The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-04-10
A Woman

By ESTHER VANDEVEER

4 greater swing of the pendulum of social
condition than /. In the year 100 !
was put into crib draped with brus-
sells lace. My father, the Duke of
Montmarvile, was a favorite of King
Louis NVI., who showered him with
favors. Ten years later my father had
gone down In the reign of terror and /
was an exile.
But l had in me the blood of war
riors. The great Turenne was an an.
! cestor OF mine. Naturally when found
that l could not make a living as a
woman l turned to the career of a
man. | would have fouchS~or France,
but my ancestors had served their coun-
try under the royal standard bearing
the fleur-de-lis. If l donned mans at
tire l must fight under the tricolor for
the usurper Bonaparte, who was en-
peror by virtue OF the blood of the king.
No, | would not 20 into the army.
But l resolved 10 return to France.
How l made my way there l can now
hardly recall. l had become so used
TO hardship that the days l Travelled
on foot, the nights l slept in woods, my
breakfasts of berries. my dinners
when had them-given by some kind
ly farmers wife. made no lasting i'm
preston on me-
/ remember well that one day found
myself in boys clothing at the gates
of the chateau in which l was born.
asked a man passing who lived there.
He said that an army contractor had
bought the place from the government
which had con1scated 1t after cutting
Off the head Of its owner. the Duke of
Montmarville. Most women would have
burst into tears. Instead. l was en-.
ragged.
This is world of robbery" | said,
"and will rob like the rest"
stole pistol. but | could find no
ammunition to steal and had no money
to buy any But | soon had money
a-plenty. for lay in wait for the con-
tractor who occupied my birthplace.
and when he was being driven into
the gate by his fat coachman | stop
ped the coach. ordered the driver to
dismount from the box and. opening
the door, presented my unloaded pis-
tol at the occupant and demanded his
money. He happened TO have n well
filed purse which he tremblingly
handed me.
found money made by robbing so
easy and so lucrative that | bought a
horse and equipment for the road. ]
did not think to wear mask. had
no cause 10 hide my visage. ! was
the daughter OF duke, but not a soul
In France knew me as such or knew
me at all, for that matter. robbed
only at night, and no one could see
my features in the darkness. One
night stopped n coach, aud after re-
ceiving the contribution Of a man In
II and was about to turn away he
said:
"Madamoiselle, I shall know that
voice II | ever hear 1t again. You are
not n man. but a woman"
81 care not II you do" I replied
''nor II you should see my features or
know who am. for mine is q wrecked
life. would 1t had been ended. as
was my fathers. on the guillotine."
"Who was your father?" he asked.
But ! could not bring myself TO let
him know of the disgrace had
brought upon my family. and putting
-, 4 10
A love for a life of adventure grew
upon me. and caught the spirit OF a
Claude Duval
Hearing that ball was to be given
by person whom Bonaparte had en-.
riched as King Louis had enriched my
father. a desire seized me TO attend 1t
dressed In the apparel of my sex
Donning an ordinary woman's cloth
ing. I went to Paris and bought cos
tune fit for the rank to which | was
entitled. On the night of the ball I
hired coach and maid aud when
the entertainment was in full swing
drove up to the door alighted. went
to robing room and then down into
the drawing room to the host and
hostess. who were receiving their
guests.
Madame looked at me in wonder,
having never seen me before and un-
certain whether I had been bidden or
had come without an invitation. Her
husband, who did not know all the
guests. looked at me curiously. Their
son. man nearing thirty years OF
age, gazed at me with admiration as
well as surprise.
Pardon me-" said his mother. II
do not recall your features"
II am the Duchess of MsIt- what-you-
like" / replied.
All looked at me In astonishm ent.
but / saw the younger nan start. He
recovered his equanimity at once and,
offering me his arm. led fne away As
soon as we were out OF heariJ,g he
turned to me and said:
Il told you that would know your
voice should ] ever hear II again, and
to convince you that I was right you
are the highway woman WHO robbed