Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1897-03-04
YVONN ETTE.

fitting white hood and tiny saoots was
as pretty a child as could have been
found anywhere in Vendee.
Jean Malo, her father, farmer on
the estate Of Count de Mordine, had
Quilted his home for some weeks pre-
viously 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; General Santerre's grenadiers
had invaded 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 tie youth OF
the villages were aocking 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 agitated than usual, so
much 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 the fair
at Auray, year before, and was
Yvonnette's inseparable companion
and the recipient of all her conf
dences.
Suddenly shouts were heard outside,
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
lv associated in her baby mind with
the holidays, when the grand lords
and ladies from the neighboring 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 pressed
tightly upon her heart, was gazing out
of the window with wide, frightened
eyes.
What is the matter, mamma p
questioned the child.
Hush, darling y was the only reply
Of the farmers wife, who suddenly
recovered herself, closed the shutters,
lit the lamp and dropped on her knees
beside the bed.
Yvonnette watched her wonderingly
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 a coun-
tryman, pale and bedraggled, with a
gun in one hand and flag in the
other, burst into the house and
slammed the door behind him.
Papa Papa screamed Yvon-
nette, delghtedly.
Anne Malo had sprung to her feet
and thrown herself into her husbands S
arms.
Whatever has happened ?" she
sobbed. Il 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
us.
He kissed the standard reverently
and handed it to her. As he did so
few drops of blood oozed from under
his cap and down his matted hair.
Jean, you are wounded = exclaimed
Anne.
NO, it is nothing, replied the
Chouan, picking up his gun.
"Where are you going?" she de-
manded, resolutely barring the door
with her body.
ITO fight with the others
"You will do nothing of the kind.
wife, let me pass" ordered Malo.
MY comrades are waiting for me. 1t
is my duty"
"You shall not go, she repeated.
Then STOPPING swiftly she picked up
the child and held her out to him.
"You haven't even kissed baby" she
exclaimed, reproachfully.
Malo wavered.