The Osceola times., 1879-07-05
A QUEER STORY.

anu ~ isOpihiu 10 SuiHB DdCk 10
France" remarked one of the circle of
exiles who were discussing the amnesty
at the cafe du Nord of Geneva.
He will never set foot on French tero
ritory again." responded another, with a
shake of the head.
But he has been pardoned," said the
first speaker, taking up copy of the
Journal Official, and scoring mark @ith
his thumb under the name Of Antoine
Roblard.
No matter" was the answer, given
with more emphasis than before. "Rob-
lard has been smnestied by the governs
ment but he must get psrdoned by
other persons before his exile can end /;
and the persons in question are not for
giving. II Roblsrd returned to France
he would be murdered"
WHAT are you saying there 3' chors
used all the communists round the
table; but the speaker, journalist
named Vuilleux, finished his sbsinthe
and took leave of his company with o
wink, having vouchsafed no explanation.
The next moment slim, sal ow and care
worn man entered the cafe with some
books under his arm, and was demonstra.
lively, almost aflectionstely, greeted by
the men whom Vuilleux had Just left.
He Was hailed by the name of Robiard.
and congratulated upon his pardon
"Well, Antoine" cried one, al sup
pose you will be leaving US in day or
two ?"
eyes," answered Roblard, "and glad
hall be to get back to Paris after eight
years OF absence"
1t is to Paris you are going then 2"
=" Yes, tomorrow morning by the first
train so shall wish you goodbye on
leaving this presently"
"Say to us 'Au revoir 7" cried one
of the communists, lifting his glass.
d" May the day come when we shall all
meet in Paris and take our revanche OF
1S71p
eau revoirw answered Roblsrd
gravely, as he raised his glass of beer to
his lips. He half emptied it, and then
sat down and chatted for halt an hour
on the political topics of the day. He
was known to be writing " History of
the Commune" and he remarked that
he wss.glsd his exile was going to end,
chiefly because he wanted to have again
access to the public libraries of Paris,
After this he expressed his opinions
cheeriIy about Grevy, Washington and
Gsmbetta, stated his belief that he
Roblsrd-should Id soon find seat in the
chamber of deputies, and that he would
then "pitch into the Moderstes;" !"
finally he shook hands with every one o
the exiles, saying a friendly word to
each, and took his departure.
When he was gone discussion arose
between some who contepded that there
was an unusual look about Roblard, and
Others who maintained that they had
found him just the same rs ever. One
of these latter, meeting Vuilleux, the
journalist, later in the evening, said:
"You were all wrong about Roblsrd /; he
is going back 10 France fast enough. He
starts tomorrow"
"Ah!" exclaimed Vuilleux, with a
slight arching of his eyebrows. "Theu
he will be dead man before month is
over"
"You are alluding to some projected
duel, suppose" rejoined the other.
h" Perhaps you mean to kill him your
self"
"Roblard will not die in duel"
replied Vuilleux, significantly, "but he
will die within month. You mslk my
words"
Twenty.four hours after this, Just as
dusk was gathering over Paris, and the
policemen at the prefecture de Paris
were lighting up that big establishment
with gas, a cab, loaded with luggage,
which had arrived from the Lyons rail.
way station, drew up on the quay that
skirts the palace of justice, and Antoine
Robsrd alighted from it. He passed
quickly under the srchwsy which leads
to the prefecture, and entering the fret
opeu door in the Office ssked II he could
see Monsieur A., mentioning one OF
the chiefs Of the police. The inspector
on duty took his card and handed il to q
messenger, who disappeared for few
minutes and then returned, begripg Rob.
lard TO walk up stairs The pardoned
communist followed his guide, who COZ
Quoted i'm up large fight of stairs
thickiy carpeted with cocoa nut mating,
and ushered him into sn Office where 3
grayhsired functionary with very firm
mouth and pair OF very keen eyes,
whose brightness was concealed by a
pincs nes, eat writing, Monsieur A.
was republican, and he and ROblsrd
had known each other intimately 10 old
days when they had been fellow journal.
ists on an opposition paper which made
trade OF "ramming" at the government
journals. The police official did not
Affect ~ be unmindful oi this by-gone