The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1895-02-06
JEANNE'S BRAVERY.

JEANNE'S BRAVERY.
Felix Labardie had been o French
tireur in the great war Of 1870, and /
liked nothing better in the evening than
to sit and listen to his stories of tho ter
rible time when France lay gasping and
bleeding.
One evening we had been silently
smoking for some time when he said,
Ibid / ever tell you, monsieur, how !
fell into the hands of the Germans and
out againf"
mo" 1 said. "I thought the Ger
mans shot all the guerrillas they
caught. +"
"They let me go free, monsieur. he
said, with grim laugh. at may seem
incredible, monsieur, but Jeanne yon-
der held the life of royalty on her finger
tips. "
81 should like very much to hear the
story" ! said.
Certainly, monsieur, and If mon
sieur thinks what was done was wrong
he must excuse o woman in love.
after Sedan, monsieur, a meeting
was called in our village. and 80 of Us
enrolled ourselves as company of
Francs tireurs. We felt we could do
more for France as irregulars than sery-
ing under incompetent generals We
were we'll armed, and bravo and skill
full old veteran commanded as. As the
Germans were in force around Metz. we
marched in that direction and made our
headquarters in the hills behind viii
lage called Penney, about three leagues
from the fortress. 1t was in Penney
Jeanne lived, and from the first moment
saw her, monsieur, l said to myself, If
fortune is kind, Felix, that girl shall be
your wife. Her father was the miller
of Penney, and the accursed Uhlans had
almost ruined him. They were very bit
ter against the invaders, and my profess
sion made me find favor in her eyes.
Before we had been at Penney month
we had plighted our troth, on the under
standing that we should not marry until
France was rid of the enemy.
"Small as our band was. we made our
selves terror to the marauding Uhlans,
thanks to the generalship Of old Mont
bon. Jeanne was invaluable to us. She
was all eyes and ears. and Montbon
called her the head of the intelligence
department. of our band. used to meet
her every evening. when it was posi-
BILE, III q little cave had discovered,
which, having no outlets, was proof
against surprise.
1--WE staid three months at Penney,
and then the place became too hot for
us, and we prepared to leave for viii
lage some leagues to the south. / fell
into the hands of the Bavarians the very
evening before we were to leave Penney.
"Jeanne declares to this day, and !
believe rightly, that was betrayed by
villager, young fellow named Odeau,
who believed the Virgin had intended
Jeanne for his wife, and who was ever
savage when she refused him. But be
that as it may, monsieur, / was seized
at dusk that evening as was on my
way to meet Jeanne, and taken 80 COM
pletely by surprise that ] had not the
least chance Of defending myself or try
ing to escape, and. worse than all, was
taken with the rife in my hand.
You are an assassin, said the stout
little officer In command in barbarous
French. 'Yon shall be shot. Where are
your companions?'
"But / professed not to understand. j
was afraid Of being shot on the spot.
There was much of the executioner and
little of the judge in those days. mon
sieur.
Much to my relief, my arms were
bound behind me, and we set out for
the hamlet where the Crown Prince
Frederick had his headquarters.
"As Fortune would have 1t, Jeanne
met us ON the road. Monsieur would
suppose that Jeanne is quiet little wo-
man, but monsieur has not seen her
thoroughly aroused. She was reused
then, monsieur She flung herself on
me and tried to release me. Then she
seized the bayonet Of Bavarian, and
if had not begged her for my sake to
be calm she would have fought the
whole party single handed. Then she
fell to beseeching them, for she could
speak German well, but they only
laughed at her and drove her of with
foul words. My heart was like lead
then, monsieur. But did not know
Jeanne.
II was taken before the princes ad-
jutant, who promised me liberty If ]
would betray my compatriots. But ]
feigned stupidity, and when he found
that would tell nothing he ordered
me to be shot at the next morning
We give you till then, he said, to
find your tongue You'll be dumb
enough after And he laughed.
II was bound like log, monsieur.
and thrown into a hut and brutally
kicked. My thoughts were not pleasant
all this time. / lay thinking Of Jeanne.
whom should never see again, pic-
turing that, womanlike, she would go
home and weep in her helplessness and
despair But did not know her then.
She was working for me with all the
energy and wit Of woman. Jeanne.
Jeanne, ma petite, come here"
Jeanne came to the door.
Come and tell monsieur how yon
saved me, ma petite"
A blush overspread Jeanne's features
What that foolish story again?'
Certainly not foolish, Iinterposed.
81 should deem IL q kindness II You
would oblige me-"
"If monsieur wishes it. and monsieur
will allow me, Twill get my knitting"
Certainly" ] said.
when ] saw him carried off,"
Jeanne began as soon as she was seated,
81 was in despair, for ! knew what his
fate would be-. And then the good Vir-
gin put an idea into my head, and !
prayed to her to give me tho strength
and cunning to carry 1t out There had
been a sharp fight a week before, and
/ knew Jacques Pellot had possessed
himself Of some German uniforms that
he had taken from the dead. So / de-
manded them from him and threatened