Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-07-11
LOUISE MICHEL.
The Causes That Made Her a Fierce Revo
lutionist.

lutionist.
A most singular and extraordinary
woman, truly. One might think she
had been Graded in revolutions: that
she had been the spiritual child OF Ar
mand Barbcs or Louis Blanqui, born
irrcconcilables, who passed most OF
their tumultuous lives in prison, cscap-
ing death for political oilcnscs only by
combinations of circumstance. But
the exact contrary is true. She never
concerned herself with politics until
after the fall of Louis Napoleon; all her
earlier life was passed in the country;
her childhood, girlhood, and young wo-
manhood. except for an unhappy at
taChment, were as serene as a morning
i'm Nav. She was born, AIN told, in
the old province OF Artois, OF poor, but
educated parents, her ancestors having
been wcll-to-dO, and of considerable
influence until they lost their property
in the upheaval of l1S9-93. She lost
her father when a child-she was the
only one,-and at 10 went to live at
An ancient chateau with her mother,
who acted in the capacity of house
keeper. She was then quite pretty and
| II.
ant speech. She assisted her mother,
and had the care OF two small chill
drcn. ana her days went quietly and
monotonously by until She had reached
II.
Then Young man, son and heir OF
the house. came from Paris to the cha
tcau to spend the summer, and seeing
| the gOod-looking, attractive girl. pad
her much attention as means OF pass
iny the time When she went out, as
she did daily, with the children, his
brother aud sistcr,-he usually joined
them in the grounds, as if by accident,
and thus spent hours with Louise. His
| attentions increased, as he was rs,
| comely of person, interesting III char
| acter, acquainted with cities and gal
| liant in disposition, like most OF the
| French, and the only finely reared man
| She had ever been thrown with, it was
not strange that she was strongly
drawn TO nm. She knew nothing Oi
the world. she was innocence itself.
lie made love to her; he probably was,
IN hi, way. very fond Of her, and she
sincerely returned his passion. Had he
been far less attractive and les, devoted,
sex if she had not lost her heart to him.
lie taIkcd TO her ol marriage, oI hi.
desire to make her his wife despite the
difference in their social condition, de-
claring that he was democrat and q
disbelicycr in the artificial distinctions
Of Europe. He himself wished to see
all title, swept away, as they had been
in the ilrst republic and rs they would
be again. Love created equality every
where. If a king loved a daughter Of
the lowest peasant. or if Il scrf loved an
empress, they were by that love placed
on a level. He expressed much more of
that sort of sentimcutalism which sounds
Notwithstanding its cheapness, so de.
lightful and so truthful to ayoung girl Of
humble origin when a young man OF birth
| and breeding pours it into her greedy
| ear. Naturally, she coniided in him
fully. She thought him the best and
| noblest, a. well as the dearest and sin
cerest, Of men. Everything conspircd
to insure her deception. The summer
was long-it was blissfuly short To her,
| and exceptionally beautiful; the grounds
were charming; they both were young,
very young, and they were continually
| alone.
At the end of the season they parted,
with many kisses, prayers, and tears.
| lie promised to write her frequently,
and TO return about Christmas time, Is
he would be miserable every hour he
| spent out Of her society. His engage
mcnts IN Paris were Of such a nature
as to preclude his remaining longer by
| her side. Otherwise he would not and
could not leave her. He begged her
not to grieyc; that they would be all the
| happier for their brief absence, and that
when they were married their lie would
| be without sorrow. lie departed.
She waited patiently longingly, loving
ly, day after day, week alter week,
month after month, but no word came
from him to her, although his mother
had frequent tidings Of him. She was
wretchcd beyond expressions; the color
left her cheek, hope died in her breast.
She fell i'll Of fever, and for fort
night she was unconscious. In that
time her mother, who nurscd her ten
derly, learned her secret through her
mutterings and rawlings, but said moth
ing to her until she had recovered and
was tolerably strong again. She told
| Louise that she had been cruelty de-
ceived, but the girl would not credit it.
She was so sure of her lovers fidelity
that she would not listen 10 u word
against his honor until letter came to
the chateau giving the details Of his
marriage to the daughter Of British
baron.
The effect Of the intelligence on
Louise was overwhelming. For few
days she was dazed and stunned. She
went about silent, as in dream. Then
she grew weak, lost her appetite, and
was compelled to take to her bed, The
fever, that had really never been cured,
returned but it was less violent; it was
low. long. consuming. She did not
leave her room for three months, and
when she did she was wasted TO skel-
eton. II feel" she said 10 her mother,
las if had died second time; but
still shall live. But we must quit thi,
place forever. The sight of it tortures
me. We will 20 to Paris. Great cities,
like the grave, swallow up our sorrows,
! want to forget the past in work. W.
will speak no more Of him. shall never
] -aoui.on his name again"