Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1900-10-19
SATISFIED.
THE LITTLE
MADEMOISELLE.
A SAD END TO AN
AFFAIR OF LOVE.

wife OF Captain Roger de Gouville, tolt
me what she knew OF little Lieutenan
Yves Barnabe de Pelven, whose chun
had been at st. Cyr and whom ha,
never seen after we left the college.
1t was In 1871. Our regiment wa,
then at the village of F., n few
miles from the provisional frontier
The town lay In the midst of n forest
and had been partly destroyed during
the war We lived In wooden barrack,
that had been built by the Germans
| Not far away was the line OF black
and white posts that marked the pro
visionnl frontier, and It was one OF oul
pastimes to ride out to them. Tn,
young officers dreamed OF nothing but
the chance Of provoking frontier con
nict. Some made targets Of the point
ed helmets found and brought In by
the peasants, arranging matters 80 Ms
to be seen by the German sentinels
Others galloped wildly across the line
and back again.
One OF them, however, Yves de Pei.
ven de Kerdec, took no share In these
pleasantrles. When he was asked to
Join In, he would shrug his shoulders
softly and murmur, Embellishments r.
He was left to do AZ he pleased. No
one cared. Only after awhile we dis
covered that he was accustomed to
take long solitary rides at night and In
a direction that did not lead to France!
We began to watch him more from GU
riosity than from suspicion. my
self, | confess, was drawn toward him
by this original and mysterious mode
OF existence.
youth, feminine, OF features, all nerve
and muscle, tireless, fearless, silent.
He was liked by the men, although
they were a trihe jealous OF that indie
Enable superiority which marked his
breeding. Some Of the old veterans OF
swarthy skin and voice loved him In
spite Of his refinement. They called
him Mile. de Pelven," or "the little
mademoiselle.
With Ave years of service to his cred
II he had still the air OF young con-
script His voice was gentle. ! never
heard him yell or curse the men or
horses. At 10 he had received deco
ration for distinguished bravery at Re-
zOnville.
lie had his lodgings outside OF town
" solitary cottage. surrounded by
Eosebushes and cedars - he and his
dogs Finaud and Tlgresse, great
Dane and u little striped bulldog. His
horses were two long, slender Anglo
Arabs.
We gossiped not little about the
lieutenant, his mode OF life and his
character; we discussed his fortune
and the employment Of his time out
side OF the service, for. besides his reg
ular appearance twice n day mt mess,
no took part In none OF our entertain
mens. He was often seen alOne, gal
looping his horses over the green mead
ows OF the Snone. He rode In some OF
the impromptu races, winning often.
but without pride, without exultatiOn,
taking the things as part of the trade.
He never touched cards. His horses.
his dogs. seemed his sole distraction.
At times he disappeared for week or
30 and on returning would say, my
father was down to see me" 1t was
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