Signal-Copiahan. (Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1886-01-28

or because OF the dreadful associations
connected with the mention Of the st.
Bartholomew massacer. I shuddered as
he spoke.
"You tremble," said the stranger.
eagerly.
"For a moment. sir. I trembled to
think Of that hour"
"Bahl" he continued. eft Is nothing
20 think Of IT, You should have seen
the spectaclcV
"Ah, that must have been horrible
indeed"
ut was horrible! I was there.
had Just arrived in Paris from Asia
Minor. The assassins who flocked in
the streets of Paris that night, shout
ing Death to the Hugueno,sv slew
men. women and children; but none
Of them slew me! was anxious To
die. l threw myself in their way, cry
ing; Live the Duke of Guiser in order
to provoke them to slay me! But they
passed me by. Even in that moment
of horror | was avoided rs IL the plague
had. been attached to my person. Up
lifted swords by hundreds threatened
me for u moment, and were then
miraculously turned away. while the
arms of those who welded them were
par,lyzed. 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--none would have mercy upon
the wretchcd Ahasuerus! The death
which sought and which yearncd
for was denied mel"
turned. with sudden sense Of hor-
ror, as understood the fact that was
alone upon the Vendomc column with
n mailman!
"Haw exclaimed. with an involun-
tary frenzy. You, then. are the Wan.
pering gew3'
LAY, the Wandering jew! Look
now. still further to the west Of Us. DO
YOU see that column that rises above
the roofs Of the houses? That is the
Column Of July ut the Place de- In
Revolution. There stood the guillotinc
during the first revolution. On that
occasion. too, when blood ran in
streams, was in Paris. l thought at
last my hour was come. When heads
were falling into the CORY basket at
every minute Of the day, stood. from
morning To evening, ut the foot of the
guillotine, imploring them to place
my neck under the gliS,ening knife.
But the cxccutioners rebuiied me, de-
claring that was mad, and drove me
from the death that prayed for. |
tried. too, when the tumbrls Were on
their way from the Concierge to the
guillotine. bearing the condemned. to
smuggle myself among the doomed
men. But was detected and Scourged
amid the hoo,ingS Of the people. All
men had their opportunity to die; but
death never came TO mc''
During this speech, having somewhat
recovered my compoSurc, had rapid
IN made up my mind To the course that
l should pursue. The maniac had
worked himself up to u paroNysm of
frenzy. and was staring at me with the
face of iiend.
Before he had time to surmisc my
purpose | made q sudden spring for
the aperture. with the purpose Of de-
scending the spiral stairway; but, quick
as was. the mailman was no less cx.
peditious, 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 go your hold!" | cried. "Why
do you dctain me?"
"You seek to escape me, them" he
replied, in q Kissing voice. you shall
now either throw me over the railing,
or will toss YOU from the column.
Quick! Make your choice! Ny life, or
yours! would have death! Give it to
me or de-
Step by step as he spoke he dragged
me to the railing-the only impeachment
that preserved us from instant death.
Not word passed between us in this
struggle for life.
NV efforts were made TO eludc his
grasp and attain the stairway. His, to
reach the balustrade which overlooked
the street below.
A. the moments passed felt myself
gradually getting weaker. The ma.
MACS hot breath came into my face,
and his grasp nearly suilocatcd me.
With horror l appreciated the fact
that was losing ground, and that the
desperate man was getting the better
of me.
After the lapse of minute or two,
spent in these struggles, the maniac
gradually forced me to the balustrade.
Then as he cried, exultingly: "Dic.
miserable man, in your obstinacy" I
gave loud cry to attract the attention
of the passers by below me.
l had clutched one of the ratings, TO
which l held tenaciously. My head,
face downward, extended over the bal.
ustrsde, and from that position i could
see the curious faces OF two or three
men looking up to the top Of the
column.
Again l shouted at the top Of my
voice:
"Help! Help"
They heard me, and understood my
appeal! and 1 saw. with feeling Of I'M
speakable thankfulness, that they were
coming TO my rescue.
The hope Of assistance gave me new
strength.
made one more effort to Olsen gage
myself from the vise-like hold Of
the maniac. and, as l succeeded in re-
gaining my feet, l heard the encourage
ging voices of the men rushing up the
stairway.
One moment more, and saw them