Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1899-04-19
JEANNE'S BRAVERY.

the terrible time When France Law
gasping and bleeding.
One evening we had been silently
smoking for some time when he said.
Did ever tell you. monsieur. how
fell into the hands of the Germans
and out again.
NO" | said. IL thought the Ger
mans shot all the guerillas they
caught"
"They let me go free, monsieur"
he said, with IL grim laugh. "Itmay
seem incredible, monsieur, but Jeanne
yonder held the life of ROYALTY on her
finger tips"
81 should like very much TO hear
the story" said.
"Certainly, monsieur. and if mon
slcur thinks what was done WAS
wrong he must excuse woman in
love"
a
was called IN our village. and thirty
OF us enrolled ourselves as company
of Francstireurs. We felt We could
do more for France as irregulars than
serving under incompetent generals.
We were we'll armed and brave and
skilful old veteran commanded us.
As the Germans were in force around
Metz We marched IN that direction.
and made our headquarters in the
hills behind village called Pencv.
about three leagues from the fortress.
IL was IN Penney Jeanne lived. and
from the first moment ! SAW her.
monsieur. said to myself. If for
tune is kind. Felix. this girl shall he
your wife. Her father was the mil
Ter of Peucy. aud the accursed
Chlans had almost ruined him. They
were very bitter against the invaders
and my profession made me find ia
vOr in her eyes. Before we had been
at Pency month We had plighted
our troth, on the understanding that
we should not marry until France
was rid of the enemy.
Small as our band was we made
ourselves terror TO the marauding
Uhlans, thanks to the generalship of
old Montbon. Jeanne was invalua
ble to us. She was all eyes and ears.
and Montbon called her the head of
the intelligence department of our
band. used to meet her every even
ing. when 1t was possible, in liz
tie cave had discovered, which. hav
ing no outlets, was proof against sur
prise.
1--WE staid three month at Pencv,
and then the place became too hot
for us, and we prepared to leave for
II village some leagues to the south.
fell into the hands of the Bavarians
the very evening before we were TO
leave Penney.
Jeanne declares to this day. and
| believe rightly. that ! WAS betrayed
by a villager, a young fellow named
Odeau, who believed fate had intend
ed Jeanne for his wife. and who was
even savage when she refused him.
But be that as it may, monsieur, !
was seized ut dusk that evening. as
was on my way 10 meet Jeanne, and
taken so completely by surprise that
had not the least chance of defend
ing myself or trying to escape, and.
worst of all, was taken with the rifle
IN my hand.
'"You are an assassin, said the
stout little officer in command in bar
barous French. You shall be shot
Where are your companions"
But professed not to understand.
was afraid of being shot on the
spot. There was much of the execu-
toner and little of the Judge in those
DAYS, monsieur.
"Much to my relief my arms were
bound behind me, and we set out for
the hamlet where the Crown Prince
Frederick had his headquarters.
"As fortune would have it, Jeanne
met us on the road. Monsieur would
suppose that Jeanne is a quiet little
woman, but monsieur has not seen
her thoroughly aroused. She was
reused then, monsieur. She flung
herself on me and tried to release me.
Then she seized the bayonet of Ba-
varian, and if ] had not begged her
for my sake TO be calm she would