Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-01-18
Louise.

Deep snow covers the north of
France The thermometer is almost
at zero. The cold is intense, but the
heart of the people is burning red hot
with indignation and desire for
vengence on the invaders Of their
hearths and homes. Poor souls! little
do they know of the state of affairs
of their now unhappy country; they
do not even stop to inquire, but look
upon Gambetta as a god.
After the disaster of Sedan and the
surrender of Metz, Ia Pucelle," the
German army of the north is cover
ing the siege of Paris-nOt yet sur
rendered 1t is under the command
of General Won Goben. whose head
quarters are at Ameins, commanding
the line Of the Somme, and guarding
the road to Paris. The command of
the French army of the north has
fallen to General Faidherbp. if the
term army can be applied to some CO.,
600 men composed of the depOtS Of
different line regiments Quartered ut
Lille, Douay and Cambria, stragglerS
urS, one solitary squadron of dragons,
and an artillery composed mostly of
fortress guns. But Faidherbe was
brave soldier and Il capable general
one of the few, alas! for France. Al
ready at Bapaume he had nearly COM
PEELED the Germans to evacuate
AmienS and abandon the line of the
Somme, when darkness came on, and
the advantage he had gained was lost
by re-enforcemcntS arriving during
the night, and it is Immediately after
this action that our story commences
The billeting Of the German troops
in and around Amiens had been heavy
and the burden @rieyOuS to bear, but
TO none so disastrous did it prove rs
to Captain de MonceauX, a retired
cavalry officer who had fought with
distinction at Magenta and SOlferinO.
A fine specimen of the old French
soldier was Alfred de MonceauX; with
the courage of a lion he combined the
heart of a woman. He resided in a
pretty little cOulage in the outskirts
of Amiens, on the Bapaume road, and
his household consisted of Il son. then
with his regiment under Faidherbc.
his only daughter, Louise de MonceauX,
and faithful servant, Suzanne. At
eighteen years of age Louise was GER
tainly the most beautiful girl in the
reimbursement. She was idolized by
her father and SpOilt and petted by
Suzanne. 1t was on Nov. %, 1870, the
battle of Amiens having taken place
on the previous day; the dull evening
had closed in with heavy fall of
STOW. The captain and his daughter
had Just seated themselves at their
humble supper, the old man with a
sad, grave expression on his face, his
daughter pale and nervous, when the
trampinG sound of footsteps outside
caused them both to start. Then came
a heavy knock at the door. They both
rose to their feet.
Come in" said the captain, draw
ing himself up to his full height
The door opened. and a sergeant Of
the Fifty-Seventh PrusSian regiment
entered. -ne moment he caught sight
of the captain instinct made him sal
ute.
Pardon. monsieur" he said in toler-
able French; "but an officer, his serv-
ant and three horses are quartered
on you. They will arrive shortly.
81 have only four rooms, sergeant;
one is occupied by my daughter, one
by myself the third by my servant
and there is this room. [ have no
stabling"
Sorry, but must obey Understand
the sergeant produced a piece of chalk
marked the door, saluted and left.
For a moment there was consteTna
ton and exclamation. Then Louise
burst into tears, speedily followed by
Suzanne.
"Come, come" said the old soldier
forcing a smile. Remember, Louise
you are a soldiers daughter. This is
war, and we cannot make war with
rosewater"
ooh. my father what will these
wretches do? They will insult u.s."
Not while l am mere, my child"
'They will murder u.s. sobbed Su
Zanne.
''Now, don't be foolish, but let u
rather think what to do"
Finally it was thus arranged: Louis.
was to give up her room to the officer
and, with Suzanne. take possession o
her fathers room; the private was t.
have Suzannes room and a bed wa
to be made up for the captain in tn
lumber-room under the roof. Scarcel,
had these arrangements been com
pleted when another knock sounded a
the door, and on the invitation f
enter the latch was lifted and a tai
cavalry officer enveloped jim a long blu