Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1901-01-04
! An UNWE|CONE GUEST.
A STORY OF WAR
IN LA VENDEE.


After the town was taken NJ. Henri
made our house his headquarters. Those
who had escaped were chased to the
gates Of Mort. The Marseillais threw
down their arms In the streets and sur
rendered The night advanced, still
they dragged the prisoners into our low
RATED room NJ. Henri cried with vic
torious clemency, Lower your arms
and you shnll not be hurt" The repub-
llcans We're dsarmed and let go free.
pointed out to the young chief the dan
ger of letting hundreds Of rebels wan
der about the outskirts. just when his
men were thinking of nothing but vic
tory and of going each his own way.
"You have some merciless enemies"
I said. "a Marselllais lieutenant nam
ed Rlpard has sworn that he would
kill you In the combat or murder you
afterward on the first opportunity"
On the young chiefs handsome face
there was look of childllke astonish-
ment at Ripard's hatred His brow
clouded at my words. but he dismissed
the thought with shake Of the shout
ders and gave the order to release the
rest Of the prisoners. 50.
1--WE must show them that we have
more humanity than they" he said.
He had scarce finished speaking
when there was tumult outside, and
three Vendean soldiers dragged rough
haired man into the room He had
cruel, bloodshOt eyes; his face was con-
vulsed with rage and hatred.
"'rhls rebel has been arrested. pistol
in hand" said one OF the VendeAns.
Ellis life and liberty were given him.
He made OF. then turned and fred on
his llberntors We dragged his pistol
from him. Here 1t is" And the man
placed the weapon upon the table.
ITO the prison." ordered NJ. Henri.
and, turning to the man. he said, "Your
nameT
The prisoner grinned snvagely. Take
care. My name will nlarm you. | am
Ripard."
tremblrd, NJ. Henri looked at the
Marseillais and said quietly: We'll.
Ripard. you are free. Co..
"Nor' replied the man sullenly. II
know that trick. am unarmed. As
soon as am outside ! shall he shot
down by your soldiers"
my word Is my oath. You shall not
go unnrmed Take your pistol" NJ.
Henri pointed to the pistol on the ia
BILE.
The man Iecred ado you know that
II Is loaded"
For answer NJ. Henri took the pistol
and held it out TO Ripard. The prison
er snatched It from his hand. stuck II
In his belt and, looking At the young
chief with mn evil eye. said sullenly:
where do you expect me 10 gof The
houses are full; there IL no straw. The
country IL unsafe. II you are afraid
to keep me, XIII me. for am worn out.
| cannot drag another step
"SOlt" said NJ. Henri. I'VE are 10
longer fighting. There II II capltula-
ton. If you do not know where 10 go.
you may stop here"
trcmblcd ut the thought Of hnrbor-
ing 50 dangerous n guest and raised a
hundred objections. We had not even
n chair to spare.
at lcnst." said NJ. Henri. "he shall
share my room. The bed IL big enough
for two"
whs dumb with horror There was
a painful silence, broken by ~ Henri
begging me 10 take the torch and show
Ripard 10 his room. The man watched
us narrowly. A drop Of blood hanging
from the corner Of his cyelid rolled
down his cheek. leaving a CHASTITY stain
upon II. ! walked first, showing the
way up the steps, but my heart beat
fast, and the torch trembled In my
hand, throwing weird shadows as we
went. Inside the corridor ! opened the
sleeping room door and placed the light
upon the chimney. The grin on the
Marseillals' face froze my blood with
horror. | fingered, hoping to find a
chance Of whispering to NJ. Henri to
dlsarm Rlpard or, at any rate, TO let
one Of the men sleep In his room. but
he had forgotten about the pistol or
was obstipate In his idea. for he cut
me short, saying:
Good night A demnln. | am worn
out with fatigue"
And 10 hasten my departure he COM
| IneUceu 10 uUIHbten nh coat.
| went away IN despair, leaving the
door ajar behind me. but | heard NJ.
Henri bid Ripard close II, saying that
/ they would sleep more quietly. trem-
bled at the haste with which the man
Obeyed. double locking the door be-
! hind him. In the anguish that possessed
me I had mind 10 cross tho corridor
upon which their room opened. 10 get n
ladder, and climbing up TO watch them
through the narrow oril dc boeuf win.
dow placed high IN the wall hut my
courage failed. SIN I could not nban-
don our guest 20 the mercy Of his
enemy. NJ TTenrrs vendean soldiers
shared my fears. but they dared moi
disobey the command
when NJ. Henri says a thing, he
means IT," they said, but persuaded
one Of them to place his mattress
across the door. begging him 10 spend
the night there, ready to break In n
the first alarm. This done, I retired
but was stlll uneasy. Though
threw myself dressed upon my bed.
could not sleep. An hour passed wear
lily by, then another; the suspense be
came unbearabls. Unable longer Il
suppress my fears. took LADDER
from lumber room AZ the end Of III