The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-02-28
A Woman

By ESTHER VANDEVEER


condition than l. In the year 1870 l
was put into a crib draped with brus-
sells lace My father, the Duke OF
MontmarvilLe, was a favorite of King
Louis XVI, who showered him with
favors. Ten years later my father had
gone down in the reign of terror and l
was an exile.
But / had in me the blood of war
riors. The great Turenne was an an
cestor of mine. Naturally when l found
that / could not make a living as
woman / turned to the career Of a
| man. / would have Tough v~Dr France.
but my ancestors had served their coun-
| try under the royal standard bearing
| the fleur-de-lis. IL l donned mans at
| tire / 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 to return to France.
| How | made my way there | can now
| hardly recall. l had become so used
| to hardship that the dlyS | Travelled
| on foot, the nights l slept in woods, my
breakfasts of berries, my dinners
when had thcm-given 10y some kind
| " 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 | was born. /
! asked man passing who lived there.
| He said that an army contractor had
bought the place from the government.
which had conhscated it after cutting
/ off the head of its owner the Duke of
Montmary!le. Most women would have
| burst into tears Instead. | was en-
ragged.
This is n world of robbery | said,
| "and | will rob ike the rest.
| stole pistol. Int could find no
ammunition to steal and had no money
TO buy any. But | soon had money
a-plcnty. for | lay IN wait for tah COR
tractor who occupied my birthplace,
and when he was being driven into
the gate by his fat coaehnm | stop.
ned the coach. ordered the driver 20
dismoumt from the box aud. opening
the door. presented my unloadcd PTS
tol ut the occupant and demanded his
money. He happened 70 have n wei
filed purse. which he tremblinglN
handed me
I found money made by robhing SO
easy and so lucrative that | bought a
horse and equipment for the road
did not think to wear a mask. ! hau
no cause TO hide my visagc. | WAS
the daughter of n duke, but not soul
In France knew me rs such or knew
: me at all, for that matter. | robbed
! only Mt night, and no one could see
my features in the darkness. One
night | stopped coach. and after re-
ceiving the contribution of man In
It and was about to turn away he
said;
"Madamoiscle, | shall know that
voice If ever hear 1t again. You are
not man. but woman"
: 81 care not II you do" | replied
"nor If you should see my features OF
know who am. for mine Is n wrecked
life. | would It had been ended. as
was my fathers on the guilotine.'
"Who was your father?" he asked
But could not bring MYSELF 10 le'
him know of the disgrace hat
brought upon my family. and, puttini
spurs 10 my horse. | rode away.
A love for life of adventure grew
\ upon me. and | caught the spirit of {
/ Claude Duval
Il Hearing that ball was To be givel
n by a person whom Bonaparte had en-
H riched as King Louis had enriched m,
\ father. n desire seized me to attend |
II dressed in the apparel of my sex
N Downing an ordinary woman's cloth
II Ing, / went to Paris and bought a eos
III tune fit for the rank to which | wa
u entitled. on the night of the ball
n hired n coach and maid and whe
HI the entertainment was In full swim
drove up to the door, alighted. wen
to robing room and then down Int
the drawing room to the host an
hostess. who were receiving thei
guests.
Madame looked at me in wonde
having never seen me before and III
certain whether / had been hidden c
had come without an invitation. Tie
husband, who did not know all th
guests, looked at me curiously. The
son, man nearing thirty years {
age, gazed at me with admiration 9
well as surprise.
Pardon me-" said his mother.
do not recall your features"
II am the Duchess of Mont-what-yo
like" l replied.
All looked at me In astonishmen
but l saw the younger man start. L
recovered his equanimity at once an
offering me his arm, led me away. !
soon as we were out of hearing
turned to me and said:
Il told you that | would know yo
voice should | ever hear 1t again. al
/ 80, haf riuhf y