Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-03-11

made the doors secure.
She then sat down patiently I,
await the result.
For hours the two women wer,
compelled to listen to the roar o.
the heavy guns, to hear shells
bursting in their immediate vicinity
to listen to the tramp and din OF sol
diery passing through the streets, I,
catch glimpses through the bacl
windows of the house OF flame ani
smoke, indicating that here and
there . furious soldiery, flushed will
victory, and perhaps maddened witt
deep rotations, had applied ths
torch to peaceful dwellings.
Night came, however, and the
privacy of the baroness had not beer
intruded on. S.s began to thinl
thst her house had escaped the no
tee Of the enemy, and even MINI,
recovered her wonted spirits.
However, she prudently prepared
sumptuous supper, thinking that 1
any soldiery should invade her house
good treatment might secure then
immunity from insult.
In the course of the evening {
laundering knocking was heard q
the front door.
60 down and open the door, said
the baroness. But stay-I'll 90 dc
it myself
Before she had half crossed the
drawing room, however, . tremend
GUS crash was heard, followed in
stantly by footsteps and voices or
the stairs. She paused and calmi,
awaited the result.
ten thousand bombshelIs, cried 8
rude voice in French, which the ba.
roness understood perfectly, these
aristocrats don't keep open house
Victor. Shall we make a bonfire Of
the shanty?'
wait = said stern voice in replv,
ln moment more the speakers
were in the drawing room. One OIL
them was burly fellow, begrlmmed
with smoke and powder, the other, a
graceful, black eyed youth, both
dressed in the uniform OF the grepa.
diers of the guard. They flung the
door wide open, and advanced with
charged bayonets.
Halt ! said the stouter of the two,
present arms !! Salute the ladies'
Tho younger soldier dropped the
butt of his p.usket to the ground, 10,
the barrel fall into the hollow OF biz
left arm, gazed GA the baroness
sternly, land glanced scornfully around
the apartment.
Gentlemen said the baroness,
calmly, may beg to know to whom
| am indebted for this visit p
We've been lighting all day, and
are as hungry as wolves. We've
been on our feet for eight-and. forty
hours, and require rest. What we
want is a good supper and good
beds cried the stoster .sold;ar
f0ace, comrade, said the more
youthful soldier, with a wave of his
hand, and relaxing somewhat the
sternness of his expression under the
influence Of the grace and loneliness
of the lady. The fortunes of war,
madame, have authorized US to de.
msnd hospitality. This house is as.
signed to US as our quarters. You
have but to supply our wants, aud,
far from annoying you, you may re.
ly upon that forbearance which a
French soldier knows how to accord
to the unfortunate and helpless.
'More-I pledge you my word and
honor that we will protect YOU
against any insult from any quarter.
And, the further to reassure YOU,
madame, that ct soon as Marsha
Augereau arrives an order will be
promulgated Furnishing With death
any Frenchman, officer or private
who Injuries one of her citizens
The countess bowed low, and in,
vited her guests to the dining room
She and the young soldier tool
their seats at the upper end of the
table, Minna and Bertrand at The
lower.
1t is useless to say that ample j1s
tice was done by both the grenadier,
to the eumptuous fare set before them
4 n
After supper tho baroness al
journed to the drawing room and
they conversed together with the
ease of old acquaintenances, notwith
standing the circumstances that had
brought them together.
In the course of their conversation
the soldier said
Madame, you have been good
enough to give me your name.
can only respond by half.confdence
My taptismal name is Victor-I an
known by that in the army-yet my
family is one of :ae proudest il
France. They discarded me, how
ever, because / embraced liberia
ideas-turned me into the streets, il
word. My sympathiss and my am
bition led me to the profession o
arms. Under the eagles of France
have carried a musket-it may b,
that . marshaps baton is reserved fol
me. This, however, / know: tina
whatever happens-whether to die ,
private in the ranks, or to live il
command OF q division, I've . hear
equal to either fate.
The hour growing late, however
the baroness assigned rooms to hel
guests, and then retired. Bertrand
had long been yawning, 10 spite o
the bright eyes of pretty Minna.
Go to bed, said Victor to his com
rsde. One of US must keep watch
let it be me. can take nv res
to morrow
'You were always q good fellow
Victor said Bertrand, 1T the end o
q prodigious yswn. sAnd it woul,
be useless for me to play sentinel
for 1 should be sure to sleep upol
my post. Goodnight
Victor sat down in the drawing
room, having 6rst loaded and prime,
his musket, and prepared for hi
nights vigil.
The beauty and grace of the bar
oness had made q strong impression
on him.
For years be had led the stormy
life of soldier without once ming