The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-12-08
PIERRE'S
DECISION
A Story Showing That Love
Is Stronger Than
Patriotism.
BY LEON GARNER

During the early part of the pan
European war the French sent troops
into Alsace with view to retaining
that province from German rule. At
that time the fighting had not settled
into trench warfare and the opposing
armies were driving each other, some
times the French getting the better or
the Germans and sometimes the Ger
mans defeating the French.
Now, the provinces Of Alsace and
Lorraine, lying between France and
Germany, have always been bone OF
contention between the two countries
Sometimes they have been occupied by
Germans, sometimes by French. In
medieval times Germans settled there.
The population is part German and
part French.
This in the great war between the
central and allied powers engendered
conditions something like those exist
ing during our war between the states,
when there was large sprinkling Of
Union sentiment among the Confeder-
ates. In Alsace and Lorraine the
French, after more than forty years
of German rule, are still loyal to
France. Naturally the German popu-
lation prefer to be ruled by the Ger
man government.
One September afternoon Clochette
Dubois, a young French girl, dwelling
in the southern part of Alsace, hearing
% clatter of horses hoofs and their rid
er's side arms on the road, ran to a
window, to see German officer, at
tended by his staff, ride up to the
house, dismount, and, leaving his horse
with an orderly, come through the
gateway and up to the porch. Clo-
Ghetto paled, caught her breath and
shuddered. Then in response to loud
knock she summoned what courage
there was in her, went to the door and
opened it.
A man in the uniform of a general
stepped inside, saying:
II shall need this house for a few
hours. Show me into a room that
can use for conference"
Clochette led the way to the living
room, and the general directed her to
clear table for him. One of his staff
produced maps, and, spreading them
out before the general, the two were
soon deeply engrossed with them. In
short time another general rode up
to the house, dlsmounted and entered.
lie was followed by another and an
other. each attended by his staff.
1t would have been evident to any
one less ignorant of military affairs
than Clochette that this indicated a
council Of commanders. AS soon as
the last general arrived the living room
door was shut, and what was going on
within could not be heard. Indeed, a
guard stationed at the door would not
permit any one to approach
Clochette. having recovered from her
fright and seeing that the coming of
the Germans had nothing to do with
the welfare Of the family, gave way
to curiosity. Going to a room above,
where her mother was confined on &C.
count Of illness, she told her what was
going on below.
"They are holding war council"
said Nine. Dubois. "Can you not find
some way to listen to what they say!
II you can you may be able to bring
victory to our people, who are endeav.
oring to restore Alsace to France"
These few words worked a great
change in Clochette. She went into a
bedroom directly over the one being
used by the generals and listened. But
the floors were too thick to permit any
sound except dull confusion of voices
to reach her. Going downstairs she
entered the kitchen with a view to
listen at door that opened from II
to the room in which the council was
being held. But she found a guard
there too. Descending to the cellar
she stood on box, bringing her eal
near to the floor above But the house
was well built and all the floors toe
thick to transmit sound.
Clochette, being baked, turned to &c
1 up to the floor above, when she heard
the living room door open and the
tread Of boots In the hall. When she
reached the kitchen the generals were
mounting their horses In the yard. As
soon as the last one had ridden away
Clochette went into the room where
they had held their conference anG
looked about her. She detected the
odor Of burning paper but whence Il
came she could not tell. There was 4
stove in the room, but the season was
hot far enough advanced for a fire
Passing this stove the girl felt sligh
warmth. She opened the door and look
cd In. There were the ashes of burned
paper, which still retained some heat
There were a few scraps that had mo-
i been burned. Clochette took them ou
and examined them. There was moth
/ ing Ineligible on any Of them excep
one which was half burned. It read:
"a attacks fhe Frepch