River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-10-29

though. But you can alter that with a
little dirt"
They exchanged dresses, and soon the
young rich and noble Marie de Nantes
was clad in the rags of Marie the Beggar
Girl Of Paris. The history of Marie de
Nantes was sad one. Her father and
two brothers had fallen victims to the re-
morseless tiends Of the Revolution, and
third and last brother had been seized !;
but OF his fate she was ignorant, although
an expected that it would be similar to
that Of her other relatives. lie had been
torn from her but few hours before.
After the exchange the pnuper, looking on
the Stockingless and shoeless little foot
and ankles Of the lady, said;
THAT will never do. Your feet are
too white and delicate. Let me arrange
matters
few minutes Marie was prepared,
and in the filth and rags she emerged in
to the street. She now took her course
back towards the guillotine, and at length
reached the square where the bloody
work was still going on. Gradually she
forced herself through the crowd, and
nearer and nearer she came to the scat
fold. She even forced laugh at several
remarks she heard around her, but those
laughs sounded strangely. She now
stood within the Platform, swept it with
her eyes, but her brother was not there
The cry was raised, "The aristocrats are
coming y
Her heart fluttered violently, and she
felt a iaintness come over her, as she
heard the tramp of the doomed men APP
preaching. Her brother walked proudly
and fearlessly forward, and assembled the
steps that led to the block. Upto this mo.
ment the strength of the poor Marie had
failed her, and she was unable to put her
resolve into execution. But now a sist-
er's love swelled up in her heart, and she
recovered her strength. She sprang for.
ward, bursting through the line Of guards,
and ran up the steps. Grasping her
brother by the hand, she said:
"What does this mean! 1t is only the
aristocrats who are to die
Away, woman!' exclaimed one Of the
executioners.
"No; | will not go away until you tell
me why my brother is thus bound
Il am Marie; don't you know me -
"The beggar girl :"
"Aye."
but this is not your brother"
ut is. Ask him-ask him.
Young Antonio de Nantes had turned
a scornful glance upon the maiden, but a
light crossed his face, and he murmured,
"Oh my sister -
''ls this your brother p asked Robe
spicrrc Of the supposed beggar, advancing
near her."
ut is"
"Does Marie speak the truth g asked
Robespierre.
"She does" was the brother reply.
And you are not de Nantes 7"
II tell you am her brother"
why did you not tell us this before 2
II attempted to speak, but was silenc.
ed"
But you might have declared your.
self. -"
"Yon would not have believed me-
: But your dress -
1T belonged to an aristoc~at-l erhapS
to him for whom ! was taken"
Robespierrc advanced close t. young
Nantes and gazed earnestly into his face
then he approached Marie and lookct
steadily into her eyes for short time
1t was moment Of trial for the poor
girl. She trembled in spite of all her ec
forts to be calm. She almost felt thai
she was lost, when a human fiend who's,
word was law turned and said:
Release the man."
The chains were instantly removed and
Antonio de Nantes walked down from III,
/ al al l. 4. 4
shouts rent the air, for they supposed he
was commoner who had thus been saw
ed.
The young man worked his way
through the crowd as rapidly as possible
leading Marie. They scarcely escaped il
before the poor girl tainted from the in.
tensity Of her feelings. The brother
scarcely knew what to DO, but hand
was laid on his arm and voice said
Bring her to my room again; she will
be safe there"
The brother conveyed her to the apart.
ment OF the pauper aud asked Of her
Have you seen this female before -
Yes, know all about her, returned
the pauper. "She has done it, and am
glad
DCioIt lut Hbtit ldNl ildu EeluIIeu 10
consciousness the brother had learned all
When she did so they both sought more
secure quarters, after they rewarded the
boggar girl as promised.
"Do you think Robespierre was really
deceived 2" asked Marie dc Nantes
II think not, returned the brother.
"Fhen why did he order your released
lie saw your plan-he admired your
courage. Could iicnd have done less =
perhaps this was the case but if so
it was a deed Of mercy, and the only one
that man ever did.
You are right.
Antonio de Nantes was not again ar
: rested, and lived happily with that sistel
who had SO molly periled her own life {,
, save his by personating the Bcggar Cir
of Paris.
A CLEVER DEBATE.
Speaking Of tho old.tmc politica
debates Of Virginia gentleman, Georg
G Cary Eggleston relates in the Noyembci
Atlantic this racy anecdote'-
T A story is told Of one Of the ferces
Of these social political debaters-a storl