The Republican journal., 1872-06-20

worked like fire in our blood; and at last
the people OF Besancon got up as one man,
and swore that, come what might, they
would have the Chateau de Qnesnoy down,
ana make an end of the old wolf that lived
n It; and up they went, hundreds upon
hundreds.
l can remember, as if il We're yester-
day, seeing them filing out of town, their
plke-heads glittering in the sun, and the
mass otred caps showing like a long smear
OF blood upon the white road; and |, as a
boy will do, followed them to see what
would happen. They had expected to
find the chateau barricaded, and to meet
with some resistance; but, no the gar
den-gate was open-so was the hall door
quls himself, saving quietly, Enter; an
IS ready for YOU There was something
in his voice and look and manner that
made them shrink even then but they
had gone too far to turn back. Into the
chateau they poured, with shouts and
laughter, and scraps of Republican songs.
I'LL every room was chock full and the
leaders took possession of the great ban
quet-hall, and set NJ. lie Marquis in the
great carved chair at the head of the table
swearing that he should see them drink
his good wine before they killed him.
.A..,i ihcre they revelled till one-half of
them We're under the table, and the other
halt could hardly stand to light the torches
which they had stuck up round the hall
Just about nighttall ( had climbed into
tree near the window, and could see all
that went on,) | saw old Mercandon. the
steward, glide up to his masters chair, aud
say. in a low voice, M le Marquis, all is
readyn
Are all the lackeys gomez
All, NJ. lie Marquis'
Go you too, then, and leave me to
finish it alone!'
But the old steward only hung his
head, and answered with kind Of a sob,
M. lie Marquis, carried you in my arms
when you were a child, and do YOU drive
me away now ~
As You will then, my good fellow
sad the marquis: 4 shall at least have
ope honest man beside me to the last
And then he rose to his feet (for, till
that moment. he sat like a statue and
looking round upon them all Monsieur,
it live to be q hundred, | shall never for
get that sight the old noble standing up
like a tower, with the long gray hair fall
ing back from his grand calm face the
great vaulted hall, with its huge groined
arches and the dark panelling of oak
the coarse figures of the peasants, lolling
in the great chairs or walloWing upon the
/ floor, their rough faces all swollen and
disligured bv drink and fury and lust of
blood, the red torch light iiaring fitfully
over all. There was that in the old man 5
face which Silcnced the loudest of the
rioters; and you might have heard pin
fall as he spoke.
worthy guests, YOU have done honor
to my good cheer, and il is time that |
thank You as you deserve. This is the
first time my chateau has been defiled by
the hoots Of Republican capaU2c-and it
shall be the last Go, tell YOUR master
the Devil how the last OF the De Quesnoys
repaid your insoence. Nive lie roi !"
He seized u flambeau which stood
trap-door in the floor, and dropped the
serve us y came It crash as if the earth
had split asunder, and all the air was one
hot blast of fire; and | felt u shock like
an earthquake, and knew nothing more.
When came to myself, ! was lying
on the soft earth OF one of the tlower-hedS,
dizzy and stunned, as if had fallen from
the top Of a tower, but, thank God, unhurt
But, Holy Virgin what 4 sight it was
when | looked round ! All about me was
u reek of smoke and dust. Us fom the
mouth of u furnace; and dimly through
the cloud could see, on the spot where
the chateau had stood. black broken walls,
and great masses of stone flung here and
~