The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1879-07-10
A QUEER STORY.

"And so Roblard is going back to
France" remarked one of the circle OF
exiles who were discussing the amnesty
at the cafe du Nerd of Geneva.
He will never set foot on French tera
ritory again" responded another, with q
shake of the head.
But he has been pardoned," said the
first speaker, taking up q copy of the
his thumb under the name of Antoine
Roblard.
50 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"
e" What are you saying there ?' chor4
used all the communists round the
table; but the speaker, q journalist
named Vuilleux, finished his sbsinthe
and took leave of his company with 8
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 affeCtiOnately, greeted by
the men whom Vuilleux had Just lett.
He was hailed by the name of Roblard,
and congratulated upon his pardon.
"Well, Antoine" cried one, 81 sup
pose you will be leaving us in q day or
two 2''
" Yes" answered Roblard, "and glad
I shall be to get back to Paris after eight
years of absence"
cit is to Paris you are going then 7''
Yes, tomorrow morning by the first
train so 1 shall wish you goodbye On
leaving this presently"
"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 revsnche of
1871 I"
eau revoir w answered Roblard
graveIy, as he raised his glass of beer to
his lips. He half emptied it, and then
sat down and chatted for half an hour
on the political topics of the day. He
was known to be writing f 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 a seat in the
chamber of deputies, and that he would
then pitch into the Moderates :"
finally he shook hands with every one OF
the exiles, saying a friendly word to
each, and took his departure.
When he was gone discussion arose
between some who contended that there
was sn unusual look about Robiard, 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"
~ exclaimed Vuiileux, with a
slight arching of his eyebrows. "Then
he will be dead man before month is
over"
You are alluding to some projected
duel, I suppose" reioined the other.
" Perhaps you mean to kill him your
self"
Roblard will not die in a duel, u
replied Vuilleux, significantly, " but he
will die within month. You mark 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
Robard alighted from it. He passed
quickly under the archWay which leads
to the prefecture, and entering. the first
open door in the Office asked if he could
see Monsieur A., mentioning one of
the chiefs of the police. The Inspector
on duty took mis- card and handed it to q
messenger, who disappeared for q few
minutes and then returned, begging Rob
lard to walk up stairs The pardoned
communist followed his guide, who COZ
Quoted him up large flight of stairs
thickly carpeted with cocoa nut mating,
and ushered him into an Office where q
grayhaired functionary with very firm
mouth and a pair of very keen eyes,
whose brightness WAS concealed by q
ptnce -7lez, sat writing, Monsieur A.
was a republican, and he and Roblard
had known each other intimately iu old
days when they had been fellow Journal
lists on an opposition paper which made
trade of 'ramming" at the government
journals. The police official did not
affect to be unmindful OF this bv.gone
acquaintaDeeship, but held out his hand
to the returned exile, saying: "I am
glad to see you back, Roblard what can
we do for you ?''
"I want you to save my lie" said
Roblard, sitting down unbidden. and
lowering his voice. d" I am In danger of
assassination"
Explain the matter" replied Mon
sieur A., increduleusly F; and he na1-
rowly watched the eommUnist's features.
The pale face, dark, sparkling eyes, dry
voice, and enersl feveTishness Of man,
ner, were such as may often be seen in