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

II
the life she has saved shall pay for it. Re
member" he added, shaking Michel to
and fro with finger, ssthe arm of Barbsroux
is long, and though be hundred leagues
away / shall know and shall punish. So
bewarei Now rise, and live"
The miserable man covered back to the
wall frightened to the core or his heart. The
Girondins conferred awhile in whispers, two
of their number assisting Pierre to cross the
barrier. Suddenly there came-and Michel
trembled anew as he heard it-a loud knock
ing at the door. All started and stood
listening and waiting. A voice outside
cried, "Openl Openl in the name of the
lawp'
eve have fingered too long," Barbaroux
muttered. 81 should have thought of this.
1t is the Mayor OF Carbaix come to appre-
bend our friend"
Again the Girondins conferred together.
At last, seeming to arrive at 4 conclusion,
they ranged themselves on either side of the
door. and one OF their number opened it. A
short, stout man, girt with a tricolor sash,
and wearing huge sword, entered with an
air of authority-being blinded with the
light he saw nothing out of the common
and was followed by four men armed with
muskets.
Their appearance produced an extraor-
binary effect on Michel Teller. As they
one by one crossed the threshold, the
peasant leaned forward. his face flushed, his
eyes cleaning, and counted them. They
were only five. And the others were IL.
He fell back, and from that moment his
belief in the Girondius' power was clinched.
''In the name of the law" painted the
Mayor. "Why did you not" Then he
stopped abruptly-his mouth remaining
Ill
group of grim, silent mutes, with arms in
their hand, and, in twlnkling it flashed
into his mind that these were the II chiefs
of the Girondins whom he had been warned
to keep watch for. He had come to catch
pigeon and caught a crow. He turned pale
and his ewes dropped. "Who are who are
these gentlemen?" he stammered, in q
ludicrously altered tone.
"Some volunteers of Qumpen, returning
home" replied Barbaroux with ironical
smoothness.
"You have your papers, citizens?" the
Mayor asked mechanically; and he took
step back toward the door and looked over
his shoulders.
'Here they arel" said Petion rudely,
thrusting packet into his hands. 'They
are in order"
The Mayor took them, and longing only
to see the outside of the door, pretended to
look through them, his little heart going
pit-a-pat within him. ''They seem to be in
ORDER" he assented feebly. 81 need not
trouble you farther, citizens. 1 came here
under misapprehension, / find, and wish
you good journey"
He knew as he backed out that he was
cutting a poor figure. He would fain have
made more dignified retreat But before
these men, fugitives and outlaws as they
were, he felt, though he was Mayor of Car
baix, almost as small man as did Michel
Teller. These were the men of the Revo-
luton. They had bearded mobiles and pulled
down kings. There was Barbaroux, who
had grappled with Marat, and Petion, the
Mayor of the Bastile. The little Mayor of
Carbaix knew greatness when he saw it He
turned tail and hurried back to his fireside,
his bodyguard not bit behind him.
Five minutes later the men he feared and
envied came out also, and went their way,
passing in single file into the darkness
which brooded over the great monolith; be-
ginning, brave hearts, another of the few
stages which still lay between them and the
guillotine. Then in the cottage there re-
naming only Michel and Jeanne. She sat
by the dying emDers, silent and lost in
thought. He leaned against the wall, his
eyes rowing ceaselessly; but always when
his gaze met hers it ell. Barbaroux had
conquered him. 1t was not till Jeanne had |
risen TO close the door, and be was alone |
that he wrung his hands and muttered, |
Five crownsl Five crowns gone and |
wasted"