The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1878-10-31
A PORTENTOUS DAY IN MAR.
SEILLES.

The 10Th of March, 1920, was q gay
and joyous day in the Queen City of the
Mediterranean, Marseilles, which even
then was one Of the finest places in the
Old World, and which to-day is dazzling
in the splendor of its gorgeous 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 the Levant, laden
with precious cashmere wool, had ar
rived, and it was to be woven at Mar
seilles, whose great ambition was to
eclipse the spinners of Lyons and Rouen.
The sailors of the ship were treated to
a collation. at the public expense, and
until late hour of the night crowds
singing joyous ditties were passing
through the principal streets of the city.
Alas! had the people of Marseilles
known the dreadful calamities the wool
ship had carried to them.
1t had sailed from Smyrna, and at
Smyrna that terrible scourge of former
ages, the plague, was raging.
Disinfecting processes at the time were
never resorted to, and the narrow streets
of Marseilles, near the harbor, were kept
in a very filthy condition.
Next day the wool ship was unloaded,
and two hours later most of the work
men engaged on the dock near it were
writhing in the agonies of the plague.
A cry of horror resounded through
out the whole city when the dread news
became generally known. The stores
were shut up and the people locked
themselves in their dwellings. Some of
the wealthier residents hurriedly left
the city, and departed for the pineclad
hills north of Marseilles, where the air
was bracing and salubrious.
But the vast majority of the people
stayed. Stayed to die-to die in man
ner too horrible to imagine.
1t was at setting in of dusk that a
well-dressed and very handsome young
northern part of the city. He stood
still in front of low house, the window
shutters of which were tightly closed.
From his pocket he drew a silver whistle,
and blew three shrill notes from it.
4 few minutes later the front door of
the house was cautiously opened.
In the dim twilight the young man
recognized frail female form, dressed
in flowing white wrapper. He rushed
toward her, and, clasping her in his arms,
exclaimed, rapturOusly:
Sephronia"
Antoine"
For a minute they remained locked in
a fervent embrace. Then she drew him
gently into hallway. They exchanged
many tender caresses.
At last she ushered him into cozily
furnished back room, lighted by hang
ing lamp, which shed dim light over
the room. They sat down on low
divan.
She was a girlish beauty Of the true
Eastern style, graceful as fawn, per-
haps eighteen years old, perhaps year
or two younger, with hair raven black,
a complexion faultlessly pure, magnifi-
cent eyes, and a mouth as charming as
that of the Venus of Milo.
The young man took her hand, and
gazed lovingly into her eyes.
Sephronia," he said at last, al have
come to hear your decision"
A cloud at once darkened the brow Of
the lovely girl.
Antoine de Couras," she said, press
ing her 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 nv heart. But"
"Butp he exclaimed, impatieDtly.
But, Antoine, dearest Antoine, can
not marry youW
He sprang to his feet, uttering wild
imprecation.
"Whv, Sephronis, why@' he cried,
stamping his foot on the ground.