The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-12-08

The soldier had his back toward him.
Silvio passed him without attracting his
attention. He reached the front door
when he was sud 1enly stopped by old
Curieuse, who shouted after him:
''Mlnime, you little huSsy, why did you
stay so long in that blacksmlth's cell?
Quick, go to the kitchen and get my
chocolate ready
Silvio made no reply, but entered the
kitchen. In the adjoining room he found
ascloaks and a hat belonging to Curiense.
He put them on, and was about to go out
when the jailer stepped in.
He WAS ALMOST PETR1EIED
with astonishment upon beholding the
doomed locksmith instead Of his daughter,
MINNIE ,Silyio Immediately rushed at
him. and after brief struggle complete.
ly ovcrpowered him. He stuffed a hand
kerchief into the jailer's mouth, bound
him hand and foot, and pushed him under
his bed.
But now his boldness, which had thus
far been completely successful, was to
meet with sudden check. The door was
opened, and soldier came in. He rec
ognizcd Silvlo at once and attacked him.
Silvio offered desperate resistance,
but the soldier, was very strong man,
overpowered him at last. s~'
He shouted for assistance, other SOL
diers entered the room, and half an hour
afterward Silvio was in another cell,
chained to the wall. Curieuse was dis.
charged, and MINNIE was arrested on a
charge of helping prisoner to escape.
At that time Paris was not very large
city, and in a few hours the bold attempt
Of Silvio to regain his liberty was known
throughout the capital. King Louis the
Fourteenth heard Of it. and he expressed
the desire to see
THE BOLD LOCKSMITH.
So a squad of soldiers was sent to the
Tournelle prison, and Silvio, to his sur
prise, was unclaimed. The officer in
command of the squad said to him:
''Look here, Monsieur Silvio! shall
take you now before his majesty, our H.
lustrous king, Before him no one appears
in chains. But mark my words, | shall
shoot you like a dog in case you make
the slightest attempt to escaped ....
Silvio pledged himself to be patient and
submissive. He was put into carriage
and taken to Versailles, where Louis the
Fourteenth Immediately received him in
presence Of several ladies of the court
Silvio threw himself upon his knees and
implored the king devoutly.
''Ob, your majesty he osied "pity
poor me! am innocent, and have al
ready suffered so much!''
The king made him tell his story,
which Silvio related in accordance with
the facls.
His ruse in regard to the jailor's
daughter amused his majesty exceeding
~ and the king laughed uproariously up
on hearing how Sllvio had exchanged
costumes with girl.
He said he would grant Silvio free
pardon if he would be able to unlock with
a piece of steel wire the small, but strong
chain, with which the rebellious Count
Lacrette had been fastened to his dun
gcon in the basement of the palace few
years previously.
Silvio said he thought he could do so.
The chain was produced, and Silvio was
ironed with it. Then piece of wire was
given to him, and after few minutes
labor he succeeded in stripping off the
chain. The king clapped his hands.
cam free :" asked Silvio.
eyes, on one more additional condi-
tion,' said his majesty. "You owe some
PREPARATION to Mile. Curieuse, whom you
have so roughly treated. You are a bach
elor? g
Silvio replied in the affirmative.
"Then you can do nothing better than
to marry Mile. Curieusc. I will give
you some nice jewelry for her,
Silvio bowed assent, although the con-
dition was by no means to his taste. A
pardon was drawn UP for him, and he
was sent back to Tournelle to liberate
Mile. MINNIE Curieuse. Nothing could
be greater than her surprise upon learn
ing what sudden change had taken
place in Silvio's fortunes. His offer of
marriage she accepted readily, ard they
were married the following day.
\ Silvio became quite hero among the
Parisiaus. He opened locksmith shop
in the Rue du Bac, and on his sign he
had a large gold piece in commemoration
of the terrible days he had passed in the
Tournelle prison.
MINNIE made him an excellent wife.
She was blessed with large family of
children, her eldest son becoming the
kings iocksnlith after his fathers death.
AS the time wore on, Silvio's exploits
in La Tournclle we're immortalized by the
doggerel poets in Paris, and more than
one hundred years alterward great
grandson Of his sat in the National Con-
vention. and in a speech referred to the
memorable exploits Of his famous anccs-
tor.
1JL,ATrH dTn rADr,raT