The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1895-04-06
A Urea CHER0US MAID

Mime. 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.
Mime. Loufourcade lived a short dis
lance from the city Of Lyons. She had
four servants. and tho main difficulty,
provided the officer could reach her
dwelling without discovery, was how
best to guard the secret from them.
II was finally decided that one Of the
females should be taken into her conf
dence and that the officer who was a
rather effeminate looking man. should
come disguised in female attire and be
passed off as a cousin Of Fanchette.
SO Fauchette. arather pretty girl. was
made acquainted with everything.
Captain Layesgne 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 by 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
a week. it being given out that he was
quite ill.,
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-
or, the lady perceived that Fanchette was
pale and trembling
As soon as the officer saw her he ex-
claimed;
well, wench, did you tell the truth
or not? If you did. it's all 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 thisg" cried Mime. Loufour-
cade, in establishment
"Well. | don't carel" said Fanchette
assuming an impudent manner. Its
time the aristocrats was put down and
made to know that other people is as
good rs them. | heard there was re-
ward of a thousand francs offered for
this man. who's dared to come here and
pass himself off as a female. and thought
I'd just as good a right to the money as
anybody"
"And for this you have sold your soul. 3"
groaned her mistress.
Don't come any religious talk over
&
what's been going ON than you think
Religions been swept away by a 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 all
these parties.
There was no resistance made by the
mistress and her terrified servants, and
in very short time all except Fanchette
were secured with cords.
Now. girl" said the officer. with a
coarse laugh. "show us the way to your
sweet female cousin"
Captain Lavergne meantime was not
entirely ignorant of his peril From his
window he had seen the approach of the
soldiers and rightly conjectured they
were in quest of himself His apartment
was SO situated that he could not &c
down stairs and escape without being
seen by some of the servants. He was
alarmed. and his mind became active tc
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 dearly
as possible, but in looking about the
apartment he noticed the fireplace and
discovered that the chimney was larg,
enough to admit his person. He could
see the light at the top, and it occurred
to him that perhaps he might escape
and he resolved TO make the trial.
Taking his pistols with him, Captain
Lavergne hurriedly pushed his way NJ
the chimney, with the view of getting
on the roof. but when he had ascende,
d some eight OF ten feet he discovered I,
{ his agreeable surprise that there was I
r kind Of recess. such as were sometime
left in old fashioned chimneys for thu
purpose Of opening another hue when
r ever it might be wanted, large enough
4 10 conceal him from the view Of any ont
= looking up from below.
Hastily getting into it, he breathed