The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-10-23
MARIE THE PAUPER.

During the "Reign of Terror" in
France there were many deeds of daring
performed, even by women, and many
noble examples of affection exhibited.
The very streets of Paris were deluged
with human blood, but near the guoilli-
tine it ran in gushing torrents.
One dark morning an unusual number
of the aristocracy had been marched forth,
and countless heads rolled from the
block.
A gaping multitude stood by, and
with shouts rent the air as the aristocra-
cy were thus butchered.
Among the assembled multitude that
dreary morning were two females. One
of them was plainly clad, whilea cloak
was thrown around her, with which she
kept her features nearly concealed.
But close observation would betray
the fact that the woman had been weep
ing.
Her eyes were inhamed and red, and
she gazed eagerly upon the platform,
while shudder passed over her frame as
each shock of the glittering knife severed
the head from the body of some one who
had been unfortunate enough to fall un-
der the ban of the leaders.
The face of the woman was very beau
tiful, and she was young-certainly not
more than sixteen or eighteen years of
age.
The other female was quite different in
character. Her face was fair, but there
was brazen expression about it. She
was clad in rags, and as each head fell
she would dance, and in various ways
express her delight, and then exclaim:
"There falls another aristocrat, who
refused me charity when humbly sued
to him!'
"Each expression of the kind would
create laugh from those who heard her.
But any thoughtful person must wonder
how one so young could have become
so depravcd.
The first female watched this creature
for few moments, and then, pressing
her way to her side, she lau her hand
upon the shoulder of the wretch, and
whispered
"Would you like to become rich a,
once%
"Of course I would"
"Follow me, and you shall be-"
Enough. Lead on"
1t was with considerable difficulty
that the two females extricated them
selves from the crowd; but they did 80 at
length, and the first female asked of the
other:
"What shall l call your
"Oh! I'm called Pauper Marie"
'You live by begging?"
"Ycs, but what's your name, and what
do you wantT'
"NIy mime is Marie, the same as your
own"
care you an aristocrat~
at does not matter. If you know
where we can find room lead me to it,
and you shall have gold"
The pauper led the way into a narrow
and filthy street, and then down into a
cellar, and into dark and filthy room.
The other female could not but feel
sickening sensation creep over her, but
she recovered herself. After contemplate
ing for time the apartment and what it
it contained, she asked:
care you well known in Paris9"
eyes. Everybody knows Marie the
Pauper."
care you known to Robaspierre! If so,
want to make bargain with you.'
81 am. What do you wish?"
"You see my clothing is better than
your own, and | wish to exchange with
you. l want you to consent to remain
here, and not to show yourself at all for
a short time, or until ] come to you
again. As recompense for aiding me /
will give you a thousand francs, and
and when | come back will give you a
thousand more. As security for my re-
turn take this ring.
The lady drew diamond ring from
her finger and gave it to the pauper.
Then she handed her purse containing
gold
The girl appeared little puzzled, and
asked:
Well, what are you going to do with
my dress2"
81 want to put it on and go where I
first met you."
"Oh, / understand now. You want to
see the chopping going on, and your are
afraid you will be taken for An aristocrat
if you wear that dress. You want to
represent me-"
"Yes | want to look as near like you
as possible"
"Well, that won't be very difficult.
Your hair and eyes, and even your mouth,
is like mine. Your face is too white,
;hough. But you can alter that with
little dirt"
They changed dresses, and soon the
Young, rich and noble Marie de Nantes
was clad in the rags of Marie, the Pauper
Of Paris.
The history of Marie de Nantes was a
sad one. Her father and two brothers
,ad fallen victims to the remorseless
iiends of the Revolution, and third and
last brother had been seized. But of his
tate she was ignorant, a athough she ex-
,,ected that it would be similar to that of
her other relatives. He had been torn
ro,,o bor a;da huf q foty hours hafnpo