San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-09-18
element or C~.cve.

Inc ladies' found hotel life bore, ana
took an apartment near the Park Mon
ceaux. They were there when the storm
of war came with the cry of "a Berlinr'
Their rooms were on the ground floor,
apd the low stone balcony in front of
their windows was covered with lovely
red climbing roses.
One evening two drunken gardes mo-
bile were passing the house, when one
exclaimed: Lets pick some of that pretty
girls roses for our wives"
Miss .Mascom sat at the window. Being
somewhat nearsighted. she did not notice
that the soldiers were drunk and vicious,
Two very picturesque fellows" she
thought. and having caught the word
roses, she said: you may gather some If
you likef'
The men did not hear the permission,
but swere about to proceed without it.
when a man who had been standing in
the shadow of the next house sprang
upsn them and ordered them to go away.
There was of course bSawl. The attack
ing party was vehement, both in action
and speech.
What" he cried, you dogs of the
from the west-that rose of rosesl ALL
you shall pay for it, swearl"
There were gendarmes at hand IN few
moments, and all of the combatants were
hurried off Virginia had watched the
ARRAY in terror. She caught glimpse of
the strangers face and screamed. Turn.
ing to her frightened mother she cried:
"Oh, it is that dreadful cabman who
was so impudent one day at the hotel. l
feel sure he is Communist. Did you see
how he attacked those poor, unoffending
soldiers who wanted some roses? Such
men ought to be kept in prison" And
for the second time she shuddered because
ofRoor, Baptiste.F
Z The second reign of terror had its awful
grip upon the throat of Paris. Mrs. Mas
con- was very i'll. and her daughter ten
derby watched at her bedside. No one
knew when they were safe, and each night
was made up of hours of dreadful sus-
pense. One very dark night there were
shots in the street, and presently mob,
headed by man in a ragged, dirty Garde
Mobile uniform. came to stand in front
of the house.
An aristocrat lives here" shouted the
man in uniform, attracted by a light from
the windows on the first floor. "She IS a
woman whose servants attact peaceable
men on the street. Let US teach her q
lesson. my friends"
There was responsive yell. rush for
the entrance, and then sudden halt.
A man stood at the head of the steps
waving his hand and shouting:
mol moi" he said. 1T is lie what he
says! The young lady is an American.
She is friend of liberty and of the people.
He is not telling you the truth. All.
comrades. you would not harm her She
is a young thing. and so beautiful-so
beautiful and his voice was piteous in
it's entreaty.
The answer was coarse laugh.
80 it is you again?" shouted the Garde
Mobile. Here Is something for you'll"
and there was pistol shot.
Like some agile beast of prey. the man
on the steps sprang down, snatched q
musket from one of the mob, and brought
its butt down on the head Of the leader.
Then he sprang back up the steps and
into the balcony. The light from the
torches of the mob fickered across the
front of the house. One Of the shutters
was partly opened. apd the pale face Of
woman was thrust out.
go backl Hide yourselfl 1t is II" ex-
claimed the man on the balcony. "They
shall not touch you while am herel"
She did not recognize him, nor under
stand all he said, and he pushed her some
what roughly back into the room. There
was scattering volley from the mob, a
fall upon the balcony floor, and then Off
GERS on horseback dashed up and ordered
the mob to dispense. They had some
Communist troops to back up their orders,
and in a short time the street was quiet
and deserted.
The wounded Garde Mobile had been
carried off by his comrades. There was
no sign of the recent attack, except on the
balcony where the roses used to bloom.
Something red was dabbled about on the
stones next day when the sunlight came,
red as the flowers had been.
Once more the shutters opened, and. the
pallid faceof Miss Mascom appeared. eau
tiously she stepped forth. Her foot struck
something soft and she screamed.
What is it, Virginia." asked weak.
terrified voice. Have they come backT''
MOI" answered Virginia in horror.
IT'S that awful cabman again. l knew
he was a Communist. HtOld1you so the
first day | saw him; and, Oil mammal
they've shot him out on the balcony, he's
dead, and vet be seemed to look up at me
and smila LIS all so hofrihls. Perhaps