Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-04-17

Come and get it, you ill shaped pup
py!'
A volley from the hussars was tho
only answer to those insolent words.
The window panes were broken to frag.
ments. The Vendeens 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 a
few moments you'll all be dead! 7"
shouted tie officer.
"You are the scoundrels!'' yelled tho
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 in their ranks
The woman of the mill busted herself
with the work Of loading the guns a
task which she performed with aston.
ishing rapidity. The Chouans, sheltered
behind the flour sacks, cared little for
the fire of the Blues.
"Take good aim!" cried la meuniere.
Don't let a 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 q
rampant of the bodies of his comrades
who held on to the arms like drowning
men to planks.
"We are all right, my friendsr' cried
he. "Gnard we'll the entrance of the
MILL" After planting the color of the
company Oh 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 besieged 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
their retreat. "Now die like men!" she
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 -four, and, clubbing their
muskets, jumped down among the
Blues, who received them Oh the points
Of their bayonets. 1t was horrible
spectacle
"Where is la meuniere?' shouted the
hussars.
Here she is, citizens" said she as
she let herself slip along the shaft of the
mill. II have given to you no quarter,
and / don't want any mercy from fell
lows like youp'
Cali right" said the officer. "We'll
settle your account in short order.
Place yourself against that wall"
There was something singularly
graceful and proud in her bearing and
q glance Of whitening contempt in 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 dbl" said She
This piece of feminine boldness made
the officer hesitate. "How old are your"
he asked.
Twenty five"
''Your name?'
II am la meuniere du Bernardeau.
DO you want to liver"
"No, I'd rather die than receive mer-
cy from you"
"Come now, simply shout Long live
the republic!' and I'll let you go free. "
'Long live the king" she cried in a
vibrating voice.
A moment afterward there was tho
rolling sound Of a volley. That was the
last Of the meuniere Of Bernardeau.
"She was a plucky piece Of flesh, all
the same" said the soldiers.
Westermann s hussars lost in that at
tack 20 men and wounded.
Since then the mill has remained
abandoned as If it were cursed. Open to
all the winds of heaven, without a roof,
without arms, it stands. Occasionally a
tramp passing through the country
takes shelter there and sleeps with the
swallows and the bats. Following its
we'll known habit, the ivy, which seems
to be in love with ruins, gradually in.
twined itself around it, and from dis
tance the uncrowned tower has the as
pect Of q ruined fortress.
How many times have I wandered
through that section of the country
seeking for details Of the dramatic scene
which have endeavored to picture, but
la meuniere of Bernardeau had so bad
reputation in that country that her he
roic death was not sufficient to cover
over. at least in the minds of the peas
antry, the faults which she had or
which were attributed to er.-Figaro.