The Red Cloud chief., 1879-07-10
In sOftest tone
CHARLOTTE CORDAY.
From Carlyle's French Revolution.

Amid this dire ferment history speci
ally notices one thing: In the lobby OF
the Mansion de l'Intendance, where
bu y Deputies are coming and going, q
young lady, With m aged valet, is tax.
ing graceful leave of Deputy Barbaroux.
She is of stately Norman figure, in her
twenty-fifth year, a beautiful cOunte.
nance: Her name is Charlotte Corday.
Barbaroux has given her a note to
Deputy Duperret-him who once drew
his sword in the effervescence. Appa.
rently she went to Paris on some rrand ?
"She was a Republican before the Rev.
0lution and never wanted energy" A
completeness, a decision is in this fair
female figure. By energy she means
"the spirit that will prompt one to sac
rifice himself for his country"
What if she ,!this fair young Charlotte,
had emerged from her secluded stiffness,
suddenly, like a star; cruel-lovely, with
half angelic, half-demoniac splendor;
to gleam;for a moment and in a moment
be extinguished; to be held in memory,
SO bright, complete, was she, though
long centuries? Quitting Cimmerian
coalitions without, and dim-simmering
$4,000, 900 within, history will look fix
edly at this one fair apparition of a
Charlotte Corday; will note whittier
Charlotte moves; how the little life
burns forth so radiant, then vanishes
swallowed by the night.
With Barbarouxs note of introduc.
ton and a slight stock of luggage we
see Charlotte on Tuesday, the 9th of
Tnlr cootaI -, tho Csoo ll:ro-oo -:.l
a place for Paris. None takes farewell
of her or wishes her good journey.
Her father will find a line left signify
ing that she has gone to England; that
he must pardon her and forget her. The
drowsy diligence numbers along, amid
drowsy talk of politics and praise of the
mountain, in which she mingles not, all
night, all day, and again all night. On
Thursday, not long before noon, we are
at the bridge of Neuilly. Here is Paris,
with her thousand black domes and goal
and purpose of thy journey. Arrived at
the Inn de Ia Providence, in the Rue des
Vieux Augustins, Charlotte demands a
room, hastens to bed, sleeps all after
DOE and night till the morrow morn.
ing.
On the morrow morning she delivers
her note to Duperre.. 1t relates to GER
tain family papers which are in the
Minister of the Interiors hand, which a
nun of Caen, an old convent friend of
Charlotte's, has need of, which Duperret
shall assist her in getting. This then
C~harlOtte's errand to Paris? She |
has finished this in the course of Friday. |
yet says nothing of returning. She has
seen and silently investigated several
things. The Convention in bodily real
ity she has seen; what the mountain is
like. The living physiognomy of Marat
she could not see; he is sick at present
and confined at home.
About 8 on the Saturday morning she
purchases q large sheath.knife in the
Palais Royal; then straightway in the
Place des Victories takes a hackney
coach; "To the Rue de l'Ecole de
No. A." 1t is the residence
of the Citoyen Marat!
The Citoyen Marat is i'll, and can not
be seen, which seems to disappoint her
much. Her business is with Marat
then? Hapless, beautiful Charlotte;
hapless squalid Marat! From Caen, in
the utmost West, from Neuchatel, in
The utmost East, they two are drawing
nigh each other; they two have, very
strangely. business together. Charlotte,
returning to her inn, dispatches a short
note to Marat, signifyiIg that she is
rom Caen, the seat of the rebellion
hat she desires earnestly to see him. l
md will put it in his power to do France
great service. No answer. Charlotte
Trites another note, sill more pressing, !
cts out with it by coach about z in the 9
venir g herself.
It is yellow July evening, We say, the {
Sth of the month; ven of the Basiille {
az, when NJ. Marat four years ago in Q
he crowd of the Pont Neuef shrewdly e
of that Besenvsl Hussar party .
hich had such friendly dispositions, .
dismount and give up their arms .
and became notable among pa "
lotto men. Four years. What . road
has Travelled, and sits now, about a