The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1883-04-25
MIRABEAU'S JEST.

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Not far from Limoges, capital of the
French province Limousin, stood the
castle of Count de Saillant, widely
known throughout the last third of
the eighteenth century as gay place of
assembly for convivial, congenial spir-
its-old-time French hospitality offer
ing a hearty welcome to all who could
boast an untarnished ancestral name.
Count de Saillant had married the
sister of the Count Honore Gabriel
Victor Mirabeau, afterward the world
renowned hero of the French revolu-
ton, and at this time known all over
France for his wild adventures and mad
pranks. His brother-in-law and sister
were at present expecting visit from
him at the gay castle, and here he
finally arrived one day in autumn of
the year 1880.
AT this period Mirabeau was in the
thirty-frst year of his age; a muscular,
: beautifully-formed man below his
massive, disproportioned head, dis
figured by the large mouth, immense
nose and a countenance distressingly
marred by smallpox, but from which
glowed a pair of fiery, expressive eyes.
In every direction were the bold, reck-
less adventures of the young count
known-wild tricks that had more
than once east him into prison-and it
is not surprising that it was with con-
siderable fear and anxiety that the
simple, timid country people of
Limousin awaited the advent of this
intrepid character in their midst.
But never did preconceived inn
pressiOns appear more unfounded
Mirabeau abode quietly at the castle
Of his brother-in-law, just as did the
other pleasure-seekers, guilty of no ex-
travagances or follies, till Count de
Saillant and his wife were forced to
express their admiration of his ex-
emplary conduct, and almost believed
that the "mad-cap" had at last grown
wise.
1t was on one of the early days of
November that the monotony of the
castle life was interrupted by an eX-
citing sensation. A bold and daring
robbery had been committed within its
immediate precincts. just at twilight.
as neighboring nobleman, frequent
guest of the house, was traversing
the customary road through the for
est, gun-barrel was suddenly thrust
between the thick bushes, while adeep,
hoarse voice cried sternly:
"Halt Your money or your life !"
Feeling no desire, as the nobleman
orI lof No 70 &, e 4.
the sake Of a few louis dor, he in
stantly threw his purse upon the
ground, and dashed off without ven
turing to look back.
Robberies or serious crimes of any
kind were of rare occurrence in Limou-
sin, and less frequently still were they
ever traceable to the quiet inhabitants,
but almost invariably to highwaymen
from a distance, passing through the
province. 1t was at once surmised,
therefore, that this audacious deed
must be the work of some such in
truder, and Count de Saillant gave
wholesale instructions to spare no eff
fort in the discovery of the depredator;
but all in vain. No trace of the bold
marauder rewarded their search.
But what was the astonishment,
alarm and CONSERVATION of the whole
community when, in quick succession,
robbery after robbery, of the same ma
ture, followed, each and all committed
in the same mysterious manner, always
at twilight, on the forest road, and the
base attack always confined to the
wealthy, intimate frequenters of the
castle. Within a fortnight no less
than eight of these fearless assaults
had been successfully accomplished, as
gusts went to OF from the counts
residence, the closest investigation and
vigilanee4sTOying utterly futile to dis
cover the expert highwayman.
Count Mirabeau laughed heartily
over the stories of the bandit, and
rallied numerically the faint-hearted
knights of Limousin for thus permit
ting themselves to be plundered; but
they resolutely rejoined that he would
prove no more courageous than they,
if once attacked. In vain Mirabeau
assured them that he roamed the forest
daily, hoping to encounter the mys-
teriCps freebooter, and that nothing
won ID afford him greater pleasure than
m@ting, when he would engage to
deliver him IA prisoner at the castle.
Meanwhile the proper authorities