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

The crowd opened as the body of men
passed.
Marie gazed among them.
A low cry escaped her.
Her brother was there.
But he walked proudly and fearlessly
forward, and assembled the very steps
which led to the block.
Up to this time the strength Of poor
Marie had failed her, and she WIS unable
to put her resolve into execution.
But now sisters love swelled up in
her breast, and she recovered her
strength.
She sprang forward, bursting through
the line of guard and ran up the steps.
Grasping her brother by the hand she
cried:
"What does this mean? 1t is only the
aristocracy that are to die"
"Away woman!" exclaimed one of the
executioners
"No. will not go away until you
tell me why my brother is here, and thus
bound"
"Your brother?' was the echo.
ayes, this is my brother"
"Well, who are you?
81 am Marie. Don't you know me-"
"The Paupers"
"Ayw
"But this is not your brother~
at is. Ask him m--ask him"
Young Antonio de Nantes had turned
scornful gaze upon the maiden, but q
light passed at once across his face, and
he murmured:
ooh, my sister!'
"Is this your brotherl" asked Robes
pierre of the supposed pauper, advancing
near her.
"Tt is"
"But his name is down differently"
"Then you are mistaken. He is my
brother. Ask him."
Does Marie speak the trutEg' asked
Rohespierre.
"She does" was the brothers reply.
"And you are not de Nantesy
81 tell you am her brother"
"Why did you not tell US this beforeT
81 attempted to speak, but was 81
lenced."
"But you might have declared your.
self"
"You would not have believed me-"
"But your dresss"
at belonged to an aristocrat. Perhaps
to him for whom was taken"
Robespierre advanced close to young
Nantes and gazed earnestly into his face.
Then he approached Marie, and looked
steadily in her eyes for a short time.
1t was moment of trial for the poor
girl. She trembled in spite of all her ef-
forts to be calm. She almost felt that she
was lost, when she human fiend, whose
words was law, turned and said:
"Release the man."
The chains were instantly removed, and
Antonio de Nantes walked down from
the scafold, followed by his sister, while
the shouts of those around rent the air,
for they supposed it was commoner,
who had thus been saved.
The young man worked his way
through the crowd as rapidly as possible,
leading Marie,
They had barely escaped it, before the
poor girl tainted from the intensity of
her feelings.
The brother scarcely knew what to do,
but hand was laid on his arm, and a
voice said:
Bring her to my room again. She will
be safe there"
The brother conveyed her to the apart
ment of the pauper, and asked of her:
"Have you seen the female before"
ayes, / know all about it," returned
the pauper. "She borrowed my clothes
to save her lover. She has done it, and
| am glad"
Before the noble sister returned to
consciousness, the brother had learned
all.
When she did 30 they both sought &c.
cure quarters, after rewarding the beggar-
girl as had been promised.
"Do you think Robespierre was really
dcceivcd?" asked Marie de Nantes.
81 think not" returned the brother.
"Then why did he order your release p
Gle saw your plan. He admired your
COURAGE. Could fend have done less?"
"Perhaps this was not the case. But if
so it was deed of mercy, and the only
one that man ever did"
"You are right"
Antonio de Nantes was not arain ar
rested, and lived happily together with
that sister who had so nobly periled her
own life to save him by representing the
"Pauper of Paris"
A Rhode Island Crow story,