The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1879-12-24

she recovered herself. After contem-
plating for a time the apartment and
what it contained, she asked:
Are you well known in ParisP'
Yes. Everybody knows Marie the
Pauper."
Are you known to Robespierre If
SO, / want to make a bargain with
you"
az am What do you waht~
You see my clothing is better than
your own, and wish to exchange with
you. 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 I
will give you a thousand francs, and
when l come back l 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 Eer purse contain
ing gold.
The girl appeared little puzzled and
asked;
well, what are you going to do with
my dress.
~ want to put it on and go where !
! first met YOU"
" Oh. | understand now. You want
to see The uhopping go on, and you are
afraid you will be taken for an aristocrat
! if you wear that dress. You want to
( represent me-"
g Yes, want to look az 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, though. 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
had fallen victims to the remorseIess
fends of the Revolution, and a third
and last brother had been seized. But
ii his tate she was ignorant, although
she expected that it would be similar
to that Of her other relatives He had
been torn from her side but few hC. .4rs
before
After the exchange had been made the
pauper looked on the stOckingless and
shoeless feet and ankles of the lady, and
said:
''That will never do. Your feet are
too white and delicate. Let me arrange
/ matters"
| In few moments Marie was prepared
and in the filth and rags she emerged
/ 3nto the street.
She now took her course back toward
/ Che 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 scafold.
a. She even forced a laugh at several re
marksshe heard around her, but those
laughs sounded strangely.
= She now stood 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 futtered violently, and sh,
felt faintness come oyer her as sh
heard the tramp of the doomed men ap
preaching.
The crowd opened as the body of mel
passed.
Marie gazed among them.
A low cry escaped her.
Her brother was there.
Z But he walked proudly and fearlessl
{ forward, and ascended the very step
which led to the block.
Up to this time the strength OF poo
Marie had failed her, and she was unabl
: to put her resolve into execution.
+ But now a sisters love swelled u
in her breast, and she recovered he
strength.
She sprang forward, bursting throug
the line of guards and ran up the step
Grasping her brother by the hanC
she cried:
"What does this mean? 1t is onl
the aristocracy that are to die
"Awav womanW exclaimed one Of th
executioners.
"No. will not away until you te
me why my brother is here, and thu
bound"
%Your brotherP' was the echo.
" Yes, this is my brother"
DWELL, who are your?
"I am Marie. Don't you know m? ?
"The Pauper~
"AyF'
"But this is not your brotherp
at is. Ask him-ask himW
Young Antonio de Nantes had turne
a scornful gaze upon the maiden, but
,, light passed at once across his lace, an
he murmured:
"Uh, my sisterl'
bespierre of the supposed pauper, a
vancing near her.
II is"
"But his name is down differently" I"
"Then you are mistaken. lie is n
. brother. Ask him."
"Does Marie speak the truth% ask'
/, Robespierre.
"She does" was the brothers reply.
"And you are not DE Nantesp
. "I tell you ] am her brother"
: "Why did you not tell us this b
foreg'
: ! lenced."
But you might have declared you
! self" aa9
You would not have believed me.
: But your dressP
: "It belongs to an aristocrat. Pc
haps to him for whom / was mistaken.
0 RCbespierre advanced close to your
d Nantes and glzed earnestly into /
face. Then he approached Marie, al
I looked steadily into her eyes for she
!. time.
I 1t was moment Of trial fer the po
0 girl. She trembled in spite of b
: efforts to be calm. She almost felt tn
: she was lost, when the human fen
/ whose word was law, turned and said
Y Il.