The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1882-08-09
A French Village Romance.

married in pretty little village on
ly few hours distant from Paris
Julia Ravaude, a handsome girl of
IS years, with large blue eyes and a
rosy mouth which opens on two rows
of pearls, looked charming in her
white dress and under her wreath of
orange. blossoms. The promenade de
Ia noce (wedding prdnenade) over the
sunny plain was alp charming, for
there were the fichas and the red
skirts Of the peasant girls, the light
colored white, sky-Hue or pink COS.
tunes of the several bridesmaids and
of the other younggirls in the party
against the green hack, ground of the
growing wheat, looking from a dis,
tance like poppies md bluebelles and
marguerites springing up in the well.
titled field. The long procession
wound its way along the rural path
preceded by two musicians covered
with ribbons, one playing on a vio-
lin, the other corret a-piston, en-
route for the hamlets where the hap
py husband was to introduce his
wife to new friends and relations
In the public square Of each hamlet
the young people had spread out ta-
bles, and offered thcvin dhonncu to
the bride, with an accompaniment Of
music and the firing of guns, after
which the processions by the
addition or all the boys and girls Of
the place, passed on toward the next
hamlet. In the evening there was a
grand fcast-a panta grue'esqac feed
in the barn, with open wine casks
and barrels Of beer, at which every
one could at will replcnish his or her
mug; and this lasted Ill the next day
and the day after thaf also.
In the month of October, 1870, the
Rauands inhabited n little isolated
house situated on theedge Of a forest.
One day while the father and mother
were at work in the fields their little
girl Julia was left in charge Of the
house. She was then only seven
years old, but had already manifested
q rare Intelligence and an energy
that is seldom to be met with in one
so young. For two months or SO she
had been hearing stories of the ex-
actions, Of the enforced services, and
of the outrages committed by the
Prussian invaders, who had become
all the more cruel on account of The
invisible bands Of francs tireurs who
killed great many German soldiers
from behind ambuScades. Julia was
standing at the door when suddenly
a lad whom she knew very we'll came
running out Of q thicket and dashed
into the house.
rs Monsieur Ravaude herc7' he
asked.
"No. Ny father and mother are in
the field at work"
"Well, I must hide me. am pur-
sned by two Prussan gondarmes.-
They have seen me- and are close on
my heels, III am captured, my fate
is q certain one."
The child led him into the back
room and pointed to the oven.-
When he had got into it, she took
fnol and laid it ready to be lighted.
She then returned to the door and
presently the two Prussians galloped
up. They sprang from their horses,
fastened them, and the one who spoke
French began 10 question Julia.
"Where are your parents?"
"In the fields, sir" she answered,
shrinking back as if with fear and
hiding her face in her apron.
"There is a tranc,tireur here and we
must have him-whero is he?"
The child had a sudden inspira-
ton. She went and took from its
corner her fathers old gun and
brought it to the Prussians. "a man
came in and set his gun down and
then when he saw you coming he ran
away along tho road to Mont Saint