The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-02-05
A DEBT, AND HOW IT
WAS PAID.
4 TALE OF The FRENCH
REVOLUTION.
CHAPTER I,

man was hurrying through q small forest
on the outskirts of the town OF Nancy
The wood was thick, but he passed fearlessly
on through the opening gloom. Here and
there gap IN the trees brought before the
eye the gothic battlements of an ancient
castle, four towers of which rose dsrkly
against the sky. This was the ancestral
home of the proud old family of De Rev
maud.
The traveller was man Of Hercuean
proportions. He was commonly, almost
cosrsely dressed, and there was little in
either his manner or appearance to attract
attention, except perhaps that there was
nameless something In his countensnce
which, once seen, was not easily forgotten.
In the first place, it was deeply Scared BY
small pox, aud an immense profusion of
black hair hung in wild confusion around
it. His forehead was broad but low, and
his eye was brilliant, keen and restless.
Although at this period the forests OF
Flanders we're infested by bands OF robbers,
and every dsV brought with 1t fresh acts OF
theft or murder, psralysing the sacred IN |
habitants of Nancy and Nalenciennes, still
this man carried no weapon save huge
stick. With q dauntless look and q careless
cir he was speeding swiftly on his way
when, all at once, he was confronted by q
party Of men, who emerged from behind the
trees, and placing themselves deliberately
in his path, demanded his money or his
life. -
Apparently our sravaller thought that of
the two. he would prefer saving the former,
for in a moment, without q symptom of fear,
he prepared himself for determined resist
ance. With his back firmly set against q
tree, and his stick grssped in his hand, he
FIRST kept his assailants at bay; and them
finding they we're closing on him, com
menced dealing around him a succession of
blows, with GOODNESS and skill which
proved that he was master of the art of self
defence.
Still, 10 SO unequal q tombstone against
many-he had but little chance, and the
game was going against him, when sudden
II young man, unmistakably gentle
man, richly clad in the costly costume of
the day, and attended by his servant, ab,
ruptly appeared upon the scene. At a
single glance he seemed to take in the whole
case, and drawing his sword, without a mo
ment's hesitation, charged at once upon the
gang.
The battle was sharp, but of short dura
ton, for few seconds served to convince
the robbers that they had met their masters
and rapid flight ensued. 4 brief pause,
during which the two Young men gszed
bresthlessly at each other, as if to ascertain
the amount of damage done to either, was
broken by the last conner.
"You are wounded" said he to the man
to whose rescue he had so oppor.
truly arrived, you are severely wounded
I gu must allow me and my servent to Gssis,
you to the house-it is close by-snd there
you shall be properly attended to-"
"a thousand thanks, replied the traveller,
but have not an instant to spare. NV
wound he added, whilst he wrung some
heavy drops OF blood from his forehead,
us a tritis. Not SO the service you have
rendered me. That is a debt which l shall
never forget. If ever car repay it, it shall
be rapid. Perhaps, before we die, some
happy chance may enable me to do for you
what you have this day done for me
Nay laughed the young man, in that
hope we cannot quite agree.
IN these times, who knows ?" returned
the traveller. But, however, here, where
we have met, we must now part. Let me
before 60, know the uame Of my pre-
server
"Gustsve, Count de Reynaud," was the
reply, and the traveller gave sudden start.
culver on his lip aid a scown on his brow;
81 count an aristocratl My life saved by
An aristocrat But bah what matters
High or low, you are still my preserver and
my friend. and, as | said before, if ever the
time should come when you may want a
helping hand, as did this day, remember
the name of Dsnton."
CHAPTER II.
Count Gustave de Reynaud walked quiet
ly home, as if nothing had happened. His
life had been brief and bright romance
Three years previously he had in herited from
his father the castle TO which be had Just
invited his stranger friend, and tired, appsr
emily, of Paris and its pleasures, he suddenly
resigned his place at toe court of which he
was the most brilliant member, and devoted
himself to country life upon his princeiy
domain. For long time the gay compsn
ions Of his former life could not imagine
what inducement had been sufficiently
strong 10 lure him from their society; but
at last the secret was discovered, and the
mystery solved. Gustsve de Reynaud, the
witty and accom- plished favorite of luxuri
Gus court, had proved vulnerable to the
charms Of q beautiful village girl, and hav
ing no ones leave to ask but hers and his
own, married, and made her Countess de
Reyuaud.
For two years their happiness had been
like dream fairy tale. Surrounded by
vssssls and tenants, they dispensed around
them with lavish hand every benefit which
it was possible TO bestow, and their names
were never brea.hed without blessing.
In the year, however, of which we are
writing, bitter winds had scattered the or,
chsrd blossoms, heavy rains had ruined the
harvest, the vines had no grapes, and the
fields no flowers but the Count and Coun-
tess de Reynaud, with unwearied benevo
leuce, heaped upon their people gifts Of all
kinds to recompense them for their losses,
until there was but one feeling amongst
them Of universal gratitude.
Did / say universal Alas there was one
exception. Francois Gautier, farmer on
the estate, hated the Count and Countess
WIN hatrea too deep for words, even if he
had dared to utter them, and the cause
from which this hatred sprung WAS one
which, like recent wound, was heing cou.
tinually torn open.
From boyhood, this man had loved the
beautiful Felicie Emmonet, now Countess
de eynaud; and from girlhood he mad
been her detestation. When he saw The
prize wrested from him by one so Immeas
urably bis superior, love gave place te
hatred. Envy, deep and direful, turned
every drop of blood in his veins to gall; auc
day after day, month after month, yea
after year, he watched with jaundiced eye tbs
happiness of the Count and Countess d.
Reyuaud.
Revenge was what Gautier thirsted for
tue unalloyed prosperity of his superiors il
10 rank hiled him with rage. Being himseI
a man whose mind was superior to his sta
ton, his position was a constant thorne II
ms side, and he felt as if it chained him &c
the ground from which his ambition mad.
him wish to soar.
Unfortunately this was a character exsc,l,
suited to the times which were now COMING
a revolutionary spirit was growing i,
France with amazing rspidity. The nobil
ity were marked down as especial objects G
vengeance, and the mob were in ascendant
What moment of triumph for man VIII
L