to carefully lock
all the doors and windows on this occa.
sion, and the brothers confded to her the
reason of their unusual anxiety. The
pretty girl was all sympathy,and promised
every possible caution in making every.
thing secure below stairs, but still the
brothers were very nervous at bed time.
About midnight, however, they went to
bed, and fell into troubled sleep.
About one o'clok they we're startled by
a loud and reiterated knock at their door.
Neither Of the brothers LapOrte were
brave men, but on this occasion. with SO
large sum Of money on hand, and hav-
ing thought and talked so much about II
up to the last moment Of retiring, they
were now aroused by the abrupt noise to
q state Of absolute flight and downright
terror. @s
"Who is there?' they exclaimed.
cit is |, Marie" ~,
"What do you want?" a.t
"Oh masters, masters !" ra4
"AIon Dieu! Marie" exclaimed Alive,
the eldest, as he tremblingly opened the
door, whats the matter? Can't you
speakT aoi P Iai MISS, " r.
"Robbers-robbers are in the house."
"Alep Dieul" said the other brother,
III was sure OF it. What's to be dcne?"
"Fou have gunY' .a.
"Yes."
go down and shoot them. said Marie
coolly, M r,atal
ave shalt be killed ourselves" whined
Alive. ~
''Are you g,iug to let them take your
money without fighting for itI" asked
the girl. %
''oh they may have all If they will but
spare our lives" said both.