The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-12-31

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; [ 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-
tally
."Ts it you who are Nine. Jambe?'
I" Yes, I am she, I answered him.
"'Your SON has just entered this
house.
"'My son! He is far away from
here, always supposing that he is still
alive.
It" He is here; T am sure of it.
Come, now, where is be?
you must seek him, them
SHE 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 had be-
trayed my son.
cat last the brutes found him-him
and his friends, and I saw them
dragged out covered with the hay in
which they had attempted to conceal
themselves. And my ao"i R"~r 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 lind nothing.
''The officer stamped about the
room, mad with rage. CHANGING at
the prisoners, he said:
SIS your son amongst them?
"'He 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 shouting:
"'Where is the man who gave us
the information?
"'One of his companions has just
killed him, Prussian sergeant re-
piled, pointing to corpse which [ had
not seen, hidden as it was behind q
bush.
"The traitor was q franc-tireur, who,
to save his own life, had given up my
son to the enemy. His punishment
had not been long delayed.
" The murderer will be shot' crlec
the officer; then, looking fercely at
group of villagers who were covering
under his mems bayonets, he con
) tinued:
"'Some one among you knows th'
man Jambe; point him out to me, O.
will order my men to fire on you.
!, "Ah! they were brave, my neigh
I bors, they made no reply.
Il "'Then we will soon find out HI
e gave an order in a low voice. Hi
e men pinned me with my back agains
wall, and placed rifles in the hand
of my son and his comrades.
: "And the officer said:
"'On the word of command 20
q will fire and kill that woman. If 20
u disobey it will be your turn next.
e "a cry Of horror ran through tn
o crowd, followed by a dead silence.
W well, offered my soul to the DO
"a Dieu, telling myself that l must TT
/ to show how French woman coul
81 die if need be, and l waited, watchin
u my son.
But he did not seem to see M
Is His ewes were turned to his comrades
T. They seemed to be making signs
g. one another.
"'Presentp and they obeyed, cove
u ing me with their rifles.
u "'Fire!' They turned sudden
Us to the right about. An exploslt
~ followed, and four Prussians, tt
err officer among the number, fell. Al
1d above the roar of the discharge
at heard my boys voice clearly:
"'Fire! Yes, but on you, Vt
Dr. coward!
OF ga general voley on the part of t
lie Prussians followed, and [ fell with
al bullet in my shoulder. Before l lo
mt consciousness, however, I saw tn Il
ny my son was still unhurt.
ng 81 learned afterward that, just
raj this moment, the cannon OF the Fo
de Joux began to play. The co
RS mandant had caught the reflection
ng the sunlight from the Prussian's h
oh NETS, and, concluding-none too SO
OF that something untoward was ia
er, ing place, had sent q few shells IL
5ht the crowd and rapidly dispersed
rec enemy"
Nine. Jambe died few years at
an the events, which have related
my nearly as I can in her own words, to
ing place. Her story was recalled to
riy mind the other day on hearing tt
'lct the son of this brave woman had j.
rly been promoted to the command OF
see regiment. -Pearson's Weekly.
- VIZ The Porto Rico Marketman.
'n0 rmarketman in Porto Rico is