The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-06-14
BRAVE MARIE.

spoken of as the terrible year." In
Bots lie Due. The war between France
and Prussia had ragged all about them,
but not soldier had been seen in the
tiny village, for which the peasants
daily thanked their stars.
The old man who lived alone with
his son Charles, In the chateau above
the town, and who was still known as
lie Due" though his title had vanish
ed with his estates long before, firmly
believed that France was on the road
to ruin, but he scoffed at the idea that
the Prussians would ever invade
French territory.
But one fine summer morning Bots lie
Due was startled by the sound Of mar
tial music and body Of Prussian SOL
diers marched through the town. Up
the hill went the Prussians and there
before the old chateau the order to halt
was given.
The old soldier had seen their COM
ing and had prepared, according to his
own ideas, to receive them. From an
upper window waved the colors Of
France and as one of the Prussian Of
fcers started to enter the house, to
learn the meaning of this hostile dis
play, he was met by the old man, who
had dressed himself in his ancient uni
form and stood sword in hand, in the
center Of the room.
"Ah, Prussian pig" exclaimed he,
drawing his sword, draw and defend
yourself, or will hew you down. No
Prussian ever yet entered my house,
nor shall while live"
/, His brave words seemed almost RI
diculous when one looked at his white
locks and shaking hand. The Prus-
sword combat with him, and would
probably have withdrawn leaving the
old man in peace had not an overzeal-
GUS soldier, thinking that his officer
was in danger, rushed in and bayonet-
ed the old man as he stood.
/ The mistake was unfortunate, but
the Prussian command could not afford
to waste time over single dead
Frenchman. The house was fired, the
soldiers marched on, and by the time
the rear Of the column disappeared
over the next hill little but heap Of
smoking ashes was left on the spot
where the old chateau had stood.
I But the boy Charles, standing there
beside the ashes of his father, swore
to be revenged upon the Prussians.
From that moment he was a mamie
had purpose.
! On the afternoon Of the day on which
the Prussians marched through Bots le
Due Charles learned from the villag-
ers the whereabouts of the nearest
join them.
| 1t was soon discovered that the
strange, silent lad was valuable men,
Der of the company on account of his
knowledge of woodcraft and his abso-
lutte fearlessness. Important scouting
duty was entrusted to him, and after
time he became the captain of the most
daring of all the bands of the francti-
reur. His little company was a con-
slant aggravation to the Prussians, a
very thorn in the sides of division
commanders.
' One afternoon, shortly after the Sec
ond visit Of the Prussians to Bois-le-
Due, little Marie Duret was alone in
her parents cottage while they were at
work in the fields. Marie was a comely
little maiden, dark-eyed, nut-brown
peasant girl, and though not dozen
summers had passed over her head,
she was neat, thorough going little
housewife.
She had set the house in order, had
swept the floor and had piled beside ,
the large brick oven a pile Of faggots !
against the morrow's baking. All her
tasks completed, Marie took possession {
Of low chair and began sedately to .
amuse herself with a rag doll, her
one playmate and inseparable compare +
ion.
Now 1t happened that on this very L
morning Capt. Charles, the franctireur, I
having gone out on reconnoitering
expedition, had been cut off from his ,
men by half dozen Prussian cavalryS
men, and had to run for his life The,
Duret cottage was the only one near .
him, and so, while Marie sat talking to
her doll the door was suddenly burst
open and the soldier rushed in.
Where canst thou hide me little
one?" the man hurriedly asked. THE
Prussians are on my track"
Marie had heard those stories Of the
Prussians and her heart sank with fear
at the thought Of facing such monsters.
she showed herself a
brave little woman.
Truly, there were few hiding places J
In the little cottage. Then her eyes
fell on the large baking oven and her
busy little brain found way out of the
difficulty. She quickly babe the franc ,
Iireur get inside tho oven and then
she filled 1t with the loose fag- .
COTS.