Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1901-08-02

halt was given. The old soldier had
ben their coming and had prepared,
ccording to his ideas, to receive them.
rom an upper window waved the col
rs of France and as one of the Prus-
ian officers started to enter the house
learn the meaning of this hostile dis
lay he was met by the old man, who
ad dressed himself in his ancient uni
orm and stood, sword in hand, in the
enter of the room.
"Ah, Prussian pigw exclaimed he,
rawing his sword. DRAW and de-
10 Prussan ever yet entered my house
or shall while live"
His brave words seemed almost ride
lous when one looked at his white
bcks and shaking hand. The Prussian
tficer smiled at the thought of a sword
ombat with him and would probably
ave withdrawn, leaving the old man
b peace, had not an overzealous SOL
Ter, thinking that his officer was in
anger, rushed in and bayoneted the
Id man as he stood.
The mistake was unfortunate, but
be Prussian command could not af-
ord to waste time over a single dead
Frenchman. The house was fired, the
Oldiers marched on, and by the time
be rear of the column disappeared
yer the next hill little but heap of
moking ashes was left on the spot
there the old chateau had stood.
But the boy Charles, standing there
eside the ashes of his father, swore to
revenged upon the Prussians. From
urpose.
On the afternoon of the day on which
be Prussians marched through Bots lie
buc Charles learned from the villagers
be whereabouts of the nearest body
French soldiers and set off to join
hem.
1t was soon discovered that the
TRANCE, silent lad was a valuable
hember of the company on account OF
is knowledge of woodcraft and
is absolute fearlessness. Important
couting duty was intrusted to him
nd after a time he became the cap
ain Of the most daring of all the
lands Of the franc-tireur. His little
ompany was a constant aggravatior
b the Prussians, a very thorn in the
ides Of division commanders.
One afternoon shortly after the sec
nd visit of the Prussians to Bots /,
buc little Marie Duret was alone IL
er parents cottage while they wer'
t work in the fields. Marie was ,
omely little maiden, dark eyed, nu
rown peasant girl, and though not /
czen summers had passed over he
cad she was a neat, thoroughgoini
little housewife. Although her hom
TODD quite apart from the other cot
ages and not far from the great for
st, so that it could scarcely be callet
part of Bots lie Due at all, Marie hal
ecome so accustomed to playing tn
distress for whole day at time tina
he did not In the least mind the lone
ness.
Today she had set the house in order
ad swept the floor and had piled be
ide the large brick oven a heap O
agots against the morrow's baking
LII her tasks completed. Marie too
POSSESSION of a low chair and bega
edately to amuse herself with a larg
Jag doll, her only playmate and insepa
able companion.
Now, it happened that on this yer
morning Captain Charles, the franz
ireur, having gone out on reconno
ering expedition, had been cut o
rom his men by half dozen Prussia
kavalrymen and had run for his lif
rhe Duret cottage was the only on
lear him, and so while Marie sat tall
ng to her doll the door was suddenl
burst open, and the soldier rushed Il
1arie knew at once that 1t was Cal
ain Charles. for she had often see