The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-01-27
JOAN OF ARC.
HER WONDERFUL STORY

IA
suitable match was offered her and
the lover was so eager that he even
sought the aid of the courts to force
her consent; but without success.
She vowed to remain virgin, and
she was constant in her belief that
heavenly Voices called her to the
great work of saving France.
Again she went TO her uncle. and
again she gained through him access
to the governor of VancOulers.
He answered her as before, scoffing-
ly.
II must go to the Dauphin," said
Joan, though l should journey on my
knees"
Such strange talk rs this got noised
abroad, and many people came to see
the girl, out Of curiosity.
Among them was knight called
John Of Metz. So impressed was he
by her intense earneStness, her evil
dent purity and confidence, that he
laid his hands within hers, in the old
chivalrOus fashion, ald vowed that by
Gods help he would take her to the
king.
Another knight, Bertrand de Poul-
engy, gave a like prolnise.
And now the wind begins to set In
Joan's favor. Faith hegets faith. The
scOffing governor suddenly grows at
tentive and respectful. He brought a
Priest to see her with view of learn
her was good or evil. She received the
holy man upon her bended knees, made
a good impression upon him thereby,
and he reported favofably to the hesi-
tating governor.
Still he doubted, and still he delayed.
For three weeks the pCOr girl was
kept waiting till this governor could
get his mind in shape to decide what
to do.
During this wears. interval Joan
spent her time with fsaterIne LIE Roy
er helping her in household work, and
spending much time at prayer in the
chapel.
The people of Vancoulers came for
| ward as her friends. They gave her a
horse and the equipments Of a soldier.
Still the governors mind wOhbled
around without reault.
Then came news Of a battle, in
which the French had, as usual, been
beaten.
"In Gods name let me co." says
Joan; and at last the governor came
in out of the fog ard consented.
He gave her sword and letter to
the king.
With her two pledged knights and
four armed men OF lesser rank, she set
out on Feb. %, 1929, to go to the king;
She did not see her parents to bid
them farewell, but she sent them a
letter entreating their forgiveness.
II.
f+or tho 1Nroofv IF n rOvoc tho Tn
glish king remained in France, admir- D.
istering It's affairs in every province,
save three or four, which still remain
ed faithful to the Dauphin.
Henry V died in August, 1922. The
imbecile French King, Charles vi,
died seven weeks afterwards.
The infant son of the English king
was proclaimed king of France, at
Paris, and was recognized as such by
the French parliament, the universi-
ty Of Paris, the Queen Isabella, the
first "prince of the blood" Philip OF
Bergundy, and nearly all the provinces
Of the Kingdom
A few French knights ip the South
| proclaimed the son Of the French
King, and the Southern provinces re.
cognized him as Charles VII.
Almost imme ediately he suffered two
| defeats in battle, and his cause was
at such a low ebb that he wandered
about from cattle to castle, and was de-
risively called 1.-THE King OF Bourgess.
He had not yet been crowned. His
legitimacy was questioned. His finan
ces were so low that the very scullion.
in his kitchen clamored angrly foI
their unpaid wages.
Such was his distress that he ha(
sold his jewelry and precious trinhets
Even his clothes showed poverty, anG
his bootmaker. not being paid the
cash, refused to credit Charles for q
new pair of boots, and took then
away.
His armies had been driver n in every
where, and now the English had lait
siege to Orleans" the key to th'
South" If Orleans fell. all was lost
The English had takenthe towns il
the neighborhood Of Orleans; hae
driven in the outposts of the defend
ers, and had erected forts and bas