The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-01-10

deed that day worthy of the Twelve Pal
adins; and perhaps the bon Dieu may yet
have mercy upon him, for he was brave
man ~
I recalled the weird pathos Of the Eng
lish ballad
"That Heaven may yet have more mercy
Than man on such bold riders soul"
and looked with involuntary admiration
upon this thoroughly French sympathy
with courage, even in an hereditary and
implacable enemy. The old man was
silent for an instant, while the momentary
softness faded from his iron features, leav-
ing them sterner than before. When he
resumed his tone was deeper and more
solemn.
"But although NJ. lie Marquis escaped
for that time, his day was near at hand;
for now came news that the people had
marched upon Versailles, that the king
and queen had been brought to Paris, that
the tiers were up in every part of the coun-
try, and that the Assemble Rationale had
decreed the abolition of taxation, monop-
oily, aristocratic oppression, and had pro-
nounced all men free and equal forever
like fire in our blood; and at last the peo-
of Besancon got up as one man, and swore
that, come what might, they would have
the Chateau de Quesnoy down, and make
o,5 ae bo o1I hot in
up they went, hundreds upon hundreds.
" can remember, as if it were yester-
day, seeing them fling out Of the town,
their phe-heads gllttering in the sun, and
the mass of red caps showing like a long
smear of blood upon the white road; and
l, as a boy will do, followed them to see
what will happen. They had expected to
find the chateau barricaded, and to meet
with some resistance; but, no the garden
gate was open-so was the hall-door-and
on the threshold stood the old Marquis
himself, saying quietly, Enter; all is
ready for you There was something in
them shrink even then; but they had gone
too far to turn back. Into the chateau
they poured, with shouts of laughter, and
scraps of Republican songs, till every room
was chock-full; and the leaders took pos
session of the great banquet 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. And there they reveled
till one-half of them were under the table,
and the other half could hardly stand to
light the torches which they had stuck up
round the hall. Just about nightfall Il
had climbed into tree near the window,
and could see all that went on,) | saw old
Mercandon, the steward, glide up to his
masters clair, and say, in low voice,
m. lie Marquis all is ready y"
care all the lackeys gone?''
GAN, NJ. lie Marquis"
$50 you too, then, and leave me to flu
ish it alone ~
"But the old steward only hung his
head, and answered with kind of sob.
M. lie Marquis, carried you in my arms
when you were a child, and why do you
drive me away now?'
"'As you will then, my good fellow
said the Marquis, shall at least have
one honest man beside me to the last
"And then he rose slowly to his feet
(for, till that moment, he sat like q stat
ue,) and looked round upon them ALL
Monsieur, if | live to hundred, shall
never forget that sight the old noble
standing up like a tower, with the long
gray hair falling back from his grand calm
face; the great vaulted hall, with its huge
groined arches and dark paneling of oak;
the coarse figures of the peasants lolling
in the great chairs or wallowing upon the
floor, their rough faces all swollen and dis
figured by drink and fury and lust of blood,
the red torch-light tlaring fitfully over all.
There was that in the old mans face which
silenced 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 it is time that l
thank you as you deserve. This is the
first time that my chateau has been detiled
by the hoofs of Republican canaMe-and
it shall be the last Go, tell your master
the devil how the last of the De Quesnoys
repaid your insolence. Vive lie roll
"He seized 1ambeau which stood near
him, and, STOPPING down, lifted trap
door in the floor, and dropped the torch
through it. And then God preserve us y
came crash as if the earth had split
asunder, and all the air was one hot blast
of fire; and felt shock like an earth
quake, and knew nothing more.
when l came to myself, was lying
on the soft earth of one the flower-beds,
dizzy and stunned, as if had fallen from
the top of tower, but thank God, unhurt.
But, Holy Virgin what a sight it was
when looked round All about me was
reek of smoke and dust, as from the
mouth of furnace; and dimly through
the cloud l could see, on the spot where
the chateau had stood, black broken walls,
and great masses of stone flung here and
there, and smoking timbers. The Mar
quis had filled the cellars with gunpowder.
and of all who entered the chateau, not
one was left alive! May the good God
have mercy upon their souls ~
Chambers Journal.
BATTLE WITH AN ALLIGATOR.