The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1898-12-15

''1 pushed my son and his friends
into storeroom, at the farther end OF
which, under some hay, was the door
leading into the cellar where I kept
my little stock of wine and cider.
"The Prussians entered in through
the open door; I saw others in the
road. There must have been about
one hundred of them altogether. A
young officer was IN command.
"He came up to me and said, bru-
"sIs it you who are Nine. Jambe?'
"sYes, I am she, I answered him.
"'Your son has just entered this
house.
my son! He is far away from
here, always supposing that be is still
alive
"sHe is here; T am sure of it.
Come, now, where is he?
you must seek him, then
ssHe made sign, and I was sur
rounded and prevented from moving
my position. The soldiers ransacked
the house, I asked myself meanwhile
who could be the coward who hac be-
trayed my son.
"At last the brutes found him-him
and his friends, and 7 saw them
dragged out covered with the hay in
which they had attempted to conceal
themselves. And my son! HoT brave
and handsome he looked with his
flashing eyes. Yes! he was my own
flesh and blood, and I felt proud OF
him. They were vigorously searched
for the message they were supposed
to bear, but as it was verbal one
they could ind nothing.
''The officer STAMPED about the
room, mad with rage. Glancing at
the prisoners, he said:
"'ls your son amongst them?
"tHe is not; and if he were l would
not confess it.
HE drew his sword on me, and
then we were all dragged out into the
roadway, the officer shout ng:
"'Where is the man who gave us
the information?
sOne of his companions has just
killed him, a Prussian Sc geant re-
piled, pointing to corpse which I had
not seen, hidden as it was behind a
bush.
"rhe traito:was franc-tireur, who,
to save his Own life, hal given up my
son to the enemy. His punishment
had not been long delayed:
"'The murderer will be shot! cried
the officer; then, looking hercely at a
group Of villagers who were covering
under his mems bayonets, he con-
tinusd:
Some one among you knows the
man Jambe; point him out to me, or
I will orde: my men to fire on you.
"Ah! they were brave, my neigh
bors, they made no reply.
"'Then we will soon find out BE
gave an order in low voice. His
mea pinned me with my back against
wall, aad placed ri2es>in the hands
of my son and his comrades.
Ana the Oa1cer SalI.
econ the word Of command you
will FIRE and kill that woman. If you
disobey it will be your turn next
"a cry of horror ran through the
crowd, followed by dead silence.
well, I offered my soul to the bon
Dieu, telling myself that I must try
! to show how French woman could
die if need be, and 1 waited, watching
my son.
'sBnt he did not seem to see me.
His ewes were turned to his comrades.
They seemed to be making signs to
one another.
"'Present!' and they obeyed, cover
ing me with their rides.
"'Fire!' They turned suddenly
to the right about. An explosion
fo lowed, aud four Prussians, the
officer among the number, fell. And
above the roar of the discharge ]
! heard my boys voice clearly:
"'Fire! Yes, but on you, you
coward!'
~ general volley on the part Of the
Prussians fvllowed, and I fell with a
bullet ia my shoulder. Before I lost
consciousness, however, I saw that
my son was still unhurt.
"I learned afterward that, just at
this moment, the cannon of the Fort
de Joux began to play. The com
maalant had caught the reflection OF
the sunlight from the Prussian's he'll
NETS, and, concluding-none too soon
that something un:oward was tax
ing place, had sent a few shells into
the crowd and rapidly dispersed the
eueny."
Nine. Jambe died few years after
the e, ents, which I have related as
nearly as I can iu her own words, took
place. Her story was recall ed to my
MUD the other day on hearing that
the son of this brave woman had just
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