The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-06-03
AND JEANNE

With their two children Philippe an,
Jeanne Dupree lived in a house such a
n often sees In the towns and cite
of NOrmandy-high and narrow, witt
fantastic gables and a deep stone para
pet running along the roof. In fact. tn
house was old fashioned. but pictur
esque. and 1t proved a godsend t
Jeanne. It was left her by an old aun
with whom she had lived as a child.
The husband, I'm ex-cavalryman. wa,
considered fortunate to have secure,
two such tasty dots ut one venture
but he only looked on 1t as u happy pro
vision of Providence to save him from
work. which he abhcr.ed.
Great numbers Of English tourist,
had at last discovered Normandy, will
Its peaceful homesteads. its fruits ant
flowers and old world inhabitants, 8.
that Jeanne found an easy way tt
make a living by letting the lower anl
better part of her house.
This necessitated being satisfied witt
the top floor for themselves, an ar
rangement which was the subject oi
endless complaint from her lord and
master.
But there came a day when his dis
content became open mutiny. He
wouldn't stand it any longer. Con
found the dodgers! What right had
they to live in u garret when they
could have the best room in the
house?
Some such arrangement would have
suited our bold warrior. There he would
have posed in all the glory of an i'm.
maculate white waistcoat (Jeanne's
handiwork). u gorgeous necktie and Ell.
egant stockings. He was V salts.
fed. Men who dislike honest worl,
never are.
That night Jeanne went to bed thor.
.oughly disgusted with her lot in partic.
ular and the world generally.
In the middle of the night she awoke,
with a tickling sensation in her throat.
She smelled the smoke and knew the
house must be on fire.
Rousing Pliilippe. she rushed out on
the landing. thinking only of her chill.
dren. To her horror she could not open
the door to their room. 1t was not
locked. but the house was very old, and
in some mysterious manner the plas.
tered wall had given out and strained
and damned the door.
She exerted all her puny strength to
burst it open, but without avail. She
called their names. but with the sleep
of healthy and happy childhood they
slept on regardless of danger.
%Shrieking in frenzy, 'sPhilippe, fo,
Gods sake come q%uickly!v' she rushed
back to her W room just in time to
see the braggart dragon basely de.
her at this moment of her need.
He had already mounted a chair and,
with shaking hands. was unfastenine
the easement so as to make his escape
on to the roof.
Almost speeches. with his callous
Indifference. the poor little woman
paused for an instant. then rushed over
and pulled the chair from under him.
The collapse was instantaneous.
Down he fell with a crash and Law
in Il paroxysm of feai. at the
creature who had so %effectually
his cowardly fight. She saw
In his eyes the madness of absolute
fear and would fain have let him go,
but in the oom beyond lay her two
precious darlings. He must save them.
His great strength could shatter that
door to splinters.
Quick as thought Jeanne darted
across the room and took from the ia.
BILE by the side of the bed a revolver
which he had boastingly provided for
burglars should any dare to cross his
Oh. he was a brave man!
Very WE'LL she said calmly. though
her heart was faint at her children's
peril. III a soldier of France can for
get his honor and basely desert his POST
Il time of danger. his wife shall
show him how to die.
Unless you try to save the children
will die together. and may Jesus
awe mercy on us"
This man had faced the fanatical
1ordes CT Algiers and fought calamity
n Madagascar and the far east. At any
'ate. he had V shown the white
Desertion or cowardice In the
army meant death. And vet at
very smell Of fire his senses for
,ook him.
Nothing could have Gained him
'wifter than the sight OF the shining
evolver with its barrels pointed stead.
~ ut him. Only II week before he had
'ut fresh cartridges into those five bar.
els. and either II would finish his
.areer.
This fear of death is a wonderful
'ensation. He had ceased to shake and
vas lost in admiration of the woman
who could. like his old captain, call
to Attentions" in such a drastic
ashton.
He recovered his nerve and. without
| word, strobe across the ma ssao 90