The Worthington advance., 1878-12-19
A STARTLING ROBBERY,

In safety through cterTy, Whlle I'm weary.
ing through time.
A STARTLING ROBBERY.
1t was about noon on the 1ath day of
July, 1889, that q gorgeous carriage |
drawn by two white horses emerged |
from the Rue St. Honore, in Paris, and |
turned into the Place R, yale.
The carriage was painted white, and
was ornamented with golden lilies. The
coachman wore white livery richly Or
namented with gold lace. He had in his
carriage only two passengers, who were
reclining comfortably on the velvet cush-
ions on the back seat.
One Of these two passengers was an
elderly man, wearing a light. blue satin
suit. His face looked flabby and sponey.
His complexion was of that unhealthy
pale color peculiar to debauchees. His
blue eyes had a stupid expression. He
looked utterly bIase, and no wonder, for
he was the most dissolute Monarch of
modern times, King Louis XIV, OF France
He had emptied the cup of sensual
pleasures to the very dregs, and now he
was utterly surfeited.
The companion that was sitting be-
sides him was lovely young lady, the
Vislountess Marie de Neuville. Her
rosy face looked innocent and fresh, yet
she was wicked creature. She was the
daughter Of one Of the foremost noble
men in France, and had been engaged to
be married to an honorable young gentle
man. Still she had preferred to become
one Of the Royal rake's minor mistresses.
'There is quite crowd here,' Your
Majesty" she said to the King; wonder
what is the natter"
Louis XIV. looked out of the open win
dow.
"Coachman," he shouted, 'stop! What
is going on here?'
At this moment sharp, piercing cries
fell upon the King, ears.
He started tu his feet, and opened the
carriage door.
"Heavens" he exclaimed. "What is
this?"
"Your Majesty" said the coachman, re-
spcctfully, Monsieur de Paris is break
ing criminals on the Wheel"
Monsieur de Paris was land still is) the
odd surname of the executioner of
France.
At that time his business was no sine
cure. On an average 5000 persons at
that time we're broken on the wheel in
France every year, as many more hung,
and 10000 were f1ogged and branded
with red-hot iron.
The King uttered cry of horror.
Perhaps the only good quality which
Louis XIV. possessed was soft, sympa.
thetic heart. Executions he abhorred, es-
pecially since the ill-fa,ed Damiens. He
jumped back into the carriage, shouting:
"Coachman, whip your horses! Drive
away as fast as you cant
The coachman did his Royal masters
bidding, and the horses set off at furious
gallop. The carriage turned back into
the Rue St. Honore.
At that time the streets of Paris had
no sidewalks. The Rua St. Honore was
crowded. The horses ran over middle
aged, poorly clad man. The victim tell
to the ground groaning piteously.
The King ordered the coachman to
stop, and alighted.
Poor man. he said, com passionately,
"are you much iDjuredl"
The man raised himself up.
''its the King" he murmured. "Sire.
lam hurt, but
"You are pcor3" asked Loui3 XIV.
Very poor, Your Majesty
II have he money in my pocket" said
tie KDg. "But take tins. Any icweler
will buy it OF you. When you are we'll,
come to Versailles, and will give YOU
something more"
50 saying Louis XIV. handed him a
golden clasp, set with two large dia-
monds.
The crowd that had witnessed this
scene murmured, "Wbat nice King VIC
have! How good he is! Long live Louis
XVI
Fickle, thoushtless Parisians!
A lew years later they yelled with de-
light at the execution Of King much
better than Louis XIV. ever was.
The man to whom the King had given
the golden clasp stood up and limped off
into side lane.
"Antoinc Perricr," he said to himself.
as soon as he was no longer the observed
OF all observers. "this is lucky day for
you. What haul you have made for 4
slight confusion! may limp to- day and
tomorrow a little, but that will be all.
This golden clasp is certainly worth sew
eral thousand francs"
A few minutes later he entered small
wine. shop in the Rue Taitbout, where an
other uiddle-aged man, with a sinister
expression Of countenance, hailed him.
"Hello. Perricr," he said to the new
conner, "sit down, you imp. Had an acci-
dent?'
Perrier sat down beside him.
"Yes, Malbranche, the Kings horses
ran me over"
Malbranche burst into laughter.
mo Joke, Malbranche," proceeded Per.
rier; "this is what His Majesty gave me
with his own hands,"
He showed him the golden clasp.
Malbranche uttered q CRY Of fsurprise.
'Sacristi!'' he said; "this is valuable"
THE King invited me also 10 visit him
81, Versailles as soon as l was WE'LL" re-
piled Perrier.
1his remark made Malbranche visibly
thoughtful.
Il think We can drink a couple OF bot.
ties OF champagne on oil this" said Per-
rier.
The wine was ordered, and few min
ntes later the two were drinking the
Kings health.
"Bv the BY" said Malbranche at last.
What do you intend to do with this
clasp7"
' "Sell it," replied Perrier.
"Vhere1"
"Oh. l shall go straightway to NJ. Tis-
sander, the Kings jeweler. be will pay
me fair price for ito
-, = Eyes. You said that the King asked
you to visit him at Varsailles7'
= : He said he would grant me private
interview and give me something more"
"Humph!'
They empsied The second bottle.