Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-31

was too mean for the great passions; he fel,
only the sordid ones, which to a wemsn are
the most hate nj. And instead of quailing
she looked at him with flashing eyes
ST shall warn him." she said.
sit will not help him" he answered, sit
ting still. and feeling the edge of the hatchei
with his fingers.
at will help him." she retorted. "He
81 have locked the doors 70
"Give me the keyi' she painted. 'Give
me the kew, ssyf" She had risen and was
standing before him, her figure drawn to its
full height. he rose hastily, and retrested
behind the table, still retaining the Ratchet
in his grasp.
''Stand back" he said sullenly. "You
may awaken him If you please, nv girl. 1t
will not avail him. Do vou not understand,
fool, that he is worth crowns? And, listeni
it is too late now. They are herel''
A blow fell on the door as be spoke, and
he stepped toward it. But at that despair
moved her, and she threw herself upon him,
and, tor moment, wrestled with him. At
last with an effort, he flung her off, and,
brandishing his weapon in her face, kept her
At bay. "You vIxeRr' be cried, savagely,
retreating TO the door with pale cheek, and
coward. "You deserve to 60 to prison with
him, you jadel will have you in the stocks
for thisl"
She leant against the wall where she had
fallen, her white despairIng face seemed
almost to shine in the darkness of the
Eretched room. Meanwhile the continuous
murmur OF mems voices outside could now
be heard, mingled with the ring of weapons;
ana the summons Tor admission was again
and again repeated as if those without had
no mind TO be kept waiting.
'Patiencel patiencel I am openiugi" be
cried. Still keeping his face to her, he un-
locked the door and called on the men to
enter. He is in the straw, NJ. lie Mayori"
he cried, in q tone of triumph, his ewes still
on bis wife. "He will give YOU no trouble,
I will answer FOR It'll But first give me nv
crowns, Mayor. NV crownst'
He still lelt So much ear of his wife that
he did not turn to see the men enter, and was
taken by surprise when a voice at his elbow
"A strange voice-said: Five crowns, nv
friend? For what, may 1 ask?'
In his esgerness and mis- excitement he
suspected nothing, but thought only that
the Mayor had sent deputy. "For what?
For the Girondinl'' he answered rapidly.
Then at last he turned and found that
half dozen had entered, and that more
were entering. To his establishment, they
were all strangers to him-men with stern,
gloomy faces and armed to the teeth. There
was something SO formidable in their ap-
pearance that his voice faltered as he added,
"But where is the Mayor, gentlemen? / do
not see him."
No one answered, but in silence the last
of the men-there were IL in all-entered
and bolted the door behind him. Michel
Teller peered at them in the gloom with
growing alarm. In return the tallest OF the
strangers. who had entered first and seemed
to be in command, looked around keenlv.
At length this man spoke. $50 you have a
Girondin here, have you?" he said, his
voice curiously sweet and sonorous
81 was to have 3 crowns for him." Michel
muttered dubiousIy.
HOh, Petion," continued the spokesman
to one of his companions, ''can you kindle
light? Il strikes me that we have hit upon
9 dark place"
The man addressed took something from
his pouch. For moIdant there was silence
broken only by the, sharp sound of the flint
striking the steel. Then a sudden glare tit
up the dark interior, and disclosed the
group of cloaked strangers standing about
the door, the light cleaning back rom their
musketry and cutlasses.
Michel trembled. He had never seen
such men as these before. True, they were
wet and travel-stained; and had the air OF
those who spend their nights in bitches and
under haystacks But their pale. stern
faces were set ia indomitable resolve. Their
eyes glowed with a steady fire, and they
trod as kings tread. Their leader was a
man of majestic height and beauty, and in
his eyes alone there seemed to lurk a spark
of some lighter fire as il his spirit still arose
above the task, which had sobered his COM
panions. Michel noted all this in fear and
bewilderment; noted the white head and vet
vigorous bearing of the man who had
struck the light-noted even the manner in
which the light died away in the dim re-
cesses Of the barn.
"And this Girondin-is he in hiding |
here?" said the tall man.
''That is So" Michel answered. "But 1 |
had nothing 10 do with hiding him, citizen. |
1t was nv wife had him in the straw there"
NAnd you gave notice of his presence to |
the authorities?" continued the stranger.
raising his hand to repress some movement
among his followers.
Certainly, or you would not have been |
here" replied Michel, better satisfied with |
himself.
The answer struck him down with an aw- |
full terror. THAT does not follow" said the |
tall man. coolly. "For we are Girondinsl" |
"You arel'
without doubt" the other answered, |
with maj jestic simplicity. ''Or there are no |
such persons. This is Petion and this Citi- |
zen BuzOt. Have you heard of Louyet? |
There he stands. For me, am Barba-
roux."
Michel's tongue seemed glazed to the roof /
Of his mouth. He could not utter a word. |
But another could. On the far side of the |
barrier sudden rustliEg was heard, and |
while all turned to LOOKOUT with what diff |
ferent feelingsl The pale face of the youth, |
OEer whom Michel had bent on the afternoon |
appeared above the partition. A smile of |
JOYFUL recognition efaced for the time the |
lines of exhaustion. The young man, cling |
ing for support to the planks, uttered cry |
of thankfulness. 'It is you'll 1t is really
foul You are safe" he exclaimed.
"We are safe, all of us, Pierre" Barbar-
lux answered. "And now'-and he turned
% Michel Teller with sudden thunder in
lis Eoice-'this man whom you Sould have
betrayed is our guide, let me tell you, whom
We lost last night Speak, man, in your
lefence, you can. Say what you have to
ay why justice shall not be done upon YOU,
miserable caitin-who would have sold q
mans lie for few pieces OF silver"
The wretched peasants knees rrembled
md the perspiration stood upon his brow.
ae heard the voice as the voice of Judge.
looked in the stern eyes of the Giron-
Inns, and read only anger and vengeance.
Then he caught in the silence the sound of
lis wife weeping-for at Pierre's appear
Ince she had broken into wild sobblng-
md be spoke out the base instincts o. his
leart "He was her lover" be muttered.
I swear it, citizens"