Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1876-02-11
NNBURY, PA. FRIDAY MORNING. FEBRUARY II, 1876


Would you like to become rich at once?
The female turned about with a look oi
surprise, burst into loud laugh, and then
replied:
OF course / would y
Follow me and you shall be-
Enough. Lead on
| 1t was with considerable difficulty that the
! two extricated themselves from the crowd.
but they did so at length, and then the first
female asked the other
| What shall call you2'
oh, 1 am called the Beggar Girl,
Maria
You live by besging?'
Yes but what's your name, and what
do you want?'
My name is Maria, the same as your
own.
Are you an aristocrat ?
1t does not matter. If you know where
we can find room, lead me to it and you
shall have gold.
The pauper led the way into a narrow,
filthy street and then into dark. filthy
room.
The other female could not but feel a
sickening sensation creep oyer her, but she
recovered herself. After contemplation
for time the apartment and what it con-
tanned, she asked:
Are you well known in Paris P
Yes, everybody knows Maria, the beg
gar girl
Are you known to Robespierre ? so.
1 want to make bargain with you.'
Il am. What do you wish p
You see that my clothes are better than
your own, and l wish to exchange with
you. l want you to not show yourself at
all for short time, or until / come 10 you
again. As recompense for aiding me 1
will give you thousand francs. Assecur-
ity for my return, take this ring
The lady drew diamond ring from her
finger and gave it to the begsar girl, then
handed her purse'containing gold. The
girl appeared little puzzled, and asked {:
We'll, what are you going to do with
my dress p
L want to put it on and 90 where 1
first met you.'
oh, 7 understand now. You want to
see the chopping going on, and yoy are
afraid you will be taken for an aristocrat if
you wear that dress you want to repre-
sent me-
Yes. want to look like YOU as near as
possible
We'll, 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 a 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 de Nantes was a
sad one. Her father and two brothers had
fallen victims of the remorseess tiend OF
the revolution, and third and last brother
had been saved, but Of his fate she was
ignorant, although she expected that it
would be similar to that of her other rela-
tives. He had been torn from her but a
few hours before. After the exchange, the
pauper, looking on the stockin2less and
shoeless little feet and aukles of the
lady, said:
That will never do. Your feet are too
white and delicate. Let me arrange mat
ters.'
Iu few minutes Maria was prepared,
aud in filth and rags she emerged into the
street. She now took the course back to-
wards the guillotine. and at length reached
square where the bloody work was still 60
ing on. Gradually she forced her way
through the crowd, and nearer and nearer
she came to the scaffold. She even forced
laugh at several remarks she heard
around her, but those laughs sounded
strangely. She now stood within the plat
form, swept it with her eyes, but her oro-
ther was not there. The cry was raised,
The aristocrats are coming!'
Her heart auttered violently, and she
felt faintness come over her as she heard
the tramp Of the doomed men approaching.
Her brother walked proudly and fearless!y
forward and assembled the ps that led to
The block. Up to this moment the strength
of poor Maria had failsd her and she was
unable to put her plan into execution. But
now a sisters love sprung up in her heart
and she recovered her strength. She sprang
forward, bursting through the line guards
and ran up the steps, grasping her brother
by the hand, she said
What does all this mean? 1t is only
aristocrats who are to die
Away, woman y exclaimed one OF the
eXecutioners.
No; will not 90 away until you tell
me why my brother is thus bound
Your brother p was the echo. We'll,
who are you p
81 on, Mo rio dop,t you know mo 2.