Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 February 1883 — ANTOINETTE. [ARTICLE]

ANTOINETTE.

A Story of the Franco'Prussian War. Our party numbered seven or eight, and, as all of us had the honor of being more or less robbed, sacked, ruined and broken up by the Prussians, to amuse ourselves after dinner we enumerated our pianos which had disappeared and our clocks which had taken unto themselves wings. “And I also,” said our friend Paul Rivet, “have lost pianos and have lost clocks, but I can buy more pianos and I can buy more clocks, while my camellias, my poor camellias! Twenty years of toil, patience and adoration!—all that lost, destroyed, annihilated! And do you know what I found in the middle of my green-house, in the place of that delicious little marble figure which'l brought from Naples? Do you know what I found ? Oh! do not try to guess —you would never succeed! “My wife, after Sedan, had shown a great deal of character. ‘My love,' said she to me, ‘ we must stay here; we must defend our house.’ I added, “And our camellias.’ “On tlio 17th of September, at 8 o’clock in the morning, one of my farmers arrived, out of breath and wild with fear. ‘ The Uhlans, monsieur!’ he cried, 1 they are at Corbeil, and will be here in an hour!’ My wife was seized with terror. ‘ Let us go away, my dear! I don’t want to see those Uhlans! Let us go away at once. Take me, take me, no matter where!’ The horses were immediately harnessed to the caleche, and we departed. “We left at the chateau seven or eight servants, one of whom, a little femme de chambre, Antoinette, very pretty, very intelligent, very shrewd and very bold, said to me as we started: * Pave no fear, monsieur; I will receive Fhe Prussians. I know how to talk to them, and they shall not carry off even a match.’ “The next day we reached Trouville; my wife fell seriously ill, and for a couple of weeks I was very uneasy. “I constantly received letters" from Antoinette. ‘Monsieur need not be disturbed,’ rihe wrote. * Everything is going on splendidly here. We have had the good luck to fall into the hands of an excellent Prussian Colonel and exceedingly amiable officers. Through the kindness of these gentlemen I am able to send my letters to monsieur.’ “And the gardener wrote to me: ‘Monsieur ought to be very grateful to Antoinette. By a happy idea she has saved everything. I dare riot say more to monsieur, because the. Prussians might read my letter;but, nevertheless, the Prussians, thanks to Antoinette, do not treat us badly.’ "About the 20th of October, my wife being completely restored to health, I packed my carpet-bag and started off. I wanted to see my camellias, and, above all, I wanted to know what was Antoinette’s happy idea which had saved everything. I will spare you the details of my journey. It was original, however. It took me a week to go from Trouville to Corbeil; I was arrested three times as a Prussian spy by the French, and four times as ia French spy by the Prussians.

“At last I reached my house, greatly agitated. I saw my broad avenue of chestnut trees and at the end of the avenue my iron gate. I crossed my court-yard, which was full of horses, army wagons, cannon, Prussian dragoons and artillerists. I mounted my front steps. I was at home —in my vestibule. The furniture, the pictures, the hangings, all were in their places. Delighted, perplexed, I stood motionless like a donkey, my carpet-bag in my hand, in the midst of five or six Prussian dragoons who were ctiriously examining me. One of these dragoons, a sub-officer—he had gold lace on the collar of his tunic—came up to me and said: “ ‘ What do you want ? What are you doing here?’ % * ‘What was I doing in my own house! X replied that I desired to speak with the Ooldnel. “ ‘He is busy. He is at breakfast. Who are you?’ “ ‘Mon Dieu! lam the proprietor of this mansion!’ “ ‘Ah! the proprietor—you are the proprietor. Wait a bit. I will notify the Colonel/ “A few seconds afterward a door, one of my doors, opened and I saw advancing toward me a tall Prussian, booted, spurred, with long grayish side-whisk-ers, "who, with both hands extended, exclaimed in excellent Frenoh: ‘M. Rivet! Is it you, M. Rivet?’ “ ‘Yes, it is IP “ ‘Ah! you have done well to come. How happy I am to see you!’ “And those two Piussian hands were still extended toward me, but I patriotically held my two French hands at a distance, as far as possible, behind my back.

