The representative., 1901-03-28
THE LITTLE MADEMOlSELLE

Thus it is that Nine. De Gouville-the wife
OF Capt Roger De GOuville-told me what
she knew of little Lieut.. Yves Barnabe De
Pelven, whose chum had been at Saint
Cyr, and whom had never seen after We
left the college.
1t was in 1871. Our regiment was then at
the village Of F., few miles from the pro-
visional frontier. The town lay in the midst
OF forest, and had been partly destroyed
during the war. We lived in wooden bar
racks that had been built by the Germans.
Not far away was the line of black and
white posts that marked the provisional
frontier, and it was one of our pastimes to
ride out to them. The young officers
dreamed of nothing but the chance of pro-
voking frontier conflict. Some made tar
gets of the pointed helmets found and
brought in by the peasants, arranging mat
ters so as to be seen by the German senti-
nels. Others galloped wildly across the line
and back again.
One OF them, however, Yves De Pelven De
Kerdec. took no share in these pleasantries.
When he was asked to join in, he would
shrug his shoulders softly and murmur
"Childishness!" He was left to do as he
pleased No one cared Only, after a while,
we discovered that he was accustomed to
take long solitary rides at highland in a
direction that did not lead to France! We
began to watch him. more from curiosity
than from suspicion. l myself, confess,
was drawn toward him by this original and
mysterious mode of existence
He was then slight, blonde, pale youth,
feminine of features. all nerve and muscle,
tireless, fearless, silent. He was liked by
the men, although they were trifle Jealous
Of that indeinable superiority which marked
his breeding. Some Of the old veterans of
swarthy skin and voice loved him in spite
OF this refinement. They called him Mad
emoiselle De Pelven," or ''the little made
moiselle."
With five years of service to his credit, he
had still the air of a young conscript; his
voice was gentle; l never heard him yell or
curse the men or horses. At 10 he had re-
cefved decoration for distinguished bra
very at Rezonville.
He had his lodgings outside Of town, in a
solitary cottage surrounded by rose bushes
and cedars-hs and his dogs, Finaud and
Tigresse-a great Dane and little striped
bulldog. His horses were two long, slen-
der Anglo-Arabs.
We gossiped not little about the lieu
tenant, his mode of life and his character
We discussed his fortune and the employment
OF his time outside of the service. for be-
side his regular appearance twice o. day
at mess he took part In none Of our enter
tainments. He was often seen alone, gall
looping his horses over the green meadows
of the Saone: he rode in some Of the Inn
promptu 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 so, and on returning would
say: my father was down to see me-" 1t
was known that he had q father, an old
man living in Bretagne. Yves spoke Of
him only on those days.
The self isolation of the boy was some-
what OF q mystery to US. Each one explained
In his own way the singular comrade, 1.-The
little mademoiselle" For some, Pelven was
the son of q Galician princess and q knight
Of Malta. which was not impossible, it being
the usage since the days Of Louis XIV to
accord that title to French gentlemen hav-
ing contracted q marital alliance in Aus
tria. In fact, Austrian decorations had
been seen 10 his room.a That, at least.
wns affirmed by some of the indiscreet ones
who had penetrated the great chamber where
he was wont to dig on his strategy during
the warm hours Of day. singular room
It was, at once salon. library and saddiery,
the refuge OF a thinker and the handy- shon
Of . soldier. but it,. interior in spite Of the
weapons. was rather feminine and this
Atruck the inferior officers who were accus-
Aomed to visit 1t with their reports. There
we're always fresh flowers in his room. And
one day when some induisitive spirit ex-
Dlored the pockets Of his "dolman." which
he had cast Oh during fencing bout, they
discovered gold locket on which sparkled
~ strange little diamond wing. They Old
~ eucceeed Ia opening sit.
Isl fl1o n eooutlme0teliot ~ Commandant