The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-07-03
A QUEER STORY

"And so Roblard is going back t.
Frauce," remarked one of the circle o
exiles who were discussing the amnesty
at the cafe du Nerd of Geneva. r
Gle will never set foot ON French ter
ritory again." responded another, with s
shake of the head. .. ., .....t D..
But he has been pardoned," said the
first speaker, taking up copy of the
Journal Official, and scoring mark witt
his thumb under the name of Antoine
Roblard. % ..a-.T sF ~ .
"No matter" was the answer, given
with more emphasis than before. "Rob'
lard has been amnestied by the govern
ment; but he must get pardoned by
other persons before his exile can end
and the persons in question are not for
giving. If Roblard returned to France
he would be murdered" aT1E org
"What are you saying there f' Choir
used all the communists round the
table; but the speaker, Journalist
named Vuilleux, finished his absinthe
and took leave of his company with s
wink, having vouchsafed no explanation.
The next moment slim, sallow and care.
worn man entered the cafe with some
books under his arm, and was demonstra.
lively, almost afectionately, greeted by
the men whom Vuilleux had Just lett.
He was hailed by the name of Roblsrd,
and congratulated upon his pardon,
Well, Antoine" cried one, "I sup
pose you will be leaving us in day or
two 2" a. .s.I--aior 90 =
Yes" answered Roblsrd, "and glad
| shall be to get back to Paris after eight
years of absence" go, ,..,g 90.
{" 1t is to Paris you are going then 7"
eyes, tomorrow morning BY the first
train so shall wish you goodbye on
leaving this presently" n. p" HE,l '.
"Say to us 'Au revoir p" cried one
of the communists, lifting his glass;
/" May the day come when we shall all
meet in Paris and take our revanche of
1871 p ....,. &c..
eau revoirW answered Roblard
gravely, as he raised his glass Of beer to
his lips. He half emptied it, and then
sat down and chstted 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 was glad 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, Waddington and
Gambetta, stated his belief that he
Roblard-should soon find seat in the
chamber of deputies, and that he would
then "pitch into the Moderates ;"
finally he shook hands with every one o.
the exiles, saying friendly word to
each, and took his departure.
When he was gone discussion arose
between some who commended that there
was an unusual look about ROblard, and
Others who maintained that they had
found him Just the same as ever. One
of these latter, meeting Vuilleux, the
journalist, later in the evening, said /:
"You were all wrong about Roblard he
is going back TO France fast enough. He
starts tomorrow"
"Ahp exclaimed Vuilleux, with s
slight arching of his eyebrows. "Then
he will be dead man before a month is
over" go
"You are abiding to some projected
duel, I suppose" rejoined the other.
Perhaps you mean to kill him your
self" n .. -a...r.. v. .
Roblard will not die in q duel,''
replied Vuilleux, significantly, " but he
will die within month. You marx my
words"
Twenty-four hours alter this, just as
dusk was gathering over Paris, and the
policemen at the prefecture de Paris
were lighting up that big establishment
with gas, 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
Robard alighted from it. He passed
quickly under the archway which leads
to the prefecture, and entering the frs
oman door in the Office asked if he could
see Monsieur A, mentioning one o
the chiefs of the police. The inspector
on duty took his card and handed it to s
messenger, who disappeared for a few
minutes and then returned, begging Rob
lard to walk up stairs The pardoneC
communist followed his guide, who coh.
Quoted him up a large fight of Stair
thicklv carpeted with cocoa nut mating
and ushered him into an Office where 8
grsyhsired functionsry with a very fin
mouth and a pair OF very keen eyes
whose brightness was concealed by s
nfncs .,,es. sat writing, Monsieur A.
was a republican, and he and RoblarC
had known each other intimately in ole
DAYS when they had been fellow journal
lists on an opposition paper which made
trade of "rsmmingD at the government
journals. The police official did mo-
affect to be unmindful OF this by-gont
scousintanceship, but held out his hand
to the returned exile, saying: +" an
glsd to see you back, Roblard; what cal
we do for you p sl u -. ~.
al want you to save my life" sait
Roblard, sitting down unbidden, ant
lowering his voice. am In danger 9
assassination"
sieur A., incredulously and he uar
rowly watched the communists features
The pale face, dark, sparkling eyes, dr.
voice, and general feverishness of man
| ner. were such as may often be seen il
meiancholic madmen, laboring under ,
4 fixed hsIlucination. Roblard noticed thu
glance inst was being fixed upon him
and caught the tone OF doubt In ms ID