Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-11-16
A WOMAN'S PLUCK.

"A OMAN y L LUCA.
She was one of the smallest women, SO
small indeed that If it had not been for her
marvelously nice proportions people would
have called her dwarf. Anyhow, small
though she was, there never beat a Drawer
heart than the one beneath the plain bod
ice of Jeanne Dupree.
This fact her husband discovered one
day, to his everlasting shame, in a man
ner altogether startling and unexpected.
Philippe Dupree had been heavy dra-
COON, and maybe it was his great stature,
or his bombast flor he could bragg, or his
bright blue eyes, or possibly these taken
altogether, that had endeared him to
Jeanne in the days gone by.
1t was an amusing yet withal pathetic
sight in the early days Of their married
life to see how much the tiny woman
made of the great, Dragging, indolent SOL
dier-great in everything except soul-yet
with all his faults she loved him even now.
Notwithstanding her diminutive size
the petite Jeanne managed her home to
perfection. Her brain had not stopped
growing with her body.
With their two children they lived in a
house such as one often sees in the towns
and cities of Normandy-high and mar
row, with fantastic gables and deep
stone parapet running along the roof. In
fact, the house was old fashioned, but pic
turesque, and it proved godsend to
Jeanne. 1t was left her by an old aunt
with whom she had lived as child.
The ex-cavalryman was considered for
tunate to have secured two such tasty
"dots' at one venture, but he only looked
on it as happy provision Of Providence
to save him from work, which he alb
horred.
Great numbers of English tourists had
at last discovered Normandy, with its
peaceful homesteads, it's fruits and flowers
and old world inhabitants, SO that Jeanne
found an easy way to make a living by let
ting the lower and better part of her house.
This necessitated being satisfied with
the top floor for themselves, q, .a'range-
ment which was-the subje6E OF endless
complaint s;iis~Sps her lord and rts.suer
: But there come U an swnem HIS dfsc0ns
tent became open mutiny. "He wouldn't
stand it any longer Confound the dodgers!
What right had they to live in a garrett
when they could have the best room in
the house?"
Some such arrangement would have
suited our bold warrior There he would
have posed in all the glory of an immacu-
late white waistcoat (Jeanne's handi-
work., a gorgeous necktie and elegant
stockings He was never satisfied. Men
who dislike honest work never are.
That night Jeanne went to bed thor
oughly disguised with her lot in particu-
lar and the world generally.
In the middle of the night she awoke
with tickling sensation in her throat.
She smelled the smoke and knew the house
must be on fire.
Rousing Philippe, she rushed out on
the landing, thinking only of her children.
10 her horror, she could not open the door
to their room. 1t was not locked, but the
house was very old, and in some mystic
rious manner the plastered wall had given
out and strained and damned the door.
She exerted all her puny strength to
burst it open, but without avail. She
called their names, but with the sleep OF
healthy and happy childhood they slept on
regardless OF danger.
Shrieking in frenzy, philippe, for
Gods sake come quickly!' she rushed
back to her own room just in time to sec
the braggart dragon basely deserving her
at this moment of her need.
He had already mounted a chair, and
with shaking hands was christening the
easement so as to make his escape on to
the roof.
Almost speeches. with his callous in
difference, the poor little woman paused
for an instant-then rushed over and pull
cd the chair from under him.
The collapse was instantaneous. Down
he fell with a crash, and lay glazing in d
paroxysm Of fear at the fragile creature
who had SO effectually stopped his coward
ly flight. She saw in his eyes the madness
of absolute fear and would fain have let
him go, but in the room beyond lay her
two precious darlings. He must save
them-his great strength could shatter
that door to splinters.
Quick as thought Jeanne darted across
the room, and took from the table by the
side of the bed a revolver which he had
boastingly provided for burglars, should
any dare to cross his threshold. Oh, he
was brave man! Every well,' she said
calmly though her heart was faint at hel
children's peril "If a soldier OF France
can forget his honor, and basely desert his
post in time Of danger, his wife shall
show him how to die.
sUnless you try to save the children we
will die together, and may Jesus have
mercy on us. !"