The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1895-01-24
JEANNE'S BRAVERY.

Felix Labardie had been a French
tireur in the great war of 1870, and
liked nothing better in the evening than
to sit and listen to his stories of the ter
rible time when France lay gasping and
bleeding.
One evening we had been silently
smoking for some time when he said,
Ibid I ever tell you, monsieur, how l
fell into the hands of the Germans and
out again;''
"No,' said. II thought the Ger
mans shot all the guerrillas they
caught. "
''They let me go free, monsieur" he
said, with grim laugh. lit 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 a woman in love.
"After Sedan, monsieur, meeting
was called in our village, and 80 of us
enrolled ourselves as a company Of
Francs tireurs. We felt we could do
more for France as irregu1ars than serv
ing under incompetent generals. We
were we'll armed, and brave and skill
full old veteran commanded us. 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. It was in Pency
Jeanne lived, and from the first moment
l saw her, monsieur, I 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 a 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. I used to meet
her every evening, when it was posi-
BILE, i'll 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 a viii
lage some leagues to the south. I 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, I was seized
at dusk that evening as was on my
way to meet Jeanne, and taken so com.
pletely by surprise that l had not the
least chance of defending myself or try.
ing to escape, and, worse than all, was
taken with the rifle in my hand.
"'You are an assassin, said the stout
little officer in command in barbarous
French. You shall be shot. Where are
your companions?'
"But professed not to understand.
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 fo1
the hamlet where the Crown Primes
Frederick had his headquarters.
''As Fortune would have it, Jeann,
met us ON the road. Monsieur would
suppose that Jeanne is a quiet little wo
man, but monsieur has not seen he1
thoroughly aroused. She was reused
then, monsieur. She flung herself OF
me and tried to release me. Then sh,
seized the bayonet of a Bavarian, ant
if I had not begged her for my sake t.
be calm she would have fought tn,
whole party single handed. Then sh,
fell to beseeching them, for she coult
speak German we'll, but they onl,
laughed at her and drove her off will
foul words. My heart was like Leaf
then, monsieur. But did not know
Jeanne.
II was taken before the princes ad
jutant, who promised me liberty il
would betray my compatriots But
feigned stupidity, and when he foun.
that ! would tell nothing he ordere,
me tosbe shot at 5 the next morning
We give you till then, he said, It
find your tongue. You'll be dunn
enough after And he laughed.
II was bound like q log, monsieur
and thrown into a Init and brutal,
kicked My thoughts were not pleasan
all this time. lay thinking Of Jeanne
whom should never see again. pic