The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-10-16
THE PLAGUE AT MARSEILLES.
he 18th Of March. 1870. was a CAV al

THE PLAGUE AT MARSEILLES. n
he 18th of March. 1890. was a gay and
] oyous day in the Queen City Of the Med
iterranean, Marseilies, which even then
was one of thegfnest places in the Old
World, and which to- ay|is dazzling in
the splendor ofitsSgorgeous,b buildings, its
magnificent situation and its sunny sky.
On that day a great event occurred in
the commercial history OF Marseilles.
The first ship from Levant, laden with
precious cachemire wool, had arrived and
it was to be woven at Marseilles, whose
great ambition was to eclipse the spinner.
les of Lyons and Rouen.
The sailors Of the ship were treated to
collation. at the public expense, and un-
til late hour ofthea night crowds sing
ing joyous ditties were passing through
the principal streets of the city.
Alas! Had the people OF Marsellles
known that dreadful calamities the WOOL
ship had carried to them! 49,
It had sailed from Symrna, and at
SMYRNA that terrible scourge OF former
ages the plague, was raging.
Disinfecting processes at that time
were never resorted to, and the narrow
streets of Marseilles, near the harpor,
were kept in avery filthy condition.
Next day tha.wool- ship was unloaded,
and two hours later most Of the workmen
engaged ON the dock near it were writh-
ing in the agonies of the plague.
A cry of horror resounded throughout
the whole city when the dread news be-
came generally known. The stores were
shut up and the people locked themselves
nj their dwellings. Some of the wealth
Ter residents hurriedly, left the city, and
departed for the pine-clad hills North of
Marseilles, Where the air was braclng and
salubriOus. $sTt~ g j.
But the vast majority of the people
stayed. Stayed, to die--to die in man
ner too horrible to imagine. '.7
1t was at setting in of dusk that a well
dressed and very handsome young man
entered narrow street IN the northern
part of the eity. He stood still in front
of low house, the window shutters of
which were tightly closed. From his
pocket he drew silver whistle, and blew
three shrill notes from it.
A few minutes later the front door Of
the house was cautiously opened.
In the dim twilight the young man re-
cognized frail female form, dressed in
flowing white wrapper. He rushea to-
ward her, and clasped her in his arms ex-
claimed, rapturously:
"Sephronia" ~ ..
"Antolne!"
For minute they remained locked in
fervent embrace. Then she drew him
gently into a; hallway. They exchanged
many tender caresses. .,a - :,
At last she ushered him into cozily-
furnished back room, lighted by hang
ing lamp, which shed dim Ii ht over
the room. They sat down on low divan.
She was girlish beauty of the true
Eastern STYLE graceful as a fawn, perhaps
eighteen years old, perhaps year or two
younger, with hair raven black, a COM
plexion faultlessly pure, magnificent eyes
and mouth as charming as that Of the
Venus of Milo. 49,.
The young man took her hand, and
gazed lovingly ipto her eyes.
''Sephronia,' he said at, last, 1T have
come to hear your decision"
A cloud at once darkened the brow Of
the lovely girl, A,.,u inc.1.- ; ..
"Antolne de Couras,p she said, pressing
her small hand against her heart, "you
have been the most generous Of men to
me. You have surrounded me with
luxuries. You love mel love you
with all my heart. But"
"But!" he exclaimed impatiently.
"But, Antoine, dearest Antoine, I can
not marry youw
He sprang to his feet, uttering a wild
lmprecation. - ; Z ~ 2. ~ ~.
5Why, sephronla, wby9" he cried,
stamping his foot on the ground.
"Listen to me, Antoine," she said
calmly. ''What am in the eyes of the
world but wietched outcast? The
daughter ola woman who was broken
on the wheel as a WITCH Her bose n
hcaved convulsively,' as she uttered. these
"Poor mother!" she sighed. "she a
witch because she cured some sick peo-
: pie whom the stupid physicians of Mar
settles had given up"
ut was an abaominable outrage p
murmured NJ. D. Couras. If =
1T was Antoine. My life was in
danger. You saved me, and concealed
me here! And then think of who you are.
The only son Of wealthy counselor to
the Parliament. Your father would dis
own you" .... s
II have modest fortune in my own
right" intcrpesed Antoine.
"A modest fortuner' she exclaimed al
most scoonfully. elbow happy you, the
petted child opulence, would be with a
slender income2"tzs -..,-.rrJ ~. 49,. -
II would be with you. But tell me,
Sepbronia, is your decision irrevocable2''
She hesitated.oaT Then she passionately
drew him to her heart. gp ~. ..ss -
"No!no!" she cried. "Only give me
weeks time. I have strange forebod
ing that startling events are going to
happen" -, .,...~. .:
zone startling event has already hap
peued," said M. De Couras. ''The plague
has broken out to-day in Marseilles."
''The plagued" she echoed, with dis
tended eyes. -.. ~ o5 t.a. s.ssr f.. .r.,;
Yes; everybody is alarmed" ~.a I..
"And we'll they may be-" she said, SOL
emily. "Few cures can be affected
where the plague appears in its most
malignant form" E;;!"''T*- '..>.: III
"Many people have died this afternoon