The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1867-06-18

Gradually she forced her way through
the crowd, and nearer and nearer she came
to the scaffold.
She even forced laugh at several re
marks she heard around her, but those
laughs sounded strangely.
She now stood within few feet of the
platform.
She swept it with her eyes.
Her brother was not there.
The cry was now raised:
"Here comes another batchl"
Her heart auttered violently, and she
felt faintness come over her as she heard
the tramp of the doomed men approach
ling.
The crowd opened as the body of men
passed.
Marie gazed among them.
A low cry escaped her.
Her brother was there.
But he walked proudly and fearlessly
forward, ,and assembled the very steps which
led to the block.
Up to this moment the strength Of poor
Marie had failed her, and she was unable
to put her resolve into execution.
But now sisters love swelled up in
her breast, and she recovered her strength.
She sprang forward, bursting through
the line of guard, and ran up the steps.
Grasping her brother by the hand, she
cried:
"What does this mean? 1t is only the
aristocracy that are to die"
Away, woman, /" exclaimed one of the
executioners.
"Ne. I will not away until you tell
me why my brother is here, and thus
bound"
"Your brother?" was the echo.
"Yes, this is my brother.
"Wsll, who are you?"
81 am Marie. Don't you know me?"
"The pauper?D
"Ay!"
"But this is hot your brother?"
"It is. Ask him-ask him."
Young Antonio de Nantes had turned
a scornf1l gaze upon the maiden. but a
light passed at ..once across hfs face, and
he murmured:
'.Oh, my slsterl'
"Is this your brother?" asked Robes
pierre of the supposed pauper, advancing
near her.
at is"
"But his name is down differently"
"Then. you are mistaken. He is my
brother. Ask him.
"Does Marie speak the truth" asked
Robespierre.
"She does,'' was the brothers reply.
"And you are not De Nantes?p
81 tell you I am her brother
"Why did you not tell us this before. T"
81 attempted to speak, but was silenced.
"But you might have declared your
sels."
"You would not have believed me-
"But your dress "
cit belonged to an aristocrat. Perhaps
to him for whom was taken"
Robespierre advanced close. to young
Nantes and gazed earnestly into his face
Then he approached Marie, and locked
steadily in her eyes for short time.
1t was moment Of trial for the poor
girl. She trembled in spite of all her
efforts to be calm. She almest felt thai
she was lost, when the human fend, whose
word was law, turned and said:
"Release the man"
The chains were instantly removed and
Antonio de Nantes walked down from the
scaffold, followed by his sister, while the
shouts of those around rent the air, fol
they supposed it was a commoner who
had thus been saved.
The young man worked his way through
the crowd as rapidly as possible, leading
Marie.
They had scarcely escaped it, before
the poor girl tainted, from the intensity
of her feelings.
The brother scarcely knew what to do
but hand was laid upon his arm, and {
voice said:
"Bring her to my room again. Sh'
will be safe there"
The brother conveyed her to the apart
ment of the pauper, and asked of her:
.Have you seen the female before?"
Eyes, know all about it" returned
1.-THE pauper. "She borrowed my clothes
to save her lover. She has. done it, and
am glad"
Before the noble sister returned to con
seriousness the brother had learned all.
When she did SO, they both sought Sc
cuss quarters, after rewarding the begga
lgirl as had been promised. ~
aDo you think Robespierre was reall.
Ideceived?" asked Marie de Nantes.
~ think not" returned the brother. :
"Then why did he order your release?
"He saw your plan.- He admired you
courage. Could fend have done less?'
i '.Perhaps this was the case. But if s.
lit was deed of mercy, and the only on
that man ever did,"
i eYou are right"
Antonio de Nantes was not again ar
rested, and lived happily with that siste
who hadso nobly periled her own life tt
save him by representing the "Pauper o
Paris"
i AN IMPORTANT pEoIsIoN.-The Post
master General has given his opiniol
against the validity Of the practice whicl
has prevailed on many railroads of car
rying letters relating to their business