The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1880-05-28
CHAPTER II.
BEFORE THE BULLETs.


Like all rich capitalists, Marquis Hec-
tor de Medranc found himself ruined
by the Franco-Prussian war. He hast
ened to Paris the moment the gates were
opened from his italian retreat, and
found his house property, nearly all
centrally located, in good preservation.
Absorbed in his preparations, he was in
Paris on the 18th of March, 1871. Per-
haps he was the only nobleman who was
not III London or the South, preferring
to see their country desolated without
them rather than pass under democratic
rule or into the army, forgetting all but
France.
The town was not pacifed, and the
thunder rumbled on the heights oft
Belleville and Montmartre. The spring
came delightful after the vigorous win
ter, and the Partisan little rocked that
the ilacs given his lady love came from
ground rocking under the batteries of
CLAIMANT, manned by Frenchmen firing
on their own capital.
The Marquis b ID hidden in his hotel
Of the Rue Carmartin. The gates were
solid; his servants well-paid. He heard
the firing on the Pare Monseau with Joy,
as it betokened an advance of the Gov
eminent troops against the insurrection-
lists. It was at this junctUre that a young
woman in the red zouave dress of vi
vandiere of Flourens' Avengers present
ed herself at the gates-her name, AISLE
Koragou. A Breton girl, from his own
estates, passed her into his presence.
Sc NJ r OrJ - coil ri, Loo-,J II, -
Council of the Commune in the Emiatory
Chapel that you are known to be here,
! and detachment is on the way to take
you out. They are enraged that you
should have lived here as q spy, they
say, so long"
His laugh of contempt was cut short
by one Of those knocks at the guard-door
which seldom come to noblemen's port
als-either from Kings lackeys or the
peoples. It was dozen musket butt
ends. Some one fired shot from with
in. That's a fool, " said the Marquis,
"against my order. Those men Of mine
will get massacred."
"And me, too, said the girl.
"Dont you tremble, my lass the old
fox has more than one gap to his bur
row p
The listener smiled secretly with un-
accountable JOY.
g In the cellar ?"
"The cellar Nonsense !! The day
has gone by for trap doors Of old-style
construction.
Meanwhile the doors had been broken
| down. A dozen shots were fired. A
shoal of men invaded the mansion, yell
/ ing:
"The Marquis Your plaguey Lord!
The people were fired upon! A rope!
And the MarQuisp'
The girl chung to the gentleman in
trepidation.
Make haste! This way" he said.
There was a suit OF armor on a panel.
He pressed one of the hundred orna-
ments on the frames and the whole panel
turned round so as to disclose hole In
the wall with four steps. On the upper
level was shown the interior Of room
beyond. The Marquis pushed the young
Breton before him, and closed the panels.
That inner room was the Countess
boudoir, of Montfort House. AS soon as
they entered there the guide closed the
second panel.
"What a fine invention, " said the girl.
"What was it ever made for %
Both houses belong to me, he said,
gloomily, without directly replying to
her.
They could hear indistinctly the up
roar Of the Federals seeking the fugi-
tives.
"Hiss away, vipers," said he scorn-
fully. You have lost your prey"
But suddenly o powerful voice thun-
dered on the other side Of them in the
ebony bedroom.
"shut that door; we've enough here
already"
Ny father exclaimed the girl, joy
fully.