Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1892-12-16
THE PRISONERS.

the slight rustic of the snow as it fell upon
the trees. 1t had been falling, small and
fine, since midday; it powdered the branches
with frosty moss, cast a silver veil over
the dead leaves in the hollow, and spread
upon the pathways q great, soft, white
carpet that thickened the unreasonable
silence amid this ocean of trees Before
the door of the keepers lodge stood bare
armed young woman chopping wood with
an AK upon stone. She was tall, thin and
strong-a child of the forest; a daughter
and wife of gamekeepers. A voice called
from within the house: "Come in, Ber-
thine; we are alone tonight and it is get
ting dark. There may be Prussians or
wolves about"
II have finished, mother; there is moth
| ing to be frightened at" Then she brought
in her fagots and her logs and piled them
up at the chimney side, went out again to
close the shutters-enormous shutters of
solid oakland then, when she came in,
pushed the heavy bolts of the door.
Her mother was spinning by the fire-a
wrinkled old woman who had grown TIM
orous with age 81 don't like father to be
out" she said. 1.-TWO women have no
strength"
The younger answered, ooh, could very
we'll kill a wolf or Prussian; can tell
YOU" And she turned her eyes to a large
revolver hanging over the fireplace. Her
husband had been put into the army at
the beginning of the Prussian invasion,
and the two women had remained alone
with her father, the old gamekeeper, Mich
Olas Pchou, who had obstinately refused
to leave his home and go into the town.
The nearest town was Rethel, an old
fortress perched on a rock. The Prussians
were not far off, for their scouts had al
ready twice pushed across the forest rs far
as Nicholas Pichou's lodge. The old keeper
had gone that day to announce that
small detachment Of German infantry had
stopped at his house the day before, about
2 in the afternoon, and had gone away
again almost directly. The subaltern in
command spoke French. When the old
man went on such errands he took with
him his two dogs and left the two wom-
en-, advising them to lock themselves into
the house as soon as night began to fall.
The young one was afraid of nothing
She was hanging her saucepans over the
fire to make the soup, when she stopped
short, listened to vague sound which had
reached her by way of the chimney, and
murmured, There is some one walking in
the wood-seven or eight men AT least"
Her mother, alarmed, stopped her wheel
and muttered: 'Oh, good Lord! And ia
ther not here"
She had not finished speaking when vio-
lent blows shook the door. The women
made inside no answer, and loud cultural
voice called out, open the door" Then
after pause the same voice repeated
"Open the tsoor or I'll break it inn
Then Berthine slipped into her pocket
the big revolver from over the mantelpiece,
and having put her ear to the crack of the
door, asked, who are your"
The voice answered: I'VE are the detach-
ment that came the other day. Open the
door or we will break it in"
The keepers wife had no choice. She
promptly drew the great bolt, and, pulling
back the door she beheld six Prussian
men, the same who had come the day be-
fore. She said in firm tone, "What do
you want here at this time Of night!"
The officer replied: 81 had lost my way.
recognized the house. / have had moth
ing to eat since the morning, nor my men
either"
The keepers wife stepped back. "Come
in," said she.
They came in powdered with snow and
with a sort of messy cream on their he'll
NETS that made them look like meringues
They seemed tired; worn out.
sit down." said she, land I'll make
you some soup. You do look quite worn
out"
Then she bolted the door again. She
poured some more water into her saucepan
and threw in more butter and potatoes
then unlocking piece of bacon that hung
in the chimney, she cut off half and added
that also to the stew. The eyes of the 81,
men followed her every movement with al
air of awakened hunger They had Sc
their guns and helmets in a corner, anC
sat waiting on their benches like we'll he
haved school children. The mother hat
begun to spin again, but she threw terri
fled glances at the invading soldiers
There was no sound except the Sigh
purring of the wheel, the crackle of tn
fire, and the bubbling of the water as
grew hot.
But all at once strange noise mad
them all start-something like a hoars
breathing at the door, the breathing of a
animal, deep and snorting. One of TIL
Germans had sprung toward the guns.
The woman, with a movement and
tmile, stopped him. st is the wolves" sal
she. "They are like you; they are wander
ing about hungry" The man would hare
? ly believe; he wanted to see for himsel
and as soon as the door was opened h
perceived two great gray beasts maxim
off at quick, long trot. He came back |
,v his seat murmuring, ~ should not ha,
W. believed it,"
The men ate voraciously; their moutl
. opened from ear to ear to take the large
Of gulps; their round eyes opened symp
thetically with their jaws, and their swa
. lowing was like the gurge of rain in
: water pipe. Then, as they were thirst
the keepers wife went down into the cell
to draw cider for them. She was gone
Y long time. When Berthine came back 81