Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1885-05-08
BERTHINE'S RUSB


forest as the snow fell upon the tree
a fine snow that made their brancht
appear as if covered with an icy mos
Before the door Of a house a youn
woman was chopping wood. She va
tall, and, though slender, was stronl
She was a child of the forest
4 voice was heard coming from tn
house: "Berthine, you should GOMEZ
soon, for there are Prussians an
wolves roaming about
Berthine replied, as she split bloc
Of wood with a powerful stroke,
have finished, mother. am coming
| am coming 1t is still light"
Then she carried in the wood, wen
out again to fasten the oaken doors {
the Shed, and again entered the house
fastening the large bolts of the door
Her mother an old woman WHOM
age had rendered timorous, sat nea
the fire spinning.
Il like it not" she said, "when th
father is away. Here we are, two de
fenceless women
"Ah" replied her daughter, as sh
glanced toward a large revolver sui
pended over the fireplace, Il can easil
XIII wolf or a Prussian it is all til
same"
Berthine's husband had joined til
army at the beginning cf the prussia
invasion, and she lived with her% =
or and father, the old forester, Ni4Gl
las Pichon, who had obstinately refused
to quit his woodland dwelling for hi
town.
The nearest town was Rethel, an an-
eient stronghold perched upon rdek
The inhabitants were patriots and Hal
decided to resist the invaders. The
had procured cannons and muskeb
and equipped militia. The soldieH
were drilled daily by NJ. Lavigne, the
haberdasher who was an ex-oaleer 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 neighborhool. 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
nanded 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 a loud, cultural
voice id, "Open the door, 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 you?'
The same voice replied, "The detach-
ment of soldiers who were here the
other day."
"What do you want?" said the
young woman.
I'VE have been lost in the wood
since morning Open the door or we
will break it in"
Berthine had no choice. She quick
" drew the large bolts, and opening
the door saw before her six men
SIN Prussian soldiers, the same who
lad stopped there two days before
why do you come here at this
hour?" she said in a resolute tone.
I'VE are lost" replied the officer.
we recognized your house. We have
lad nothing to eat since morning
Come ill.," 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
arge table, saying, sit down. | will
make soup for you"
When the soup was prepared the
russians ate voraciously. As they
we're thirsty, Berthine descended into
he cellar to draw cider for them. She
emained there long time. The eel
ar was little vaulted cave, which, it
vas said. had served during the reYo-
ution both as prison and a hiding
lace, 1t was reached by a narrow
stairway. to Bhich access was