Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1852-08-12
Whole Number 500.

again, IN spite OF the famine which
at that period afflicted Paris, the in.
habilants of the garret were sure to
find placed every morning at their
door, a supply Of the best wheaton
bread, regularly left for them by
some invisible hand.
AT length the long expected night
Of the 2lst of January arrived, and,
exactly as the clock struck twelve,
the sound Of heavy footsteps on the
stairs announced the approach Of the
stranger. The room had been care
fully prepared for his reception, the
altar had been arranged, and, on this
occasion, the nuns eagerly opened
the door, even before they heard the
knock.
Welcome back againl most well
comet cried they; we have been anx-
iously awaiting YOU
The stranger raised his head, looked
gloomily on the nuns, and made no
answer. Chilled by his cold recep-
ton Of their kind greeting, they did
not venture to utter another word.
He seemed 10 have frozen at their
hearts in an instant, all the gratitude,
all the friendly aspirations Of the long
year that had passed. They now
perceived but too plainly that their
visitor desired TO remain a complete
stranger to them, and that they must
resign all hopes Of ever making a
frieud OF him. He kneIt TO hear the
funeral mass, prayed fervently as be-
fore, and then abruptly took his de-
parture, briefly declining, by a few
civil words, to partake OF the simple
refreshment offered to him on the ex-
piration Of the service by the two
nuns.
Day after day wore on, and MOTH
ing more was heard Of the stranger
by the inhabitants Of the garrett
After the fall of Robespierre, the
church was delivered from all actual
persecution. and the priest and the
nuns we're free to appear publicly in
Paris, without the slightest risk of
danger. One OF the first expeditions
undertaken by the aged ecclesiaslic
led him to a periumer's shop, kept
by a man who had formerly been one
Of the court iradesmen, and who had
always remained faithful to the roy
al family. The priest, clothed once
more in his clerical dress, was stand
ing at the shop door talking TO the
perfumer, when he observed a great
crowd rapidly advancing along the
street.
'What is the matter yonderP he
inquired Of the shopkeeper.
Nothing replied the man care
lessly, 'but the cart with the cons
demned criminals going TO the place
Of execution. Nobody pities them
nobody oughtp
You ara not speaking like Chris
tian,' exclaimed the priest. why
no; pity themi'
Because answered the perfumer,
'those who are going to execution are
the last accomplices Of Robespierre.
They only travel the same fatal road
which their innocent victims took be-
fore Them
The cart with the prisoners con-
demned TO the guillotine had by this
time arrived opposite the perlumer's
shop. As the old priest looked Curl
ously toward the State criminals, he
saw, standing erect and undaunted
among his dropping fellow.prisoners,
the very man at whose desire he had
twice celebrated the funeral service
for the martyred king Of Francel
who is that standing upright in
the carIl' cried the priest, breathless-
ly.
The perlumer looked in the direc-
tion indicated and answered:
The Exscutioner OF Louis the
Sixteenth