The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1893-08-04
A TREACHEROUSMAID

Nine. LoufOurcade, the wife of an
army officer during the French revolu.
ton, was applied to by the wife of an
other officer to afford concealment for
her husband
Nine Loufourcade lived short dis
tance from the city of Lyons. She had
four servants, and the main difficulty, |
provided the officer could reach her
dwelling without discovery, was how
best to guard the secret from them.
1t was finally decided that one Of the
females should be taken into err conf |
dence and that the officer, who was
rather effeminate looking man, should
come disguised in female attire and be
passed off as a cousin of Fanchette.
So Fanchette, arather pretty girl, was
made acquainted with everything.
Captain Lave9gne made his appear
ance in due time, disguised as a woman,
and SO well did he look and play his
part that he was not suspected lV the
other servants of being different from
what he seemed. In order, however, to
incur as little risk as possible, he pre-
tended to be greatly fatigued by his
journey, and was, soon after his arrival,
shown to a private room on the upper
floor, which he did not leave again for
week, it being given out that he was
quite i'll.
At the end of the time mentioned some
eight or ten soldiers made their appear
ance at the mansion and demanded the
person Of Captain Lavergne.
IF You think there is any such individ-
ual under this roof, you can make your
search" replied Nine. Loufourcade.
When the servants were called togeth.
er, the lady perceived that Fanchette was
pale and trembling.
AS soon as the officer saw her he ex-
claimed:
well, wench, did yo: tell the truth
or not2 If you did, it's al right with
you, and you needn't be scared; if You
didn't, it's my honest opinion you'll soon
be head shorter"
"What is this?" cried Nine Loufour
cade, in establishment.
well, don't care" said Fanchette
assuming an impudent manner. ats
Slime the aristocrats was put down and
made to know that other people is as
good rs them. | heard there was a re-
ward of a thousand francs offered for
this man, who's dared to come here and
pass himself off as female, and thought
I'd Just as good a right to the money as
anybody"
And for this you havesold your soul, "
groaned her'Inistress.
Don't come any religious talk over
me" cried Fanchette. "a know more of
what's been going on than you think.
Religions been swept away by decree,
and deaths an eternal sleep"
That's all true, girl" chimed in the
officer with an emphatic oath. "But
while we're talking the man may get
away. Here, guard, seize and bind al
these parties"
: There was no resistance made by the
mistress and her terrified servants, and
in a very short time all except FanchettC
were secured with cords.
. Now, girl" said the officer, with 6
} coarse laugh, "show us the way to your
sweet female cousin"
Captain Lavergne meantime WAS moi
entirely ignorant of his peril. From hi:
: window he had seen the approach of thu
soldiers and rightly conjectured they
, were in quest OF himself. His apartment
e was so situated that he could not e
: down stairs and escape without being
seen by some Of the servants. He wa
alarmed, and his mind became active t.
devise some means of defense or escape
+, He had in his possession brace of load
ed pistols, and his first idea was to bar
! ricade his door and sell his life as dearl,
| as possible, but in looking about tn
J, apartment he noticed the fireplace ant
discovered that the chimney was larg
enough to admit his person. He coul,
o( see the light at the top, and it occurre,
to him that perhaps he might escape
, and he resolved to make the trial.
: Taking his pistols with him, Captain
: Lavergne hurriedly pushed, his walYu
J. the chimney, with the view Of gettin
on the roof, but when he had ascende
II some eight OF ten feet he discovered s
. his agreeable surprise that there was
Z kind Of recess, such as were sometime
e left in old fashioned chimneys for tn
o purpose Of opening another hue wher
ever it might be wanted, large enoug
!, TO conceal him from the view Of any on
lie boxing up from below:
Hastily getting into IT. be breathed