Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1890-02-15


lady, and said:
"That will never do. Your feet are
to white and delicate. Let me arrange
matters
In few moments Marie was pre-
pared and in the filth and rags she
emerged into the street.
She now took her course back toward
the guillotine and at length reached
the square where the bloody work was
still going on.
Gradually she forced her way
through the crowd, and nearer and
nearer she came to the scafold.
She even forced a laugh at several
remarks she heard around her, but
those laughs sounded strangely.
She now stood within a few feet of
the platform.
She swept it with her eyes.
Her brother was not there.
The cry was now raised; "Here
comes another batch"
Her heart futtered violently, and
she felt faintness come over her as
she heard the tramp of the doomed
men approaching.
The crowd opened as the body Of
men passed.
Marie gazed among them.
A low cry escaped her.
Her brother was there.
But he walked proudly and fearless
ly forward, and assembled the very steps
which led to the block
Up to this time the strength of poor
Marie had failed her, and she was I'M
able to put her resolve into execution.
But now sisters love swelled up in
her breast, and she recovered her
strength.
She sprang forward bursting through
the line of guards and ran up the
steps.
Grasping her brother by the hand
she cried
"What does this mean? 1t is only
the aristocracy that are to die"
"Away woman p' exclaimed one of
the executioners.
"No. l will not away until you tell
me why my brother is here, and thus
bound"
"Your brother?" was the echo.
eyes, this is my brother"
"Well, who are your"
81 am Marie. Don't you know me?
"The Pauper?"
cay"
"But this is not your brother p
at is. Ask him-ask him !"
Young Antonio de Nantes had
turned a scornful gaze upon the maiden,
but light passed at once across his
face, and he murmured
ooh my sister!'
"Is this your brother?" asked
Robespierrie of the supposed pauper,
advancing near her. 81
at is"
"But his name is down differently"
"Then you are mistaken. He is my
brother. Ask him.
"Does Marie speak the truth p asked
Robespierrie.
"She does"
"And you are not De Nantes ?"
81 tell you | am her brother
"Why did you not tell us this be-
fore %
81 attempted to speak, but was
silenced."
"But you might have declared your
self"
"You would not have believed me"
at belongs to an aristocrat. Perhaps
to him for whom | was mistaken
Robespierrie advanced close to young
Nautes and gazed earnestly into his
face, then he approached Marie and
looked steadily into her eyes for short
time.
1t was a moment of trial for the
poor girl. She trembled in spite of
her efforts to be calm. She almost felt
that she was lost, when the human
fend, whose word was law, turned and
said
"Release the man"
The chains were instantly removed
and Antonio de Nantes walked down
from the scafold, followed by his sister
while the shouts of those around rent
the air, for they supposed it was a
commoner who had thus been saved.
The young man worked his way
through the crowd as rapidly as posi-
BILE, leading Marie.
They had scarcely escaped it, before
the poor girl tainted from the intensity
of her feelings.
The brother scarcely knew what to
do, but hand was laid on his arm,
and voice said
Bring her to my room again. She
will be safe there.
The brother conveyed her to the
apartment of the pauper, and asked OF
her:
"Have you seen the female before ?"
eyes, | know all about it," returned
the pauper She borrowed my clothes
to save her lover. She has done it and
l am glad"
Before the noble sister returned to
consciousness, the brother had learned
all.
When she did so they both sought
secure quarters, after rewarding the
beggar girl as had been promised.