Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1895-03-22
Come and get it, you i'll shaped PUP.

A volley from the hussars was the
only answer to those insolent words.
The window panes were broken to frag-
nents. The Vondeens inside returned
the fire and dropped five of the horse
men. The company then dismounted
and rushed against the door of the mill,
which they broke with the butts of
their guns
Surrender, you scoundrels, or in
few moments you'll all be dend -
shouted the officer.
"You are tic scoundreJs" yelled the
woman of the mill. Let me see il you
are able to get my cap.
The hussars entered the lower story,
but the ladder was removed by the Ven
deems, who now fired upon them from
the story above and made terrible raw
ages i'll their ranks.
The woman of the mill busted herself
with the work of loading the guns,
task which she performed with aston
isbing rapidity. The Chouans, sheltered
behind the flour sacks, cared little for
the fire of the Blues.
Take good aim!' cried la meuniore.
Don't let single one escape.
The officer. seeing his men fall all
around him, ordered them to come out
and take the place by storm, scaling the
arms of the mill. 1t was magnificent
assault. Twenty hussars clambered up
the blades. With their carbines thrown
across their backs they clambered up
like sailors to the story above, and
from there fell either killed or wounded
under the balls or the bayonet thrusts
of the Vendeans One brigadier man
aged to get up to the roof by making
rampant of the bodies of his comrades
who held on to the arms like drowning
men to planks.
1--WE are all right my friendsI' cried
he. Guard well the entrance of the
millr' After planting the color of the
company on the weather vane he bored
hole in the roof to admit the barrel OF
his gun. Three times he fired and NOR
tally wounded three men. This threw
the besiegcd into panic. Resistance
was becoming impossible, and the Ven
deans were already raising the butts Of
their guns in the air, when la meuniere
pushed down the ladder and cut off
shouted Then there commenced per-
feet massacre. Attacked above and be-
low, the Vendeans fought like impris-
oned lions When the ammunition was
exhausted, they threw down the sacks
of corn and flour, and, clubbing their
muskets, jumped down among the
Blues, who received them on the points
of their bayonets. 1t was a horrible
spectacle
"Where is la meun ore?' shouted the
hussars.
Here she is, citizens" said she as
she let herself slip along the shaft of the
mill Il have given to you no quarter,
and l don't want any mercy from fell
lows like you'll
"All right, said the officer. "We'll
settle your account in short order.
Place yourself against that wall.
There was something singularly
graceful and proud i'll her bearing and
o glance of whitening contempt III her
: eye as she advanced toward the wall.
Her splendid black hair was now float
ing in disorder upon her shoulders. She
gathered it modestly around her breast,
so as to hide her torn corsets Then she
: stood against the wall.
"Now fire and be d--d!' said she
This piece Of feminine boldness made
! the officer hesitate. GLOW old are you?
; he asked
"Twonty-five.
"Your name?"
81 am la mCuniere du Bornardeau
"Do you want to live?"
"No, I'd rather die than receive mer
cy from you -
"Come now, simply shout Long liv,
- the republc! and I'll let you 90 free. ,
. Long live the king!" she cried i'll
vibrating voice.
A moment afterward there was tn
-, rolling sound Of vOlley. That was til
y last of the meuniere of Bernardeau.
u "She was plucky piece Of flesh, al
q the same, " said the soldiers.
q . Westermann s hussars lost in that at
. tack % men and wounded
. Since then the mill ha. romaine
abandoned as if ii were cursed Open
all the winds of heaven, wi 70 mt q roof
- without arms. it stands. Occasionally
u tramp passing through tho countr
y takes shelter thtre and sleeps with tn
IA swallows and the bats. Following il
. well known habit, the ivy, which seem
to be in love with ruins gradually il
twined itself around it. and from di'
- lance the uncrOwned tower has the a.
d" pect Of ruined fortress.
How many times have | wandere
through that section of the countr
seeking for details of the dramatic seen
10 which have endeavored to picture, bI
la meuniere Of Bernardeau had so bad
az reputation in that country that her h.
10 roic death was not sufficient to GOV,
over. at least in the minds of tho pea
Va antry, the faults which she had
- which were attributed to her. -Figar
il Writing With Both Hands.
y A curious and sc far as we are ava
ey hitherto unpublished fact about the e
y, premier is narrated by Mr.. Lancet
at Strong in The Woman at Home. In Il