The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1903-01-03

fied his head thrown back with a lofty
air, and his former m0G2sty would
nave been ast0nishcd at the admira-
tIon that lie now considered merely
just. lie became tho curiosity u
Nancay, They spo..:e of him IS We
speak Of a historic monument, and the
village was proud of owning him.
When tourists or bcyclists asked
Mother Cretu if there We're any ruins
IN the locality to visit or cid walls to
investigate. No" size would reply.
"bCt we have here NJ. FolicLon, who
has saved two flags"
The sort Of mystery tiat hoveTed
over the former deed CT arms only
added to the glorious souvenir evoked
and consecratod by the tri-co,or rib
bon. Each time that some curious
person had tried to find out:
''Never mind that" interrupted Fo-
l.chon. 1T isn't worth speaking OF.
l only did my duty. no mere and 10
less" And the sood people Of Sologne.
although they were disappointed, only
admired the;r hero the more for it.
His reputation, passing The limits of
the village, had reached the Chateau
Of Eberniers, where Count Oscar OF
Netie lived during the hunting season.
He was a free-and-easy. hospitabla
gentleman, although he boasted that
he belonged to one Of tie best families
Count had heard rumo-s with regard
to the p2nSioner Of the State, and he
made inquiry of his gamekeeper for
further details about him. Hes an
old soldier replied the keeper. without
hesitation. tie gets a pension from
the War Ministry for having saved
his regiment in Tor "Thunderation.
exclaimed the Count go at once to
this valiant cid captain and tell him
that l should like very much to shake
hands With him" Folichon was given
the honor OF touching the hand Of the
last Of TIE Netles.
Pray tell me, my good man. on
what occasion you saved-'
ooh, Count. 1t isn't worth speaking
about. I only did my duty. No more,
no less"
Count Oscar from feeling of deli
cacy did not insist. The interview
him most favorably. lie re-
peated to each of his guests: ''That is
4 truly brave man, and as modest as he
is brave. He did net say word about
his heroic act. Let rs show respect to
him, gentlemen, for people like him
are rapidly dying of"
The Count stopped calling him 'old
man Folichon" ard addressed him very
as M. Folichon." lie
became his panecyrist. He told every
one the legend of the regimen:
snatcned from disaster. At Paris ali
his friends knew the story of the Thir-
ty-eighth Dragons miracu!ously res
cued from butchery; and to induce
them to come to Eberniers he promised |
them a sight of the hero. Gradually |
I new page Of history was inscribed |
Oh the memory of whole band CT |
country sq1i"cs, who retailed it proud |
y to their tenants and their men. The
whole country became enthusiastic |
over the deeds OF 4 certain Oliver. |
And the day arrived that the legend |
IN its way back from the south was |
implanted in Nhe counties of Vierzon,
Romorantin. Sancerrc. Saint Armand |
md Bourses-a definite history III !
which Fo:ichon, alone, had delivered a
:orps OF the Army and had almost cap
ured the Emperor of Germany.
Before long it was unanimous cry
II the country, which was at that time
n the midst of its elections: Glow
an 4 Republic that respects itself
hinis that it has done its duty to the
Eost devoted of its children when it
las :iven him only medal from the
humane Society,""
There was a general cry of indigna-
ion. Each one OF the candidates took
Up the wrongs Of Folichon as one of
be planks CT his platform. Each one
wore to use his influence to have
lin decorated with the Legion OF
Ionor. The Radical and the Conserva-
i've each pledged his word solemnly.
The Radical, however, bethought
imself to look up the title of the old
older who had become a bugbear to
i'm. He had no trouble in finding out
ghat he wanted to, and one fine morn
lg a piacard was pasted up In the
ortythree districts Of his riding
"The individual named Folichon
OliveI), about whom so much fuss is
eing made. IS a former policeman of
'aris, retired and pensioned after thir-
Y years of loyal service. His regular
eat was the quay Of Bercy. The 7th
July, 1915, at o'clock in the after
con he saw drunken man who was
-iug on his stomach with his lips to
he water and was trying to drink
Ie drew him away by his feet, took
i'm to the station and left him there
Ill lie was sober again. On this oc-
aston a report having been sent in
le medal Of the Humane Society, was
warded to the said Folichon OLIVER
nd he now wears it's ribbon"
The people of Nancay could not be-
eve their eyes.