Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1898-06-03
BRAVE MARIE.

1t happened in 1870, which ia still
spoken Of as the terrible year" in Bois-
le-Duc. The war between France aud
Prussia had ragged all about them, but
not q soldier had been seen in the tiny
village, for which the peasants daily
thanked their stars. The old man who
lived alono with his con Charles in the
chateau above the town and who was
still known as ale due, " though his title
had vanished with his estates long be-
fore, firmly believed that France was
on the road to ruin, but be scolfed at
the idea that the Prussians would ever
invade French territory.
But one fno summer morning Bois-
le-Duc was startled by tho sound Of
soldiers marched through the town. Up
tho hill went the Prussians, and there,
before the chateau, tho order to halt
was given. The old soldier had seen
their coming and had prepared, accord
ing to his own ideas, to receive them.
From an upper window waved the eel
Ors of France, aud rs one of the Prus
sian officers started to enter the house
to learn tho meaning CT this hostile dis
play he was met by tho old man, who
had dressed himself in his ancient uni.
form and stood. swor1 in hand, in tho
center Of the room.
"Ah, Prussian pig" exclaimed he,
drawing his sword. 'draw and defend
yourself, or / will hcw you down! No
Prussian ever yet entered my house, nor
shall while / live"
His brave words seemed almost ridic-
ulous when ono looked at his white
locks and shaking hand. Tho Prussian
officer smiled at the thought Of a sword
combat with him aud would probably
havo withdrawn. leaving the old nan
IN peace, bgd not an o~verzealous soldier,
thinking that his officer was in danger,
Pushed in and %bayoneted the old man Of
he stood.
The mistake was unfortunate, but the
Prussian command could not afford tc
waste tire over a single dead French.
man. Tho house was fred, the soldier:
marched on, and by tho time tho real
Of tie column disappeared over the next
hill little but a heap of smoking ashe.
was left ON the spot where the old cha.
teau had stood.
But tho boy Charles, standing there
beside the ashes of his father. swore tC
be revenged upon the Prussians. From
that m he was a man.
On the afternoon of tho day on which
the Prussians marched through Bois.lo,
Due Charles learned from tho Villagers
the whereabouts of the nearest body Of
French soldiers and set off to join them,
1t was Soon discovered that the
strange, silent lad was a valuable mem
Der of the company OH account Of hi.
knowledge of woodcraft and his abso
lute fearlessness. Important scouting
duty was intrusted to him, and after
tune he became the captain of the mos
daring Of all tho bands of the franc
tireur. His little company was u con
slant nggravation to the Prussians.
Ono afternoon, shortly after the sec
ond visit Of the Prussians to Bois-le
Due, little Marie Duret was alono il
her parents cottage while they were a
work in the fields. Marie was a comel.
little maiden, a dark eyed, nut brown
peasant girl, and though not u dozeI
had passed over her head sh.
was u neat. thoroughgoing little house
wife. Although her home stood quit
apart from the other cottages and no
far from the great forest, so that /
could scarcely be called a part OF Bots
le-Duo at all. Marie had become so nc
oustomed to playing the mistress for
whole day at a time that she did not il
the least mind the loneliness.
Today she had set the house in order
had swept the floor and had piled besid
the large brick oven a heap Of fagot
against the morrow's baking. All he
tasks completed, Marie took possession
Of a low chair and began sedately L
amuse herself with a large rag doll. he
one playmate and inseparable oompan
ion.
Now. il happened that ON this yer,
morning Captain Charles. the franc
tireur, having COMO out ON a reconnoi
tering expedition, had been cut OF iron
his men by half a dozen Prussian oaval
Tymen and had TO run for his life. Tn
Duret cottage was tho only one nea
him, and so while Marie sat talking l.
Der doll tho door was suddenly burs
open and the soldier rushed in. Mari
knew at once that it was Captain
Charles. for she had often seen hir
about the village. and as she had hear
Of bis brave deeds in aid Of the Freno.
she was not in tho least frightened.
Where canst thou hide me, littl
one7'' the man hnrriedly asked. 18th
Pruasians are ON my track"
Marie had heard stories Of the Prui
slams. and her heart sank with fear a
she thought Of facing such monsters