The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-02-08
sOLANGE.
From the French OF Alexandra Dumas.l

IOO carry Ill JHc evening Wv was !loG ~
o'clOck) for any distress of this kind to
be caused by thieves. ran toward the
spot from whence | heard the sounds
issue, and there, by the light Of the
moon, saw woman struggling i'll the
midst of a band Of Sans CulOtes. The
woman also saw me, and observing by
my costume | was q gentleman, she
threw herself toward me, saying: This
citizen will prove to you | am what
represent myself to be, the daughter of
Mother Ledier, the laundress; am mot,
Monsieur Albert?
The young girl pressed my arm in the
most beseeching manner and [ UNDER
stood at once. AS she had called me by
the first name she thought of, so | gave
her the first name could remember.
"Why, my poor Solange, is it you?
What has happened 2"
"There, do you see these gentlemen ~
said she.
"I think you had better say citizens"
interrupted the Sergeant.
"Listen, Mr.. Sergeant-it is not my
fault if I look like an aristOcrat; my
mother worked always for the rich j.; she
was accustomed to be polite, and it is a
| bad habit she has taught me; but what
can do, Mr.. Sergeant II cannot help
| it.0
There was in this reply a raillery i'm
perceptible to all but me. | asked my
self who could this woman be? It was
an impossible problem to solve. | was
sure, however, that she was not the
daughter Of a laundress.
"Tlis is what has happened, Mons.
| Albert / was taking home some linen !;
the mistress of the house was out;
was waiting to receive my money.
| Dame! every one needs all the money
she has these times. Night came on !;
| had expected to return by daylight, so
had not brought my passport !; [ fell in
their pardon-citizens; they asked to
see my passport; ; / told them had none !;
they then wished to conduct me to the
guard; I screamed, and you ran to my
! aid, which was q thing to be thankful
for. was reassured for | said to my
self Mons. Albert knows that my name
is Solange, and that am the daughter
of Mother Ledieu, and he will be res
ponsible for me. Am not right, Mon
sieur Albert?"
Certainly" I replied, " l will answer
for you, andI will be responsible for it" "
$50 far, so good" answered the
chief of the patriot, "but who will be
responsible for you, Monsieur2"
"DantOn; is that enough; is he a good
enough patriot ?0
Certainly, if Danton viii be respon.
sible foryou, Ihave nothing more to say
"Very we'll, to-day the Session is held
at the Cordeliers. Let us go there.n
eve will go there" said the sergeant.
"Citizens, sans culottes, march,
The club of the Cordeliers was held
in the old Convent of the Cordeliers, in
the street Obervance. We were there
almost Immediately. AS soon as we ar
rived at the door tore leaf from my
note book and wrote few words on it!
then handing it to the sergeant, told
him to give tito the porter ON asking fol
Danton. Meanwhile we were left in
thehands of the corporal and the soldiers
| The sergeant entered the club, and
came back with DantOn.
Chow ~ said DantOn to me, do they
arrest you, my friend and Comedies
friend, one of the best Republicans that
exist? Let us see.n Then turning tC
the sergeant, he said:
"Citizen Sergeant, answer for him
is that suffcient?'
&c You answer for him, but do you an
swer for her?a persisted the sergeant.
For her? OF whom do you speak 2
"Of this woman, by our Lady !'~
For him, for her, for any and all h'
indorses indorse. Are you conten
now p .z=. -.
II am content said the sergeant
"and above all in having seen you"
All, Non Dieul you could have thi
pleasure gratis. Look at me as mucl
as you want, as long as you hold me.m
"Thanks! Continue to guard as yO1
, have done the interests of the people
and be Tranquil; the people will b.
grateful
Oh, yes; am certain of that" sai'
: DantOn.
VIII you shake hands with me 2
!. continued the sergeant.
Why not?" and Danton gave hin
his hand.
Long live Danton," cried the ser
geant. Long live DantOn,n cried th
patrol. Then they turned and left, con
Quoted by ther chief. When afeW step
off they turned again, and lifting thei
red caps in the air, cried once more
"Long life to Danton.n 3.
[ was just going to thank DantOn
when his name was called several time
) from the interior of the club. Dan
ton, DantOn,a cried several voice
from the tribune. -
Pardon, my friend" said he, hOldin
Il out his hand, 'salloWme to return. CAV
my right hand to the sergeant; I vii
give you the left, for fear that worth
patriot may have the itch; who knows
With these words he re-entered til
= club. remained at the door with m
unknown companion.
!" Now, madame I said to he
) "where shall conduct you ?i
n Dame, to the house of Mother Ii
], dieu. You know [ have already sal
d she was my mother,n she replied, sIni
' ing.
:, live9"
"Feon street, No. %.
:" Let us go to No. % Feron street,
Mother I1edieu."
- We walked along without saying
word. By the light of the moon
: found my companion was a charmiT
young person of about 90 or 90 years,
d brunette, with large blue eyes, mo
II II spiritual than melancholy, q straigl
4 nose, misehieVous mouth, the tee
" like pearls, hands of q queen, and fe
Of child. All this under the costnn
n of the daughter of a laundress. ST
% she preserved her aristOcratic bearin
50 SO much that even the sergeant al
90 fiendish guard discovered it. When Y
~ ~ reached the door of No. "a, we stOpDt
z and looked at each other sniIingl,
90 then she said:
Is What do you wish, my dear Mo
sieur Albert ~
wanted to say to you. my dear S
= lange, il is hardly worth the trouble
meeting y0u to leave you SO soon y
r r g beg your pardon q thousand time
- - lie I had not met you would have hi
en much greater trouble, for they won
rs have conducted me to the corporal
the guard, who doubtless would ha