The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1876-03-16

"Well, that won't be difficult.
Your hair and eyes, and even your
mouth are like mine. Your face is
too white, though. But you can alter
that With little dirt"
They exchanged dresses, and soon
the young, rich and Noble Maria de
Nantes was clad in the rags Of Maria
the Beggar Girl OF Paris.
The history OF Maria do Nantes
was sad one. Her father and two
brothers had fallen victims OF the ro
morseless fiend Of the revolution,
and third and last brother had been
saved, but OF his fate she was ignor-
aut, although she expected that it
would be similar to that Of her other
relatives. He had been torn from
her but fow hours before. After
the exchange, the paupor, looking on
tho stockingless, and shoeless little
feet and ankles OF tho lady, said:
THAT will nevor do. Your feet
are too white and delicate. Lot me
arrange matters.
In few minutes Maria was pre-
parod, and in filth and rags she
emerged into the street She now
took the course back towards the
guillotine, and at length reached
the square where the bloody work
was still going on. Gradually she
forced her way through the crowd,
and nearer and nearer she came to
the scaffold. She even forced n
laugh at several remarks she heard
around her, but those laughs sound.
ed strangely. She now stood with
in the platform, swept it with her
eyes. but her brother was not there
The cry was raised, THE aristocrats
are coming"
Her heart nutterod violently, and
she felt faintness come over her as
she heard the tramp of tho doomed
men approaching. Her brother
walked proudly and fearlessly for
ward and ascendod the steps that
led to the block. Up to this mo
ment the strength OF poor Maria had
fniled her and she ives unable to put
her plan into execution. But now II
sisters love sprung mp in her heart
and she recovered her strength. She
sprang forward, bursting through
the line guards and ran up the steps,
graspinS her brother by the hand,
she said {:
What does oil this mean II is
only aristocrsts who are to die
Away, woman T. exclaimed one
OF the executioners.
mo; l will not go away until you
tell me why my brother is thus
bound
"Yeur brother = WAS the echo
We'll who are you ?"
II aa Maria; don't you know me :
THE Beggar girl =
aye"
"But this is not your brother
1t is. Ask him-ssk him"
Young Antonio do Mates then
turned scornful glance upon the
maiden, but n light crossed his face
and he murmured, "Oh, my sister :"
"ls this your brother ? asked
Robespierre Of the supposed beggar
advancing near her
1T is."
"Does Maria speak tho TRUTH"
asked Robespierre.
"Sho does, was the brothers re.
ply.
"And you arc not DO Mates 7"
81 tell Won AIN her brother.
"Why did you not tell us this be'
fore"
81 attempted to speak, but waO
sileneed."
"But you might have declared
yourself
"You would not have believed me.
"But your dress ?"
"It belongs to On aristocrat-per-
haps to him for whom l was taken.
Robespierre advanced close to
young Nantes, gazed earnestly in
his face; then he approached Maria
and looked steadily into hor eyes for
short time. II was trying mo-
ment of trial for the poor girl. She
trembled in spite Of all her efforts to
be calm. she almost felt that sho
was lost, when the human fiend,
whose word was law, turned aud
said:
"Relesse the man."
Tho chains were instantly re-
moved, and Antonio de Nantes walk.
ed down from the scaffold, followed
by his sister, while shouts rent the
air, for they supposed he was com
muner who had thus been saved.
The young man worked his way
through the crowd rs rapidly as pos
sible, leading Maria. They scarcely
escaped it before the poor girl faint
cd from the itensity of feelings. Tho
brother scarcely knew what to do,
but q hand was laid on his arm and
voice said 4:
"Bring her to my room again, she
will be safe there. d"
The brother conveyed her to the
apartment of the pauper, and asked
her
"Have you seen this female be-
fore 7"
"Yes, know oil about her." res
turned the pauper. "She has done
it, and l am glad.
Before the noble lady had return
ed to consciousness the brother had
LEARNED all. When she did SO. they