, 1879-12-08

that of her other relatives. He had
been torn from her side but q few hours
before.
After the exchange had been made
the pauper looked on the stockingless
and shoeless feet and ankles of the
lady and said:
q THAT will never do. Your feet are
too white and delicate. Let me arrange
matters
In few moments Marie was pre-
pared, and in the filth and rags she
emerged into the street.
She now took her course back toward
the guillotine, and at length reached
the square where the bloody work was
still going on.
Gradually she forced her way through
the crowd. and nearer and nearer she
came to the scaffold.
She even forced laugh at several
remarks she heard around her, but
those laughs sounded strangely.
She now stopped within few feet of
the platform.
She swept it with her eyes.
Her brother was not there.
The cry was now raised: "Here
comes another batch!"
Her heart huttered violently, and she
felt faintness creep over her as she
heard the tramp of the doomed men
approaching.
The crowd opened as the body of men
passed.
Marie gazed among them.
A low cry escaped her.
Her br0thor was there
But he walked proudly and fearlessly
forward, and ascended the very steps
which led to the block.
Up to this time the strength Of poor
Marie had failed Ler, and she was un-
able to put her resolve into execution.
But now a sisters love swelled up in
her breast, and she recovered her
strength.
She sprang forward. bursting through
the line of guard and ran up the steps.
Grasping her brother by the hand,
she cried:
"What does this mean? It is only
the aristocracy that are to die
"Away, woman!" exclaimed one of
the executioners.
"No. will not away until you tell
me why my brother is here, and thus
bound"
"Your brother?' was the echo.
Eyes, this is my brother"
Well, who are you?"
81 am Marie. Don't you know me %
1.-The Pauper?"
"Ay!"
"But this is not your brother?"
LIT is. Ask him-ask himr
Young Antonio de Nantes had turned
a scornful gaze upon the maiden, but
light passed at once across his face. and
he murmured:
"Oh, my sister,"
I" Is this your brother ?" asked Robes
pierre of the supposed pauper, advanc-
ing near her.
sit is"
But his name is down differently"
"Then you are mistaken. He is my
brother. Ask him."
"Does Marie speak the truth ?" asked
Robespierre
"She does,' was the brothers re-
ply.
"And you are not De Nantes q
81 tell YOU I am her brother"
why did you not tell me this be-
fore?"
81 attempted to speak, but was 81
lenced."
But you might have declared your
self"
"You would not have believed me-"
"But your dress?"
1t belongs to an aristocrat. Per
haps to him for whom was taken"
Robespierre advanced close to young
Nantes and gazed earnestly into his
face. Then he approached Marie, and
looked steadily in her eyes for short
time.
It was moment of trial for the poor
girl. She trembled in spite of all her
efforts to be calm. She almost felt that
she was lost, when the human fiend,
whose word was law, turned and said
Release the man."
The chains were instantly removed,
and Antonio de Nantes walked down
from the scaffold, followed by his sis
ter, while the shouts of those around
rent the air, for they supposed it was
commoner who had thus been saved.
The young man worked his way
through the crowd as rapidly as posi-
bio, leading Marie.
They had scarcely escaped it, before
the poor girl tainted, from the intensity
of her feeling.
The brother scarcely knew what to
do, but hand was laid on his arm, and
voice said: