Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1893-06-09
Miscellaneous.
A BUNCH OF ROSES.

The last time | was travelling in
Touraino | chanccd to have particularly
strong letters Of introduction from COM
mon friends to Angelus Rucil, jolly
old property owner of tho Faubourg St.
Pierre des Corps, on the outskirts of
Tours.
Rueil lived in house that had once
been grange upon an income which
was modest, yet sufficient to supply all
bis wants. With him lived an old wo-
man, not far from the dark side Of so,
who it was sometimes suggested was
not in the full possession of her reason.
This report had sprung into existence
after the Fete de la st. Jean, when the
woman had been suddenly seized with a
ner Sous e., qused IN some lnexpiicabie
way by the sight of a nosegay of rod
roses in the dress of young peasant
girl who had come to the festival from
the country.
The day following my arrival at Tours
went to deliver my letters to Rueil
and was received with the utmost cor
diality.
Il have suffered horribly at the hands
of the Germans" he said. Listen to
my tale of woe will tell it to you with
the greatest freedom and candor"
AS he said these words M. Ruei ose
from his chair, and opening massive
oak cabinet took out from it little box
covered with dust and having in its lock
a small rusty key.
With great gentleness and care he
opened and placing it so that | could
easily see its contents said in voice
that shook with emotion awakened by
past memories:
Here is n bunch of faded roses that
once we're fresh and sweet, but are now
dry and almost odorIess.
"They we're worn by young girl, a
native of my own country (the Ardcnnes)
on the very day of tho burning Of Bag
GILES. They arc Louis Van Houlte
roses--autumn roses-the last flowers
of once happy France.
Although they are dry and dusty,
you can see with the help Of this glass
that on the petals of each rose there is
blackish colorcd capitalization.
WELL" he went on in low voice
that was almost whisper, "that h
blood German blood"
lie took from my hands the magnify
ine glass and examined with tho great
est attention these peculiar relics.
Then he went on:
"You remember with what heroi'
obstinacy the inhabitants of Bazciles
tracked like wild beasts, defended stol
by step their houses and property; hos
men, women and children used thei
,.l4:suDs, and nlker yielded an inch withou
leaving several blank spaces in the Ger
man ranks.
"On that day, terrible and mover b
be forgotten. Rose Launois fought lik
man discharging one barrel Of her gu
after another with the GOODNESS aud de
termination Of brave soldier | wa
by her side, and from behind ban
formed by the collapsed side Of a priyat
library We let blaze at the slowly al
vancing Prussian soldiers.
There were three others bisdes our
solvcs--three men--and it was positivel
dcvilish TO sec US, four men and youn
girl, standing side by side fighting lik
demons against preposterous odds, an
yet by some strange luck not even b
by the enemy's bullets.
a II can see that lovely girl now. Sh
stands again before my eyes, her hal
falling over her shoulders. with hushe
= face, two rows Of cleaning teeth, an
. her grand, flaming eyes fixed on u
ever approaching mass Of dark soldlel
that at any moment might pick US Q
with their rifles or reduce us 10 lit
pile Of dead
/. "More clearly still do | again sec th
bunch Of red rOses--autumn roses, ia
d blown and gorgeous, living in their frel
is splendor as IL in protest against 81
4 bloody horrors Of war and disaster
ut was not long before our thr'
comrades had fallen to the ground, ca
with a German bullet in his heart, n
we, In order to shoot better, had climb
callously over their corpses, still wal
R, and palpitating.
ave were actually standing 10 bio
!, this girl aud myself II covered o
AZ boots aud soaked our ankles with
warm moisture.