The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1892-11-09

lMZMZ/#lE%SgSS ening snowstorm,
. 'U'O w VI as the beautiful
Dclphine, Countess of Athis under the
monarchy, Nlighted from hack on the
Pont Nouf, close to a liberty tree sur.
mounted with its red cap. A man, who
had been leaning for some time against
the pedestal from which they had dis
lodged the statue of Henry w., came
eagerly forward aud lifted his fur cap.
His hair was close cropped IN Revolu-
tionary fashion, and he wore ragged
carmagnole open at the throat, without
any cravat; but even thus disguised, the
lady recognized Maurice Despies, one of
the youngest and most promising advo-
Gates in the last Parliament.
"Maurice," she said, ''your dress is
admirable; but that does not insure
your safety. have sent for you to take
me before the Revolutionary Tribunal. I"
al, Delphine, take you before these
executionersw
"You know that our friend, Lefebvre,
is brought TO trial to-day"
"Yes, l know that, Delphine, and
know, too, that he will not be alive to-
morrow"
"And ], Maurice, know that ought
to testify in his behalf. Since the 18th
of July | have often heard him declare
himself a Republican, and can prove
that he refused place offered him as
tutor Of the Dauphin-against my ad-
vice, it is true. l can bring forward
many instances of his patriotism that
must convince his Judges"
"They will not listen to you. Write,
send word; but do not go YOURSELF"
She looked at him bescechingly.
''Do not try and discourage me,
Maurice. II you only knew how fright
ened l am in such n crowd and how hard
it is to do my dutyl l am trembling
now, and only go because muEt."
"You ask me, Delphine, to take you
TO certain death"
"If you really love me Maurice, you
would not have me cowardly."
"But 1t is so useless"
ut is never useless to do our duty. l
have been perfectly frank in acknowl-
edging my weakness; but what would
you truly think OF me il should follow
your advice, turn now and go back to
my house at Auteuilf"
"Come then, " said Maurice. She took
his arm and they walked along the quay,
talking in low tone of the old friend
whose courage had brought him before
the bloody tribunal.
"He was hiding" said Madame
d'Athis, sat Madame d'Aubry's, my lace.
woman's and be was perfectly safe there;
but he insisted on leaving, because he
had reason to think that his stay was en-.
dangering his benefactress. He sue
ceeded in reaching Sevres in safety, but
he was recognized in a wineshop by some
Jacobins, brought back to Paris, and
now he is in the Conciergerie awaiting
his trial. 1t will 60 hard with him"
''Thank you, Delphine, for sending to
let me know"
"Who but the man l love, Maurice,
should share my dangerl"
As they turned the corner of the larre
square clock-tower that abuts on the
quay, they saw crowd of armed men,
tumultuously swaying to and fro before
the iron gateway of the Palace of JUS
tice. Oelphine quickly withdrew her
hand from Maurice's arm.
keep me in sight, she said. "My
courage will fall me If do not feel that
you are looking at me all the time, but
it is best that we SHOULD not seem to be
together. l had better appear to be
quite alonei for l have an instructive
feeling that | shall be safer if these crea.
lures think me entirely unprotected.
He yielded to her imperious sweetness
stopped outside the gate, and then en-.
tered, following at distance the woman
nov threading her way through the
brdndlshed pixies aud sabres. The wide
staircase was crowded with rabble in
sGbots, carmagnoles, AMI red caps,
singing, shouting, aud surging to and
fro. Groups Of men blocked the en-
frances to the different Revolutionary
tribunals, loudly urging summary pro-
ceedings and general massacre, acus-
ing the authorities st lukewarmuess
and leniency towards the guilty.
Newspaper venders came and went, cry
ing; "Here you have the list of the lucky
numbers in the lottery OF the holy
guillotinel Buy the treason of Joseph
Lefebvre, former physician of the in-
famous Capet. Buy the account of the
dreadful conspiracy of the traitor lie
febvre to bring about the massacre Of
all good patriots"