Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1879-06-18

Bsfers thy feet the b,eesed journey lies
Through homelands everywhere;
And heaven TO thea II al . sweet surprise.
Saturday afternoon.
A Queer Story.
"And 20 Roblard is going back to
France" remarked one Of the circle OF
exiles who were discussing the amnesty
1t the Cafe du Nord of Geneva.
He will never set foot on French ter.
ritory again." responded another, with
shake Of the head.
"But he has been pardoned," said the
frst speaker, taking up q copy of the
Journal Official, and scoring a mark with
his thumb under the name of Antoine
Roblard.
"No matter" wa the answer, given
with emphasis than before. "Rob.
lard has been amnestied by the govern
eminent; 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"
What are you saying there?" Choir.
usq1 all the communists round the table
but the speaker, a journalist named
'Vuileux, finished his absinthe and took
leave OF his company with = wink, hav-
ing vouchsafed no explanations. The
next moment . slim, ssllow and care
worn man entered the cafe with some
books under bis arm, and was demonstra.
lively, almost aiectionately, greeted by
the men whom Vuilleux had Just left,
He was hailed BY his name of Roblard,
and congratulated upon his pardon.
well, Antoine" cried one, III suppose
you will be leaving us in q day or two?"
Yes" answered Roblard, " and glad
l shall be to get back to Paris after eight
years of absence"
ut il to Paris you are going then?"
"Yes, tomorrow morning By the first
train; 60 / shall wish you goodbye on
leaving this presently"
"Say to US Au revoiri'" cried one of
the communists, lifting his glass. "May
the day come when We shall all meet in
Paris and take our reydnche of 1911"
"Au revoirP answered Roblard
gravely, ~ he raised his glass of beer to
his lips. He half emptied it, and then
sat down and chatted for half ar hour
ON the political topics of the day. He
was known to be writing a History of
the Commune" and he remarked that
he was glad his exile was going to end,
chiefly because he wanted to have again
acceas to the public libraries of Paris.
After this he expressed his opinions
cheerily about Grevy, Waddington and
Gambetta, stated his belief that he
Roblard-should soon find q 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 a discussion arose
between some who commended that there
was An unusual look about Roblard, aud
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 /;
be Is going back to France fast enough.
He starts tomorrow"
"Ahl" exclaimed Villeux. with a
slight arching of his eyebrows. Then
he will be q dead man before q month is
over"
"You are abiding to ONE projected
duel, ! suppose rejoined the other.
Perhaps you mean to kill him yourself"
"Roblard will not die in a duel" re-
Piled Vuilleux, significantly, "but he
will die within = month. You mark my
words"
\ y \ \
Twenty-four hours after this, lust "A
dusk was gathering v 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
R0blard alighted from it. He passed
quickly under the archway which leads
70 the prefecture, and entering the first
open door in the Office asked II he could
re Monsieur A., mentioning one
OF the chiefs Of the political department
OF the police. The inspector on duty
took his card and handed it to . messen.
ger, Who diasppeared for q few minutes
q then returned, begging Roblard to
walk up stairs. The pardoned commun.
" followed his guide, who conducted
him up = broad flight of stairs thickly
carpeted with cOcoa-nut mating. and
uAhered him into an Office where q gray
haired functionary with q very firm
mouth and q pair of very keen eyes,
whose brightness was concealed by 4
pisce-nes, sat writing. Monsieur A.
was . Republican, and he and Roblsrd
. known each other intimately in old
days when theyhad been fellow Journal.
is1 together on an opposition paper
which made . trade of "ramming" at
2 government journals. The police
oaacial did not affect to be unmindful of
this by.gone acquaintainship, but held
our his hand to the returned exile, say.
inx:: -! am glad to zee you back. Rob
ARA; what . We do for you"
-! want yOu to, ave my life" said
koblard, sitting down unbidden. and
lowering his voice. ct am in danger of
aasaasinatiOn.n
Explain the matter" replied Mon.
aieuf A. incredulously; and he mar
Iowly watched the communist features
Ihe Pale face, dark, sparkling ewes. drv
voics, and general feverishness 81 man.
neli xere such e may be often seen in
a~elsncholic madmen, laboring under .
nxeo Authorization. Roblard noticed
g glance that was being fixed upon
mn, and caught the tone Of doubt in his
~,nseeioeneor's words; but he paid NO
Xoa know what VA the crime alleged
a96sSee Mers u aSksd