The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1897-05-21
THE REBELS DOLL DRESS.

''hheCle WAS ialf lltIle girl OF nVe
summers, and with her wee, tight-fit-
ting white hood and tiny sabots was
as pretty child as could have been
found anywhere in Vendee.
Jean Malo. ner iather, farmer on
the estate of Count de Mor(line, had
quilted his home weeks previously
with several companions, with his gun
slung over his shoulder and a stout
club in his hand, to hunt the boar
at least, SO he said. But it was in 1898:
Gen. Santerre's granadiers had inva-
ded Brittany, and Yvonnette's mother
had grave reason to fear that he had
gone on an infinitely more dangerous
hunt.
Rumors of fighting had circulated
freely throughout the province, the
tocsin changed from church towers,
and in response thereto the youth OF
the villages were flocking to the stand
ard Of Cathelineau, whom the Bretons
had chosen for their commander-in-
chief.
On the day on which this story
opens, Yvonnette's mother was more
thoughtful and agitatcd than usual
so that her trouble was noticed by the
child, who demanded several times
"Where is papa?''
Receiving no answer to this and
other questions, she at last drew her
little stool up to the window, and
sought consolation with her doll Rose.
The latter was beautiful Breton doll
that her father had bought at fair at
Auray year before, and was Yvon-
ette's inseparable companion and the
recipient of all her condolences.
Suddenly shouts were heard out
side, followed by several shots fired in
quick succession. The child was in
no way frightened. The changing of
the bells, the sound of firearms, and
the shouting of an excited crowd were
familiar sounds to her, and were mere
ly associated in her baby mind with
the holidays, when the grand lords and
ladies from the neighborlng castle
deigned to take part in the fetes and
dancing upon the village green. But
Anne Malo, her mother, white and
rigid as a taper, and her hands press
ed tightly upon her heart, was gazing
out of the window with wide, frighten-
ed eyes.
wv hat is the matter, mama ?" ques-
toned the child.
"Hush, darling !" was the only reply
of the farmers wife, who suddenly re-
covered herself, closed the shutters, lit
the lamp, and dropped on her knees
beside the bed.
Yvonnette watched her wondering
ly, and her big blue eyes wandered
from the kneeling figure to the high
gothic fireplace beside which the cat
was purring and blinking contentedly.
She was about to follow her inclina-
tion and go to play with him, when
the door was flung open, and coun-
tryman, pale and dedraggled, with
gun in one hand and a flag in the 9th
err, burst into the house and slammed
the door behind him.
"Papa! papa!' screamed Yvonnette
delighte,lly.
Anne Malo had sprung to her feet
and thrown herself into her husbands
arms.
"Whatever has happened? 2" she sob
bed. 81 have been nearly wild with
anxiety every hour since you have
been away"
"All is lost =, responded the farmer
moodily. Take this flag and hide it
carefully. If ever the Blues should
find it here it would be all up with
u.s.
He kissed the standard reverently,
and handed it to her. AS he did so, a
few drops of blood oozed from under
his cap and down his matted hair
"Jean, you are wounded!'' exclaim-
ed Anne.
"No, it is nothing" replied the
Chouan, picking up his gun.
"Where are you going? she demand
ed. resolutely barring the koor with
her body.
"'ro fight with the Others"
You will do nothing of the kind ?"
"Witc, let me pass !" ordered Malo.
''My comrades are waiting for me. Ii
is my duty"
"You shall not go!" she repeated
Then STOPPING swiftly, she picked up
the cli.d and held her up to him.
"You haven't even kissed baby"
she exclaimed reproachfully.
Malo wavercd
"They will think am coward"
he groaned, staggering against the bed
in spite of himself, and leaning upon it
for support.
''Jcan, you are wounded; l know
it, Come into the cellar and let me-
take care Of you," she entreated "Tht|
enemy might search for you, and you
must live for me-for Yvonette."
'No, | must CO." he insisted, brac-
ing himself with an effort; but his
strength gave out as he said it, and he
reeled into her arms She supported
I L