Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-03-05

heroism. common enough among French
men in other wars, had no one TO admire
to record it, to be surprised at it in this
war OF determination and despair. II
was no time or place Tor any QuiSotic
exhibition of courage or devotion. Self
sacrifices were accepted as mere things
of course, aud Baudelot's twelve soldiers
Immediately obeyed him.
The Count remained behind after they
left. making all possible noises. har-
aogriug disputing giving orders. rattling
hls guu sgAnst the floor and clincking its
/ locks. l. nsdc row enough for whole
regiment ai ouce. and the Blues were
cautious in their approaches. Bot after
while his voice began 10 fail, and,
jud ing that his men must by that time
be safe, The careless Frenchmsn cared no
longer to command an imaginary com-
pany; and. leaving off his orders and
exhortations ,barricsded the oak door and
waited further action. For some mioutes
the door resisted the fresh assaults of the
enemy. Then ii began to yield. The
Blues fired through the chinks into the
chamber
Count Victor was not wound j (; aud,
as be had been surprised when bali
through bis breakfast, be sat down TO the
table to finish his bread and cheese. say
ing 10 himself with every bite, IL! is my
las; mouthful."
A, length the strong door yielded-the
Blues burst into the apartment. 1t took
some little time to push back the obstruc
tions and see clearly what was what
through the smoke OF their own volley.
/ They drew their swords. and. a. the dim
ness cleared away, ,glared eagerly around
TO see Whist had become OF that large
body Of oops who had resisted their
entrance Tor halt au hour
Imagine their surprise. instead Of fnG-
ing the owners OF all those voices, they
saw only the young and handsome man,
tall, calm, and with a merry twinkle in
BIS eyes eating a slice OF black loaf and
washing it down with tho weak wine OF
the country.
The soldiers of the Republic paused in
sstonishnea;. This pause gave Victor
BAudelot time 10 toss { II the last drop
and swallow the las, moutblul.
Your good health, gentlemen" he
cried, lifting his vine glass TO his lips
The garrison is much obliged oyou for
your kind consideration"
As he spoke he rose snd went to THEN
commander.
Monsieur. y said he. II am alone in
this house. You can stuo, me behind
he sbrubbery we sec GU, jonder."
lie paused, and. 10 hi, great surprise,
was not shot moment after. 1t may
have teen because hi, cap'cs were re-
crui,s new to Vendean warfare II may
have been because they were interested
by bis handsome face, hi, gallant bear
ing, and his cool ind titrerce Maybe
they felt ashamed OF shooting in cold
blood a man who had te,ey ced himself
against three hundred OF them
They tied his hands b,hlud his back,
and, under a s'rict guard. sent him 10
country louse ncsr Nantes. ~hicb bad
once been nobleman's mansion. The
master of the house was in command of
the very Blues who hsd jas; seized and
bound him. A Breton aud a gentleman
(ahhough be was Revolutionary Re-
publican) he had flung himself hear,
and soul into the cause Of liberty at the
outset OF the revolution. He was one Of
those mobiles who in one nj ht, that night
which has been called both The might OF
sacrifices and the nigh. OF insanity"
stripped themselves OF their fortunes, OF
their privileges, of their srmorisl bear
ings, of their very names; forgetting
what was due TO their ancestors and their
descendants, to the pas, and to the future,
and paid SO dearly for their impIudenl
enthusiasm during the remainder OF their
lives.
They are now all dead Some died
the victims of that movement they too
rashly served some live to SEQ how little
good their sacrifices accomplished.
Count Victor was imprisoned in the
donjon tower OF the mansion; in other
words. the dovecote Of the conqueror's
establishment. The pigeons which had
dwelt there in the day OF peace were
now replaced IRON time TO time by
chouans-chouan (the pstois name given
for owl or bird of nighD being the title
given 10 the Royalists by the Republicans.
The dovecote. still retained It's peaked
root OF white slate and its tail weather.
cock, nor hsd it been thought necessary
to put iron bars into the narrow, lofty
openings through which The doves once
went and came. Little indeed had been
added TO the furniture OF the place for
the accommodation of the new kind Of
birds who were too often Gagged there
nothing but some straw upon the pave
meut, on which Count Victor stretched
himse in default ci any chair.
} He smiled at the idea OF being shut up
in . nioaon bouse. IL he could tree bis