Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-12-24
THE PRISONERS.

the slight rustic of the snow as it fell upon
the trees. 1t had been falling small and
Tine, since midday; it powdered the branches
with frosty moss, cast silver veil over
the dead leaves in the hollow, and spread
spOn the pathways a great, soft, white
carpet that JhickeDed the immeasurable
ulence amid this ocean Of trees. Before
tbe door of the Keepers lodge stood bare
armed young woman chopping wood with
IN AK upon stone. She was tall, thin and
strong-a child of the forest; Il daughter
and wife Of gamekeepers. A voice called
from within the house: Come In, Der
thine; we are alone tonight and il 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-enoF1nous shutters of
solid oakland then, when she came in,
pushed the heavy bolts Of the door,
Her mother was spinning by the iire--a
wrinkied old woman who bad grown tim
srous with age. II don't like father to be
ont" she said Two women have no
strength"
The younger answered, "oh, could very
we'll kill wolf or PIussian; 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
abe beginning of the Prussian invasion,
and the two women had remained alone
with her father. the old gamekeeper Mich.
clas Pichon, who had obstinately refused
10 leave his home and 20 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 as far
- 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
. In the afternoon, and had gone away
again almost directly. The subaltern in
command spoke French When the old
man went on such pyramids he took with
him his two dogs and left the two WON
en-, advising them TO lock themselves into
the house a. soon as night began 20 fall
The young one was afraid Of nothing.
She was hanging her ssucepsns over the
fre TO make the soup, when she stopped
short, listened to yague sound which had
reached her by way OF the chimney, and
murmured, There Is some one walking iu
Abe wood-seveD or eight men At least"
Her mother, alarmed. stopped her wheel
and muttered: "Ob, good I.,r,l' Aud IA
Their not herep'
She had not finished speaking when VIC
lent blows shook the door. The women
made made no answer, and lond cultural
voice called out, open the doorr Then
after pause the same voice repeated,
open the door or IN break IL inn
l.
the big revolver from over the m antelpiece,
and having put her ear 30 the crack of the
door. asked, who are youf'
The voice answered: we are the detach-
nent 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 10 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 Com
in," said she.
They came in powdered with snow and
with sort OF NOISY cream on their he'll
NETS that made them look like meringues
They seemed tired; worn ont.
"Sit down." said she, land IIl make
you some soup. Yon 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 six
men followed her every movement with an
air Of awakened hunger. They had set
their guns and helmets in a corner, and
sat waiting on their benches like well be-
hayed school children. The mother had
begun TO spin again, but she threw terri
fed glances at the invading soldiers.
There was no sound except the slight
purring of the wheel, the crackle Of the
fire and the bubbling Of the water as 1t
grew hot.
But all at once strange noise made
them all start-something like hoarse
breathing at the door, the breathing of an
animal, deep and snorting One Of the
Germans had sprung toward the guns.
The woman, with movement and
smile, stopped him. ut is the wolves" said
she. "They are like you; they are wander
ing about hungry" The man would hard
ly believe; he wanted to see for himself
and as soon as the door was opened he
perceived two great gray beasts making
of at quick, long trot. He came back to
his seat murmnriBg, ~ should not have
believed IT,"
The men ate voraciously; their mouths
opened from ear TO ear TO take the largest
Of gulps; their round eyes opened sympa-
thetically with their jaws, and their swal-
lowing was like the gurgle Of rain in
water pipe. Then, as they were thirsty.
the keepers wife went down into the cellar
TO draw cider for them. She was gone a