The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-02-19
A NIGHT OF HORROR.

A NIGHT OF HORROR.
To have been in Paris during those
last days of the Commune is an expert
ence never to be let go from ones
memory. Years hence, when the ten
der grass is growing over the bloody
trenches in the Champ de Mars, and
fresh-faced daisies are smiling, and the
heavens are gracious and sweet, and a
gay crowd drifts by with chatter and
laughter, I shall live over in dreams
those terrible days-I shall see the star
ing corpes at my feet. shall shudder
at the touch of icy hands, and my blood
will grow cold with horror, or hot with
Indignation, as I seem to hear again
the brutal remarks of men from whose
bosoms every kindly sentiment had for
the time been driven forth. And more
than ALL that night of fire with its lurid
scenes, its atmosphere of ghastly death,
it's nameless apprehensions.
We were four Americans, imprisoned
in Paris, partly through carelessness,
partly through our own ignorance, and
all of us fraternizing in our dire ex-
termity.
OF the quartet, Mrs. March was the
nominal queen-her daughter Diana
really so. Roger, her nephew, was the
escort of the party, and his. Cousin.
Diana's devoted lover. Lastly, the
writer, an idle wanderer, caught in the
great tide which surged Paris-ward,
drifting happily into the good will of
the Marches. Besides ourselves,
Russian gentleman, who was there for
no better reason than that having seen
Diana's bright eyes the year before at
st. Petersburgh, he had followed them
as the planets follow the stars.
But in the presence of tragedy love
shrinks away affrighted, and holds his
peace, and if he worships still, does so
in silence and with lowered breath.
Behold us then in our quarters in the
boulevard Malesherbes on the after
noon of that fatal Wednesday, when
the last eliminating horror of fire was
the only thing that had remained to be
added to the ghastliness of the week.
The flames from the Tuileries ran up
the sky like nothing so much as the
rosy streamers of the northern lights.
They spread out fan-shaped, in long
tremulous lines-the lights wavered
from palest pink to lurid crimson. The
red light shone on Diana's white face,
and gave it strange new beauty.
And as the darkness came on the
fantastic horrors of the scene increased.
The boulevard was thronged with peo-
pie. Borne on the f1uctuating wind
came the clamor of the fusilade now
and then a shell screamed through the
air, silencing all minor noises. At about
nine o'clock we went up to the garret
windows to see at greater distance,
and there all along the roofs which ran
in long lines in either direction, we saw
people busy watering the states, and
sprinkling wet sand about. So wide
and brilliant was the confagration that
we could see the anxious faces-catch
the fierce expression. From the streets
below foated curses and greans..
go, this wicked, wicked Parisl"
sobbed Mrs. MAJ ch, under her breath.
"Don't you think. Mr.. Ernsteip, it is
Judgment upon them for their sins ?"
I was spared an answer by an inter
ruption that, unneryed as we were by
all we had gone through, nearly upset
us. A party of eight gendarmes rudely
broke in upon us, and demanded in
harsh tones why two of our people were
out upon the roof.
Our Russian count leaned quietly on
the high-backed armchair where Mrs.
March sat trembling.
Messieurs, the young lady and her
cousin went out but for five minutes,
for a taste of fresh air."
"Parbleu i calculated the leader.
eft is best, then, to do without fresh
air for a season, though mademoiselle
should lose her beauties ;" and so say
ing he approached his bleared and war
beaten visage close to Diana's proud,
beautiful face, ..-.- :.
Young Roger was between them in an
instant. e.
"Stand off, sir Insult the young
lady at your peril. ~, - ~
"Sacre p
The Frenchman's musket was brought
to level. His tigerish eyes glittered.
"For Gods sake, gentlemen," said
M. Ivanhoff, "think what you are about!
Roger, curb your temper. M. lie Cap
taine, these ladies and this gentleman
are Americans-here under the protec-
tion of the American minister"
The Frenchman sullenly lowered his
musket, scrutinized us all keenly, and
SAID: .s-.
"It is well Soldiers, allons :"
Tramp, tramp and clatter, clatter
they went down stairs.
A dead silence fell ON us for an in
slant. Then Diana breathed out
go Roger - ... -, 90. .,fe /.
She wayered, shewould have fallen,
but his arms received her.
I saw MIR. Ivanhoff look at them, I
noticed the expression of profound and
hopeless despair which crossed his
noble countenance. He turned away,
leaving Diana sobbing on her cousins
shoulder. ta ."--',. :. -. =.
She was brave girh this high-spirit-
ed, thoroughbred creature. This was
the only time in all those fearful days
that she broke down. And now she
presently rejoined us in the rear saloon
where we had gathered, and where Mrs.