The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-01-19
A MODERN
HELEN
BY EDWARD EMERSON
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.

which clustered number of farms.
II was used by the Dutchmen to keep
the French who lived across the bor-
der from coming over to possess
themselves of the produce. consisting
Of butter. eggs. vegetables and espe-
cially the cheese. for which the Meth
erlands have always been famUus.
There was no regular military garri-
son. the fort being manned in ease Of
necessity by the Dutch farmers. Those
were more trOuhous times than these.
and there was more lighting In small
way: therefore more lawlessnesS was
to he expected near the border. where
frequent incurSiOnS were made.
The cause of this particular strong.
hold becoming noted was not one Of
butter and eggs and cheese. At least
these were not the hone of contention.
A Dutch maiden had been surrepti-
tiuusly wooed and won by young
Frenchman. and he had carried her
within the lines of France. had mar
ried her and established her as the fe-
fDule nPHu III MS INTlll.
The Dutchmen regarded this ns by
far the greatest robbery their neigh
bOrs could intllct upon them. They
would much rather have lost a hun
dred of their hest chpeses than this
fair daughter with her blue eyes and
faypn braidS. She had had many
lovers among the young nutchmen.
und ti,nv fDru,srIv rivuIS tn,v lance, m, &.
united in common cause One night
u dozen of these disappointed woOers
made II raid across the border. took
the young wife prisoner and carried
her into their own country.
When the Frpnchmen heard of the
outrage they gathered In groups. talk
ing and gesticulnting till they worked
themselves into IL warllie condition.
The Dutchmen. hearing what they
We're doing and inferring that they
would likely attempt to repOssess the
woman. shut her up In the fort and
prepared to hold hcr against all com
ers. 1t did not matter to them that
she wished to return to her husband.
She had not been applied for in n prop.
er way. her parents had not been con
suited. and even II all the forms usual
on such occasions had hpen observed
she would not have been given up to
the hated French beyond the border.
In due time news came that a res
cue party WAS being formed. and the
Dutchmpn began to make preparations
to meet It, The fort was stocked with
unI orfns and ou inn
and regulnr garrison were put in.
The object of contention being IN the
fort. the French marched straight
against it. and since they had no means
of taking il by assault they formed
Gordon about II for the purpose OF he
sieging il by starvation.
Meanwhile the Dutch farmers who
were not engaged in the quarrel CON
tinued to make cheeSes and do their
other accustomed work. They were
shut off from the fort. and the fort was
shut of from them. The garrison. nav
ing II goOdly store of provisions for
their maintenance. laughed at the
Frenchmen who were beSieging them.
"Come on with your picks aud your
In Dutch. "und take the fort IL you
cam" But the Frenchmen didn't un-
derstand n word that was said. They
| simply sut around and smoked and
drank wine and played games. waiting
for the besieged to eat up all their
provender.
A long while passed. but the Dutch.
| xx,.,. oh oil .,f gtIp 1nr
The Frenchmen knew that by this
time. though they might still have food,
II must be stale. But since they would
not give NJ the fight their position
must be taken by stratngem. After
much chattering and gesticulating the
Frenchmen at last hit upon IL plan
which they proposed 10 put into execu-
tiOn. but they preferred To wait Il lit
tie longer till their enemies had ac-
quired II special relish for fresh eat
ables through Il prolonged course of
privntion.
One morning when the Dutchmen
awOke and were preparing their break
fast or stale victuals they heard cat-
ter of tongues and. looking over the
SuW u uuluDtI Vi WOtlcii
coming with baskets on their arms.
They were too far Off for the Dutchmen
to hear what they said or in what
language they spoke. When they came
near the fort its commander hailed
them and asked them where they We're
going. One of the women replied that
they were taking butter and eggs and
vegetables to the market 10 sell. When
they came directly beneath the fort
they displayed their produre to the
hungry Dutchmen. who said they
would gladly take their whole supply.
but they must act quickly. for II the
French enemies saw them they would
prevent the sale.
SO the women were introduced into
the fort. and the DutchmeD started to
shut the gates, but the women pulled
weapons from under their skirts and
drove them back. As soon as the fight
commenced the Frenchmen. who were
| hiddan hahtnl harm nanr bv ahad