The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-04-30
BERTHINE'S RUSE.

There was scarcely a sound in the
;orest as the snow fell upon the trees,
fine snow that made their branches
appear as if covered with an icy moss.
Before the door of a house young
woman was chopping wood. She was
all, and, though slender, was strong.
She was a child of the forest.
A voice was heard coming from the
aouse:-"Berthine, you should come in
soon, for there are Prussians and
wolves roaming about"
Berthine replied. as she split block
of wood with a powerful stroke, 81
have finished, mother. l am coming
am coming. 1t is still light"
Then she carried in the wood, went
,ut again to fasten the oaken doors of
The shed, and again entered the house,
fastening the large bolts of the door.
Her mother, an old woman whom
age had rendered timorcus. sat near
:he fire spinning.
81 like it not" she said, "when the
father is away. Here we are, two de-
fenceless women"
"AhV replied her daughter, as she
glanced toward large revolver sus-
pended over the fireplace, Il can easily
kill wolf or Prussian-it is all the
same"
Berthine's husband had joined the
army at the beginning Of the Prussian
invasion, and she lived with her moth
er and father, the old forester, Nicho-
las Pichon, who had obstinately refused
to quit his woodland dwelling for the
town.
The nearest town was Rethel, an an
cient stronghold perched upon a rock.
The inhabitants were patriots and had
decided to resist the invaders. They
had procured cannons and muskets
and equipped militia. The soldiers
were drilled daily by NJ. Lavigne, the
haberdasher, who was an ex-of1icer of
dragons.
Thus they awaited the arrival of the
Prussians, but the Prussians did not
appear. They were not far off, how
ever, for twice already their scouts
had pushed through the wood as far
as the house of Nicholas Pichon, which
was the outpost in the forest Of Ave-
line. Twice each week Pichon went
to town for provisions and informed
the citizens of whatever had occurred
in his neighborhood. He had gone to
town this very morning to announce
that two days before a small detach-
ment Of German infantry had halted
at his place for about two hours and
then departed. The officer who COM
manded them spoke French.
That evening. when Berthine was
about to put the pot on the fire to
make the soup, two violent knocks
were heard at the door. AS the
women made no reply loud, cultural
voice id, "Open the doorv' Then,
after a brief silence, the same voice
continued, "Open the door or we will
break it in"
Berthine took down the revolver
from above the fireplace and slipped it
into her pocket. Then she said, "Who
are your"
The same voice replied, 1.-THE detach-
ment of soldiers who were here the
other day."
"What do you want?" said the
young woman.
1--WE have been lost in the wood
since morning. Open the door or we
will break it inp'
Berthine had no choice. She quick
ly drew the large bolts, and opening
the door saw before her six men
six Prussian soldiers, the same who
had stopped there two days before.
"Why do you come here at this
hourp" she said in a resolute tone.
1--WE are lost replied the officer.
"We recognized your house. We have
had nothing to eat since morning"
"Come in," said Berthine, as she
stood aside to let them pass.
They entered the house. They were
covered with snow and appeared to be
completely exhausted.
The young woman pointed to the
wooden benches at either side of the
large table. saying, "sit down. 1 will
make soup for you."
When the soup was prepared the
Prussians ate voraciously. As they
were thirsty, Berthine descended into
the cellar to draw cider for them. She
remained there long time. The eel
lar was little vaulted cave, which, it
was said, had served during the revo-
luton both as prison and a hiding
place. 1t was reached by narrow
winding stair way. to which access was