“ ‘Ah! von are prejudiced,' said the Colonel, bursting into a beastly and heavy laugh. * I see how it is—you are prejudiced. Very well; you will get over your prejudices. But come along, come along quickly. We are at table.' “ ‘But I don’t want anything to eat.’ “ ‘You don’t want to breakfast with ns. More prejudices! But you must come along, nevertheless, for the Baronne is at table with ns and will be enchanted to see you.’ “‘The Baronne! A Baronne enchanted to see me!’ “But, without listening to me, without answering me,’ the Colonel grasped me by the arm jmd, pushing me before him, made me cross my salon; then, opening the door of my dining-room, he cried: “ ‘Madame la Baronne, here is your uncle, here is M. Bivet!’ “And then I saw, seated at my table, eight or ten Prussian officers and, in the midst of these officers, Antoinette— Antoinette, who had on one of my wife’s velvet dresses. My wife’s diamond earrings were in her ears, all my wife’s rings on her fingers. My wife’s necklace of black pearls was about her neck and all my wife’s bracelets were clasped around her wrists. Rubies sparkled in her hair and sapphires shone upon her corsage. Antoinette was np longer Antoinette—she was the show-window of a jewelry shop! “Antoinette, on seeing me enter, arose quickly, turned very red, and let this cry escape her: ‘Monsieur, it is monsieur!’ Then quitting the table immediately, she ran to me, threw herself violently upon my neck and began to kiss me furiously, exclaiming: ‘All! how happy lam to see you!’ Then she renewed her kisses, whispering in my ear, ‘Kiss me, kiss me very tenderly!’ Of course I complied with her request, and she showered another flood of kisses upon me, and while continuing to whisper to me: ‘Seem more affected than that! lam your niece, speak to me lovingly—ah! that’s better—it is to save Madame’s diamonds.’ We went on kissing before all the Prussians. The operation, however, was not disagreeable, Antoinette being a charming little person. All the officers stared at me, and had the air of saying to themselves : “ * How delightful to be able to kiss that pretty girl as much as you w ant to!’

“And, naturally, this excited me! “But, after two or three minutes consecrated to this kissing business, mingled with revelations and explanations, Antoinette took me by the hand, led me around the table, and obliged me to seat "myself beside her; then, with much grace and self-possession, she presented to me in turn all my Prussian guests: ‘Monsieur the Col. So-and-so, of the 2d dragoons, the Maj. So-and-so of the 3d hussars, eto., etc.’ As “for me, I was like one intoxicated, and I assure you that I must be pardoned for having remained thus seated for an hour at that table, amid all those dragoons and all those hussars. Ino longer knew either where I was or what was taking place around me, but, nevertheless, I have preserved a very clear recollection of the extraordinary conversation which ensued, and in which, despite myself, I was compelled to participate.

“ ‘ Well, M. Rivet, said the Colonel, ‘I hope you will bring Mme. Rivet back immediately. We lead a charming life here, as your niece will tell you. We are not at all the savages which your beastly journals call us.’ “And then the Colonel gave vent to a burst of the same heavy laughter which a little while before had shaken my nerves. Instantly all the officers it concert, as if obeying a command, abandoned themselves to violent hilarity. There is a lively and light gayety, which is French gayety, and there is another gayety, lumbering and brutal, which is Prussian gayety. “ ‘No, we are not savages,’ continued the Colonel, ‘ and you can not condemn Mme. Rivet to pass the winter in a hovel at the seaside—for we shall remain here the whole winter. Not on account of the siege of Paris—oh, no! Paris will be taken in five or six days, the Ist of November, at the latest. But there will be, perhaps, car tain difficulties about the re-establishment of the Emperor.’

“ ‘ The re-establishment of the Emperor ?’ “ ‘ Certainly; you can readily see that, for your own interest, we shall be obliged to disembarrass yqu of your absurd republic. Beside, the Emperor has received a good lesson; he has become reasonable; he will no more disturb the peace of Europe, while with your republic one could be sure of nothing. Yes, we will restore you your Emperor, despite all the bawling of your beastly journals.’ “At the conclusion of this speech came another burst of laughter from the Colonel, followed by another general explosion. It must be admitted that admirable discipline reigned in the German army. All those men laughed in a military fashion, in the Prussian way, as if on drill. As long -as the Colonal shook his sides, so long the officers, with remarkable unanimity, twiste<J with merriment, but all the bursts of laughter stopped short with the last burst of laughter from the Colonel, as stops the roll of the drums when the drum-major lowers his staff. There were eight or ten of these rough fits of laughter while the Colonel, speaking with German enthusiasm, reconstructed the map of Europe, took provinces from Austria, invaded England, etc.; but the hilarity grew absolutely furious when he began a series of jokes about the Bavarians, evidently habitual with him. “ ‘Ah, you are fortunate,’ said he to me,- ‘in having to deal with Prussians, real Prussians —for we are real Prussians, Now, if you had Bavarians! What ugly things your beastly journals could say in regard to the Bavarians! Our King is too kind to permit Bavarians to fight beside us Prussians, real Prussians. The Bavarians should be authorized to serve only as musicians in the Prussian army. King Louis should be Field Marshal of all the German music, etc., etc.’ “This odious breakfast, at last, came to an end. The Colonel arose, dismissed his officers, and approaching me said: ‘Now, I wish to conduct you myself to your greenhouse; I wish to show you your camellias.’ “ ‘My camellias!’ “ ‘Yes, yes; I know your passion. Mme. la Baronne had the goodness to inform me that you adored your camellias; therefore I sent for your gardener and explained to him that he would _be shot in front of the greenhouse if he allowed a single camellia to die! That was a joke, of course; I would not have had him shot,, for we are a civilized people, but I should not have

