The Grenada gazette., 1886-01-16


watching me closely, although l was
not looking at him directly-spoke
again.
DO you see that ancient-looking
stceple to the left of us there-about
threo-qaartors of q mile awaya" he re.
marked, pointing in the direction re.
ferred to.
"Yos, | have noticed that building.
What is ite"
That, sir" replied the stranger,
with gloomy voice, lis the Church of
st. Germain lAuxerois; and from that
beltry tollcd the iocsin that sounded
the fatal hour Of the St. Bartholomew
massacre
Because of the mans Sombcr tone,
or because of the dreadful associations
connected with the mention of the St.
Bartholomew masSacer, shuddcred as
he spoke.
"You tremblc." said the stranger,
eagerly.
For moment. sir. I tremblcd to
think Of that hour
! "Bah!' he continued 1T is nothing
TO think Of it. You should have seen
the spectaclo''
'Ah, thai must have been horrible
indeed
1T was horrible! / was there.
had Just arrived in Paris from Asia
! Minor. The asSassins who fiockel in
the streets of Paris that night, shout
in Death to the IIuguenots!' slew
men, women and children; but none
Of them slew me! | was anxious to
die. threw myself in their way, cry !
| ing: Live the Duke oY Guisc" in order !
! to provoke them to slay NE! But they |
passed me by. Even in that moment
| OF horror | was avoided as il the plague
| had horn attached to my person. Up
lifted swords by hundreds threatened
me for momru,, and were then
miraculously turned away, while the
arms of those who welded them were
paralvzed | barred my breast in the
path of the soldiers. crying; Kill, killn
But though blood was shed on every
side on that fatal night, none would
pity mc--nonc would have mercy upon
the wrctched Ahasucru-' The death
which sought and which | ycarncd
for was denied mcr'
turned, with a sudden sense of hor.
rOr, as | understood the fact that | was
alone upon the Vendome column with
madman!
''Ha!' exclaimed, with an invoun-
tary frenzy. You, then. are the Wan
pering Jew?"
"Ay, the Wandering Jew! Look
now. still further to the west of us. Do
yon see that column that rises above
the roofs of the houses? That is the
Column of July at the Place dc la
Revolution. There stood the gpillotine
during the first revolution. On that
occasion, too, when blood ran in
streams, was in Paris. | thought at
last my hour was come. When heads
were falling into tAe CORY basket at
every minute Of the day. stood, from
morning to evening, at the foot of the
guillotinc, imploring them to place
my neck under the glistcning knife.
But the executioncrs rcbufed me, de-
claring that I was mad and drove me
from the death that Ipraycd for. I
tried, too, when the tumbrils were on
their way from the Concierge to the
guillotine, bearing the condemned, to
smuggle myself among the doomed
men. But was detected and scourgcd
amid the hootings Of the people, All
men had their opportunity to die: but
death never came to me..'
During this speech, having somewhat
recovered my composure, had rapid
ly made up my mind to the course that
| should pursue The maniac had
worked himself up to paroXysm of
frenzy, and was staring at me with the
face OF a liend.
Before he had time to surmisc my
purpose I made sudden spring for
the aperture, with the purpose of de-
scending the spiral stairway; but. quick
AS | was, the mailman was no less en-
pcditious, for he stretched forth his
hand and clutched me around the
waist /,
] struggled desperately to escape.
But what was my strength compared
to that Of this raging maniac,
'Let 90 your hold" | cried why
do You detain meP"
you seek to escape me. thenn' he
replied, in Kissing voice. "You shall
now either throw me over the railing,
Or | will toss YOU from the column
Quick! Make your choice! My life, or
rours' Iwould have death Give it to
ne or die,' |
Step by step as be spoke be dragged
ne to the raling-ihc only impeachment
hat preserved us from instant death. {
Not word passed between US in this I
struggle for life. 0
My efforts were made to elude his t
srasp and attain the stairway. His, to s
each the balustradc which overlooked {
he street below. t
As the moments passed felt myself r
gradually getting weaker. The ma
liac's hot breath came into my face, t
nd his grasp nearly snflocated me. t
With horror l appreciated the fact +
hat WAC Iocipr ,yr,upd and that tho | =,