New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-07-14
THE MIDNIGHT MASS.
An Episode in the History of the Reign of Terr


About eight o'clock on the night of the 22d of
January, 1898, while the reign of terror was still
at its height in Paris, an old woman descended
the rapid eminence in that city which termin-
ates before the church of St. Laurent The
snow had fallen SO heavily during The whole day
that the sound of footsteps was scarcely audi
BILE. The streets were deserted; and the fear
that silence naturally inspires, was increased
by the general terror which then assailed France
The old woman passed on her way, without per-
ceiving a soul in the streets-her feeble sight
preventing her from observing in the distance,
by the lamp-Gght, several foot passengers, who
fitted like shadows over the space of the Fau-
bourg, through which she was proceeding. She
walked on courageously through the solitude, as
if her age were talisman which could shield
had she passed the Rue des Morts, than she
thought she heard the firm and heavy footsteps
of man behind her. 1t struck her that she
had not heard this sound for the first time
Trembling at the idea of being followed, she
quickened her pace in order to confirm her sus-
picions by the rays of light which proceeded
from an adjacent shop. As soon as she had
reached it, she abruptly turned her head, and
perceived, through the fog, the outline of hu-
man form. This indistinct vision was enough:
she shuddered violently the moment she saw it
her from the moment she had quilted home.
But the desire to escape from spy soon renewed
her courage, and she quickened her pace. vainly
thinking that, by such means, she could escape
from man necessarily much more active than
herself
After running for some minutes she arrived
at a pastry cooks shop, entered, and sank
rather than sat down, on a chair which stood
before the counter. The moment she raised the
1o%ob 70 &Lo c1,.n 1oo1
quickly through the window towards the street ;
and, observing the old lady, Immediately opened
a drawer in the counter, as if to take out some
thing which she had to deliver to her. Not
only did the gesture and expression of the
young woman show her desire to be quickly re-
lieved of the new conner, as of person whom
it was not safe to harbor, but she also let slip
few words of impatience at finding the drawer
empty. Regardless of the old lady's presence,
she unceremouiously quilted the counter, re-
tired to an inner apartment and called her hus-
band who at once obeyed the summons.
"Where have you placed the=--''" +" inquired
she, with mysterious air, glancing towards
the visitor instead of finishing the sentence.
Although the pastry cook could only perceive
the large hood OF black silk, ornamented with
bows of violet -colored ribbon, which formed the
old lady's head-dress, he at once cast signifi-
cant look at his wife, as much as to say, " Could
you think me careless enough to leave what you
ask for in such place as the shop!" and then
hurriedly disappeared. -.
Surprised at the silence and immobiity of
the stranger lady, the young woman approached
her; and, on beholding her face, experienced a
feeling Of compassion, perhaps, we may add, q
feeling of curiosity, as well.
Although the complexion of the old lady was
naturally colorless, like that of one long accus-
toned to secret austerities, it was easy to see
that recent emotion had cast over it an addi-
tional paleness. Her head-dress was SO dis
posed as completely to hide her hair, and
thereby to give her face an appearance of reli-
gious severity. Accordingly, the pastry cooks
wife ut once discovered that the stranger visitor
was all ex-aristocrat-or, as we should now
express it, ''born lady"
'Madamep she exclaimed, respectfully, for
getting, at the moment, that this, like all othel
titles, was now prescribed under the republic
The old lady made no answer, but fixed hel
eyes steadfastly on the shop windows, as if they
disclosed some object that terrified her.
"What is the matter with you, citizen p
asked the pastry cook, who made his appear
ance at this moment, and disturbed her reverb
by handing her small pasteboard box ,wrappe'
up in blue paper.