hesitated to order him tied to a tree for twenty-four hotag without anything to eat or drink. That, however, has not been necessary. Your camellias are in perfect health. Come and see them.’ “We went out all three—the Colonel, Antoinette and myself. The Prussian did me the honors of my park. I was choking with rage. Ten times I was on the point of bursting out, but Antoinette had pnt her arm in mine, and she made me such droll little supplicating grimaces and was, beside, so pretty beneath the trees in the noon sunlight with her assortment of diamonds and jewels that I restrained myself and bridled my tongue. “We entered the green-house. It was balmy, gay and blooming. My camellias had been petted, pampered and made much of. They were wrapped up in cotton. “ ‘ Well,’ said the Colonel to me, triumphantly, ‘you see that we are not vandals 1 Now, au revoir. I will leave yon to talk over your family matters. Of course you will dine with us.’ “He invited me to dine at my own house! I could not find a- single word with which to reply to him. He took his departure, that was all I desired. I was alone with Antoinette, and she, without waiting for my questions, cried out, as soon as the Colonel was gone:

“Oh ! monsieur, did you notice how he looked at me as he went awav ? It is horrible! That Prussian is m love with me! You must not scold me, monsieur. You must pity and thank me. I devoted myself to saving your house, and that’s the whole of it. When the Colonel arrived, on th 18the of September, he flew into a wild rage on learning that the proprietors had departed. He cried out: ‘All! that’s the way it is, is it ? Ah! they have run of! on account of our airival! Ah! they take us for barbarians! Well, I’ll see what I can do with this barrack! I will stable my horses in the salon!’ Then, monsieur, as I had crouched away in the corner, and as the Colonel had not seen me, I shot up the stairs, four steps at a time, slipped on one of the madame’s dresses, hastened down again, and said I was monsieur's niece, Mme. la Baronne de Barneviile, a high-sounding name which I thought would have effect. You must acknowledge that I have not been awkward, as for more than a month I have led the Colonel by the tip of the nose, and that, too, without costing me anything, I assure yon. I am too good a Frenchwoman to allow myself to be touched with the end of a finger by such a creature. Beside, there are a thousand dragoons and hussars here whom I rule like a despott I have saved your silverware, your horses, your carriages and your camellias. As to madame’s diamonds, if I wear them all, it is not for the pleasure of looking like a jewel-case, but because they ai*e safer upon my person than in the drawers. I know not what the Bavarians amount to, but the real Prussians do not amount to much, I can tell you! And now, monsieur, if you wish to do me a favor, you will leave this place immediately, for, in such a little game as I am playing, men are absolutely good for nothing! During breakfast I was obliged to tread on your toes two or three times to prevent you from bursting out, and a femme de chambre ought not to tread on her master's toes under the table! I will get you a good Prussian pass, and you can take with you all madame’s diamonds. I will put them in a little box and Pierre will drive you away in the break. As for me, I will remain on guard. After all, it amuses me greatly to deceive these Prussians, and make them believe I am a woman of rank,.’

“Antoinette spoke her little speech with so much energy and conviction that I could not help admiring her. “ ‘ You are a brave girl, Antoinette,’ I said— ‘ a brave girl and a girl of spirit. I want you to give me something, and then I will depart as you.desire. ” ’ “ ‘ What is it, monsieur ? ’ “ ‘ Permission to kiss you.’ “ ‘ As niece or as femme de chambre?’ “ ‘ As femme de chambre, Antoinette.’ “ ‘ Well, go ahead, monsieur, go ahead! ’ “I gave her a rousing smack, and then said: “ ‘Now, get ready the little box, Antoinette, but do not put that bracelet in it. Have the kindness to keep that for yourself. “‘With pleasure, monsieur. Wait for me here; I will be back in fifteen minutes; but do not commit any imprudence ; do not quarrel with the Prussians.’

