The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1876-05-20

for aiding me will give you thousa,
francs, and when l come back will gil
you a thousand more. As security f
my return, take this ring"
The lady drew a diamond ring fro
her finger and gave it to the begg'
girl; then handed her a purse containir
gold. The girl appeared little puzzle,
and asked:
"Well, what are you going to do wit
my dress?"
al want to put it on and go where
first met YOU"
ooh! l understand now. You wan
to see the chopping go on, and you al
afraid you will be taken for an aristocra
if you wear that dress; you want t
represent me-"
eyes, want to look as near like yo1
as possible"
"Well, that won't be difficult. You
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 tn,
young, rich and noble Marie de Mantle
was clad in the rags of Marie, the begga
girl of Paris. The history of Marie d.
Nantes was a sad one. Her father ano
two brothers had fallen victims to thu
remorseless fiends of the Revolution
and a third and last brother had beer
seized; but of his fate she was Ignorant
although she expected that it would be
similar to that of her other relatives.
He had been torn from her but few
hours before. After the exchange the
pauper, 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"
In few minutes Marie was prepared;
end in the filth and rags she emerged
into the street. She now took her course
back toward 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 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!" .-.....
Her heart auttered violently, and she
felt the tramp of the doomed men ap-
Her brother walked proudly
and fearlessly forward, and assembled the
steps that led to the block Up to this
the strength of the poor Marie
lad failed her, and she was unable to
,ut her resolve into execution. But
low sisters love swelled up in her
,eart, and she recovered her strength.
She sprang forward, bursting through the
inc of guards, and ran up the steps.
Irasping her brother by the hand, she
aid:
What does this mean? 1t is only
he aristocrats who are to de-"
"Away, woman" exclaimed one of
he executioners.
No; will not go away until you
ell me why my brother is thus bound"
"Your brother!" was the echo.
Well, who are you ?"
81 am Marie don't you know me?"
"The beggar girl?"
"Aye."
But this is not your brother"
ait is. Ask bim-ask him."
Young Antonion de Nantes had turn
d scornful glance. upon the maiden,
ut light crossed his face, and he muir
nured, "Oh, my sisterw
Is this your brother ?' asked Robes
ierre of the supposed beggar, advancing
ear her.
at is"
"Does Marie speak the truth ?" asked
"She does" was the brothers reply.
And you are not de Nantes"
az tell you am her brother"
"Why did you not tell us this be-
prep
at attempted to speak, but was 81
,nced."
"But you might have declared your
slf."
"You would not have believed me-"
But your dress 2"
ait belongs to an aristocrat-perhaps
D him for whom I was taken"
Robespierre advanced close to young
Iantes and gazed earnestly into his
ice; then he approached Marie and
,oked steadily into her eyes for short
me. 1t was a moment of trial for the
oor girl. She trembled in spite of all
er efforts to be calm. She almost felt
nat she was lost. when the human fend
hose word was law turned and said:
" Release the man."
The chains were instantly removed
nd Antonio de Nantes walked down
ON the scaffold, followed by his sister,
lille shouts rent-the air, for they sup
-.
osed he was commoner who had thus
cen saved.
The young man worked his way
trough the crowd as rapidly as posssi-
lie, leading Marie. They scarcely es-
aped it before the poor girl tainted
ON the intensity of her feelings. The
rother scarcely knew what to do, but a
and was laid on his arm and a voice
lid:
" Bring her to my room; she will be
afe there"
The brother conveyed her to the
partment of the pauper and asked of
err:
Have you seen this female beforeP'
Yes, l known all about her." re-
armed the pauper. She has done it,
nd / am glad"