The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-11-13
The Plague at Marsei|Ies.

The 18th of March, 1720, was a gay
and joyous day in the queen city of the
Mediterranean, Marseilles, which even
then was one of the finest places of the
old world, and which to-day is dazzling
in the splendor of it's gorgeous build
ings, 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 ar
rived and it was to be woven at Mar.
seilles, whose great ambition was to
eclipse the spinneries of Lyons and
| Rouen.
The sailors of the ship were treated to
collation. at the public expense, and
until o 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 what 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 that time
were never resorted to, and the narrow
streets of Marseilles, near the harbor,
were kept in 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
writhiug 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 in their dwellings,. Some of
the wealthy residents hurriedly left the
city, and departed for the pine-clad hills
of north Marseilles, where the air was
bracing and salubrious.
But the vast majority of the people
stayed. Stayed to die-to diein man.
ner too horrible to imagine.
It was at setting in of dusk that swell-
dressed and very handsome young man
entered narrow street in the northern
part of the city. He stood still in front
OF low house, the window shutters Of
which where lightly closed. From his
pocket he drew a 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 rushed to-
ward her, and clasping her in his arms
exclaimed, rapturously:
"Sephronia I"
"Antoine !"
For minute they remained locked in
fervent embrace. Then she drew him
gently into hallway. They exchanged
many tender caresses.
At last she ushered him into a cozily-
furnished back room, lighted by hang
ing lamp, which shed a dim light over
the room. They sat down on low
divan.
She was a girlish beauty of the true
Eastern style, graceful as a fawn, per-
haps eighteen years old, perhaps year
or two younger, with hair raven black,
a complexion faultlessly pure, magni6-
cent eyes and mouth as charming as
that of the Venus of Milo.
The young man took her hand, and
gazed lovingly into her eyes.
"Sophronia, he said at last, 81 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 small hand against her heart,
"you love mel love you You with all
my heart. But"
"But !" he exclaimed impatiently.
But, Antoine, dearest Antoine, I
cannot marry you !"
He sprang to his feet, uttering wild
imprecation.
"Why, Sopbronia, whyi" he cried,
stamping his foot on the ground.
"Listen to me, Antoine" she said,
calmly. "What am in the eyes of the
world but a wretched outcast? The
daughter of woman who was broken
on the wheel as a witch" Her bosom
heaved convu!sively as she uttered these
words"
"Poor mother !" she sighed. "She a
witch because she cured some sick peo-
pie whom the stupid physicians of Mar
seilles had given up"
"It was an abominable outrage I"
murmured M. de Couras
"It was, Antoine. My life was in
danger. You saved me, anu concealed
me here! Aud then think of who you
are. The only son of q wealthy coun-
selor to the parliament. Your father
would disown you."
"I have a modest fortune in my own
right" interposed Antoine.
GA modest fortunel p she exclaimed
almost scornfully. "How happy you,
the petted child of opulence, would be
with slender income?"
"I would be with you. But tell me,
Sephronia, is your decision irrevocable ?"
She hesitated. Then she passionately
drew him to her heart.
"No! mol she cried. "Only give
me a weeks time. I have strange
foreboding that startling events are going
to happen"
"One startling event has already hap
pened," said M. De Bouras. "The
plague has broken out to-day in Mar
seilles."
"The plague !' she echoed, with dis
tended eyes.
eyes; everybody is alarmed.
"And we'll they may be, she said,
solemnly. "Few cures can be effected
where the plague appears in its most
malignant FORM"
"Many people have died this after
noon, Sephronia.
"Then God have mercy upon Mar
seilles! You must forthwith leave the
city. Antoinep'
He laughed.
"Why! I am not afraid, he said.
EDO not laugh, Antoine I and my
whole family would have been swept
away by the plague if my father, who
was a very learned man. had not pos
sessed an infallible remedy for the epi-
demic."
"Have you got that remedy?" An.
tome asked, eagerly.
ct have" she replied.
"Why, then, do not you give it to the
authorities, Sephronia2
"And be broken on the wheel as a
itch |" she exclaimed, bitterly. "No,
no i And what good would it do? They
would never apply il"
II must 60, then, Sephronia, he said;
81 shall come back in week and get
your final answer.
"Stay minute / shall give you some