“She ran lightly away. No sooner was she out of sight than I recollected that my daughter had requested me to bring her two photographs, w-hieh were upon her mantelpiece on little easels. I returned to the chateau. I mounted the stairway, and near the door stopped in great surprise. Somebody was playing the piano in my daughter’s chamber ! I knocked very modestly. ‘Comte in.’ I went in. One of the officers of dragoons—a tall, blonde young man, with an eye-glass in his eye—was playing one of Chopin’s waltzes upon my daughter’s piano! “‘All, it is you,’ said he, ‘monsieur, the proprietor! Make yourself at home, make yourself at home, I beg of you!’ “‘I came to look for something in this chamber.’ “‘Look for whatever you want, monsieur, look for whatever you want!’ “He resumed his interrupted waltz. I went to the mantelpiece, and on the two little easels I found, instead of my portrait, a photograph of King William and a photograph of Monsieur de Bismarck instead of the portrait of my wife! The blood rushed to my head, and, choking with anger, I said to the Prussian officer: “‘Monsieur, there were two portraits here. I w r ould like to know who authorized you to replace those portraits with the photographs of these two scoundrels?’

‘.“What did you say, monsieur?’ “‘ I said those two scoundrels!’ “And, snatching the photographs, I .tore them up; then, with great calmness, I threw the fragments into the fire. The officer arose. He was very pale. He approached me. The question was now who should receive the first blow, and I am quite sure I would not have been the person. At this critical instant Antoinette rushed into the chamber. “ ‘Well, what is the matter V demanded she. “ ‘This gentleman has taken the liberty of removing from these frames two photographs which I came to look for.’ “ ‘So you did that, did yon,monsieur ?’ said she addressing the Prussian. ‘And, pray, where are-those photographs?’ “ ‘ln that drawer,’ he replied. “ ‘Give them to me.’

“ ‘Here they are.’ “And the Prussian officer submissively brought the two photographs to Antoinette, who handed them to me, saying as she did so:. “ ‘Are these the portraits you want?* * Tfes.’ “ ‘Come away, then.’ “She led me out of the room. The Prussian had cooled down immediately upon Antoinette’s appearance. I was utterlv amazed! Antoinette had played the whole of this little scene with the coolness and self-possession of a great actress.

“ ‘You seem astonished,’ said she to me, as we were going down the stairs. “T am astonished.’ “‘There is, however, no reason to be. Ah! the Colonel is not the only one in love with me here!’ “I returned to Trouville. A whole month passed and not a single letter came from Antoinette. I began to be very uneasy, and, despite all the difficulties of the undertaking. I was preparing to risk another journey, when one morning—it was toward the close of November—my wife suddenly opened the door of my chamber and said to me: “ ‘Antoinette, my love—Antoinette is here; but what a state the poor child is in!’ “I saw enter a pale, thin and ragged girl, who seemed to have been devoured by fever, to have been worn out by fatigue and sickness. “ ‘lt is I, monsieur,’ said Antoinette, ‘and I bring you bad news. You remember all the Colonel’s jokes about the Bavarians, do you notJ* Well, to be just, that Prussian Colonel was not a bad man, and he was not wrong in regard to the Bavarians. There were movements of troops. They took our Prussians from us; they sent a detachment of Bavarian infantry which had suffered greatly in the-vicinity of the Loire, and which came to us for a little recuperation. Pillage commenced at once. It must be admitted that it was very well organized, for that matter. There was a strong column of campfollowers in the train of this Bavarian regiment; they threw themselves upon the chateau like a flock of crows, and began to make a kind of inventory. I went resolutely to find the Major—it was a Major who commanded this detachment—a fat, little red-faced man, who spoke a frightful jargon, half French, half German. He commenced to utter something like cries of joy as'soon as he put eyes on me, and, without giving me time to speak a Word, cried out: “Ah! ah! here is that Paronne who is a servant, that servant who is a Paronne! The Brussians are not pad, but the Pavarians are the devil! You can’t catch the Pavarians as you caught the Brussians! I have shies, I have good sbies! Au refoir, servant, an refoir!” He said I know not what, in German, to an officer; two soldiers roughly seized me, and I was taken on foot, monsieur, on foot, being passed by Prussian gendarmes to other Prussian gendarmes. At Rheims I was thrown into prison. I remained there for a week, upon the straw, subsisting op bread and water. At tne end of the week I was taken before an officer of the Saxon cavalry, a tall, blonde young man, who had not a too wicked air. “I am about to set you at liberty, ” said he, “but do not attempt to return home. There is at the chateau a stupid report made by a' Bavarian Major. Those Bavarians are brutes! All this would not have happened to you if you had had to deal with Saxons!” I w r as free, and I have succeeded in dragging myself here. But, monsieur, your poor chateau is in bad hands. I fear you will not find much there when you return!’ “I found nothing at all there when I returned on the 10th of February, during the armistice. No, lam wrong in saying I found nothing at all. In my greenhouse, in my poor green-house, on the spot formei’ly occupied by my delicious little marble figure from Naples, and my adored camellias, were five Bavarian tombs, ornamented with poetic inscriptions like the following: “‘Here reposes Hartman, tlie young and heroic Bavarian chasseur, cut down in the bloom of youth!’ ”