The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-11-02

Dent more closely over MN:
"Foundl Quick, Michael help me to
carry him home! Thank heavenI" he
added, in a lower tone. Nov will our
poor Marie be happyr
Louis looked up and recognized him.
"Sol" he muttered, through his set
teeth" so, Jean Didicr, you have come
to triumph over me, have youF But L
have some strength still left"
He tried to draw his sword, bat jeans
strong arm held him back.
Listen to me, Louis" he sold. We
have been looking for you-Marie and l."
Mariel Then she is your wife, tbs
false"
Silence, Louis Lcbas, nor speak of
Marie until you can do 1t more reverently.
1t is you who have sinned, and not she.
She is true to you to this hour"
And then he told him all. Louis, as
he listened, bowed his head upon his
hands and wcpt like child.
"My poor, poor Marie! | am, indeed,
unworthy of her. But take me to her,
Jean, and forgive me, he added, stretch
ing out his hands" forgive me, and
henceforth let us be true and faithful
friends"
"Come, we will go to Marie. She is
nursing the wounded at the Rue Royale,
and
Louis started to his feet with almost o
scream.
mon Dieu! that is the place they
ordered me to burn. Oh Marie, my
darling, I shall lose you at last Jean,
Jean, help me to save her! They are
now setting the Rue Royale on fire."
He hurried through the streets like a
mailman, followed by Jean. Flames
were bursting out here and there, and
people rushing wildly in every direction.
As they fled onward straight toward
the flames, a woman ran past. Her cry
at once arrested them.
Louis, Louis"
In an instant he and Marie were clasped
in each others arms.
Louis drew her aside into the shadow
of deep gateway.
In their unspeakable JOY they had both
forgotten Jean. He saw it and stood
still, with his arms crossed in the folds
of his gown.
Marie had ceased to need him now,
and what would life be to him in the
futurel
A man hurried past, looking wild and
pale On seeing Louis he paused, hest
tatcd and then turning back skunk like
a retrcating wolf down the street. At
the same moment the cry arose:
"The Nersailists-the Versaillists are
upon us
On they come, the mad, victorious sol
dicrs. Two of them, squirting their
horses forward, cried, while their drawn
swords flashed above their heads:
"Whcre is this traitor, Louis Lebas I?
He who fired the Rue Royale Point
him out?n
Marie, white as death, sank upon her
knees.
d" Save him, Jean, oh! save him, and l
will love you and pray for you as long
as / live,''
lie tore off his red cross.
Put this upon him. Quick! or it
will be too late!n
Then he stepped out into the middle of
the street.
" If it is Louis Lebas that you want"
he cried, defiantly. - am here"
The mob pressed around him. A score
of hands were raised to strike, but for an
instant held back, awcd by the calm
majesty of the man who stood before
them, hopeless, but sublime in the con-
sciousness of self-sacrifice and of martyr
dom for the woman ne had so loved.
Louis made a spring forward, but Marie
chung to him.
"Louis, Louis. For my sake. You
are all have in the world now. What
will become of me without youl"
She hurried him away from the crowd
into a narrow and obscure little court. A
kind-faced old woman opened a side
door and admitted them.
You are safe here, my children, who
soever you be. All, the terrible mob
What are they doing nowl'
She went to closed window blind
and peeped cautiously through.
"It is the wretched Louis Lebas, they
call him, who fired the Rue Royale.
They are bearing past his dead body,
beaten and crushed to Il Jelly. Ughw
Marie clung closer to her lover,
trembling like an aspen leaf. He bowed
his face in his hands and crossed himself.
May he rest in peace"
And far away in their happy and quiet
English home this is still the daily
prayer of Louis Lebas and his wife, with
the little ones who bless their hearth.