The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1895-12-28
A VENDEAN HEROINE


1t was a pretty little windmill. with
its big round tower capped ty a weather
vane, its long arms or blades which rat
tied in the west wind like the sails Of
boat in stays, and its little round win
dows looking over the hills of ANTON
like the telescopes of an astronomer
such was the windmill of Bernardeau.
and when it was working all the wind
mills around the neighborhood looked
like white sea gulls pursued by bird of
prey. 1t was situated on the slope Of
the Guigne at the end Of little crooked
pathway hardly wide enough for the
mill donkey, and in which one might
search in vain for traces of human foot
prints, because it was so dark under its
vault Of shrubbery, so muddy and rug
ged that the woman of the mill always
took to the vines when on her way to
Ancenis on foot
And a handsome woman, too, was
this lady of the mill. She was 20 years
old, with a well rounded form, little
hand, flashing dark eyes, lips as red as
wild cherries and well turned leg
She was smart in her attire, and there
was little in her appearance to reveal
the fact that she was widow. When
she came into the village mounted upon
the donkey that carried her bags OF
flour, all the young fellows came out ia
admire her fine figure and the beautiful
limbs which appeared below her short
skirts.
Even the donkey himself seemed
proud of his mistress. He travelled along
at an easy gait, tossing his head and
cooking his ears, as if to say to every.
body: Here she is. You have only &c
look at her. This is la Meuniere of Der
nardeau. There isn't another woman
like her in all.the countryW And that
was the truth But she was the subject
of a great deal of gossip. How tn,
tongues didwag on her account 1t wai
said that since the death Of her hus
band, poor goose of a fellow who hat
taken her without cent from farm
and left her all his property, she FIRE
quently tossed her cap over the blade
of her windmill Whether this was tru
or not, the blades certainly never told
but one thing is certain, and that j
that she did hang up her cap there pub
licly on one occasion, and it cost he
her life Here is her story:
The first thing the Vendeans di
when they rose in revolt against the re
public was to make use of the wind
mills. Nothing could be better suite
trA a.
the enemy Where the Blues could onl
see white wings turning round in
melancholy fashion, the Ghouans poi
sessed a perfect Geographic system
which told them of the movements {
the republican army.
The windmill of Bernardeau was on
Of the principal vedettes on the Loire
Three days before the attack upo
Nantes. Cathelineau came to the mi
of Bernardeau and asked for shelter.
was the 22d of June, 1898. Boncham
was at Ancenis'since the. 18th awaitin
the main body Of the army. The weath'
was magnificent, and the Nendeal
car'ped in the open air. When Cath
lineau at the end of little road four
himself face to face with the beautif
woman Of the mill, he asked her if 81
was a royalist
Ono might easily become a royal
to serve under so handsome an officer
you" said she.
- GOOD enough Then let me- ha'
shelter here tonight. "
The meuniere cheerfully welcome
him, and Cathelineau slept that night
the mill. The next morning when
was leaving she sent TO him from G
threshold of the mill perfect volley
kisses, after which she went up to {
highest little window in tho mill al
waved her little white handkerchief.
Eight days afterward CatheliDea
mortally wounded, was coming fro
Ancensis in a carriage, and as he-pass
by the mill be cast long aud sad 10
at it. According to the order. its blad
were arranged so rs to announce the a
proach of the soldiers of Canclaux
From the 18th of October to the Z
of December, duriig.th 60 days viii
separated the two retreats of the We
dean army on the Loire, the mill of 81
nardeau continued its signals of intel
gence with those of LasVendee But {
18th of December was itsiast day.
Harassed by the Masepcais;. ii
crushed them at the battleof Mans I
vandeens reached Ancenis and endes
ored to cross the Loire, but'for want
sufficient RATS considerable numl
Of them were Obliged to abandon I
effort and to advance through the COT
try, in the hope Of escaping the eIren
AT sight Of this old mill. which th
Immediately recognized as an al
=, about 20 men took refuge in it Just
the moment when Westermann came
the heights Of Bel Air
Suddenly puff Of blue smoke roll
from one Of. the upper windows OF I
mill The meuniere herself commenC
the fight.
'"Good' sifoti' she said. "There
one less now"