Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-01-20
Shot as a Robber.

Our tale opens in February of lS4S, just
four months before the outbreak OF the re-
volution in France.
In a bit of room on the fifth or sixth
floor of humble house In one OF the COM
mon parts of Paris, and about SIX in the
morning Qor your true Frenchman is an
early riser), young man OF about twenty
six might have been seen that summer
morning busy over glowing fire.
He was casting bullets. His face was
firm, and even noble, with certain gentle
kindness, however, recommending il to
most who looked at him.
After time he discontinued his work,
which was done very quietly, and the bull
lets lie had made, together with the shining
gun, were hidden behind loose portion
of the wainscoating.
Then taking little earthenware pipkin
he set TO work and made capital mess of
bread and milk, which he turned INTO q
white basin. Next he carried ii 10 an inner
room, when he called ''GrAnddadl"
In moment an old mau stated from q
light sleep, and turned smilingly toward
the new conner:
''Here is thy breakfast,
'Heaven bless thee, George. Thou art
the light of my eyesi And what fine bread
and milk it seemsl All! hast thou had thy
own breakfast"
''No not yet. But why dost thou sigh,
granddad?"
so think cannot earn my own living
HaI twas q pity served my time at a
trade 10 which my constitution wss not
tittedl Here l am with fingers scarcely
strong and timber enough TO hold this basin
of bread al milk
'Bah, Granddadl Thou dldst work
when thou vast able; and now !, thy only
descendent work as well as / can for thee.
/ only do my duty"
'Thou dost indeed, do thy duty. When
thy father, who married my daughter, was
killed by wound received from a gend-
arme, who mistook him, honest fellow, for
thief, when thy mother died, and took
care of thee, never did think was pro-
villng for my own early old age"
'Bah! granddad. was TOO young to
help you by the work of my hands. When
was only eighteen had escaped the con-
scription, and DO took the place of another
and richer man, and became his substitute
on condition of his paying you little an
nmty. This kept you while / served as q
soldier, and keeps you now, when / am
free of the army, and am once more cabl-
net maker, getting my own living"
''An! but thou wouldst make more hadst
thou properly served thy time to thy
trade. Bnt will not repine, ard as see
| thy face is clouded, let Us saJ no more on
this subject. Tell me, what means the
new sign board Of the little hnen-draper op-
posite? He calls 1t The Sword of Bren-
NUS" it was named The Purring Cat"
"Granddad, you know the Romans came
into Gaul, and made our forefathers Their
slaves. Well, after q time-a very long
time-Brer nus led us to Rome; and COM
PEELED the Romans 10 ray tribute; and as
Brennus saw them cheating with the
weights, he cast in his heavy sword and in
sisted upon its weight In gold beyond the
weights in the scale. so NJ. Lebrenne has
taken this sword as his new sign-that of
an honest man."
'With pretty daughter, George"
| laughed the grapdsire.
But he became grave as he saw his
grandson turn sadly away.
"What art thou going TO do, to-day,
glandfather2'
II shall take my walk ON the Bonle-
wards"
Don't dear grandfather, there may be
fighting TO day. TIE people are angry.
Thou art too old to help, and beg thee to
keep at home. -
'.But-"
George Duchene was gone before the old
grandfather could find words in which TO
ask for an explanation.
Paris was angry: AS the hours grew
there were threats in the very air.
Meanwhile George Duchene, who was
not working that day, was passing along a
quiet, but pleasant-looking street, when he
heard calls for help on the first floor of a
hotel.
''Vellada's voicei" he cried. There can
be no question.
He hurried into the hotel, where great
confusion was relgning among the walters,
dashed upstairs, and ran to the doors
which opened into rooms looking over the
street.
Three-four were unlocked, and yielded
to his hand. The fifth was fastened.
a. moment, and he had burst the lock
apart.
1t was she-Vallada-the daughter of
a linen-draper who had recently changed
his sign from the ''Purring Cat" to "The
Sword of Brennus." 1t was she to whom
his grandfather had referred some hours
previously.
She had tainted, and lay on the divan at
the mercy of handsome villain, who was
somewhat advanced toward state of in
toucation, and who appeared stunned by
the sudden intrusion of the mere workman
who stood before him.
But only for moment The next, the