The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-03-06

We will have Citizen Jacquot ii we have
to demolish the shop to get him."
Several Of the men began to climb after
the raven; they did not care what they de-
slroyed OF the boys property. and held by
hands which seemed to take delight in
pinching his flesh. Faben was forced against
the wall while the upper part of the room
was assaulted by the revolutiOnists
alter long and stubborn fight among
the rafters Citizen Jacquot was taken, but
several OF The men had felt his sharp beak
ana taions, and they wanted but a nod
from the sergeant to give them leave to
wiring the ravens neck.
IF you take Citizen Jacuuot. Won will
have to take me also" cried Fabien, SPRING
ing forward.
But We don't want you, though you have
given us good deal of trouble; YOU have
resisted the Will Of the Assembly" said the
sergeant.
Then resist it still further. Long live
the King! Is that enough?" shouted the
little co6ber of the Rue Pascarin.
The soldiers. all ardent followers of the
Terrorists. turned red with rage. They
looked at one another and then at the little
shoemaker, who stood erect with flashing
eyes and determined mien. 1t was evident
that Fabien was not TO be browbeaten.
Il will go to the guillotine with Citizen
Jacquot. We ride together in the same
cart. You shall not separate us, minions
OF the beast Robespierre."
That was enough. Rough hands seized
the boy and he was dragged into the midst
OF the squad, which faced about and
tramped into the narrow street.-the raven
SO held as not to be able to do harm to his
caDtors. The people who had ventured
near the shop during these scenes fell back
whitefaced and watched the little process
sion as it moved off with Fabien, the boy
cObbler, walking erect next to the man who
carried Citizen Jacquot
1t was all Crepin's work The boy felt
that the ruffian had reported Citizen JAG
quot's treason TO the Terrorists.
''Ah." thought he. cit will come your
time one of these days, M. Crepin."
In less than half an hour after the arrest
of the little shoemaker and his pet they
were thrown into a dungeon where they
bad no light and only a pitcher of water
1t was one of those prisons which already
contained hundreds of people who were to
be sent to the guiilOtine and from whose
doors the dread cart made daily trips TO the
place OF execution.
Little Faben was delighted with one
thing, and that was that he had not been
deprived of JaeQuot's society. They were
not to be separated, and, as Fabien threw
himself upon the heap of straw which had
been the couch of some poor victim of the
revolution before him, he found Citizen
JacquOt cuddling up close to him, with his
glossy feathers pressed against his breast.
The next morning they heard the tramp
OF heavy feet along the corridor outside the
dungeon, and then came the grating of iron
doors as they opened to let out the next
batch of victims. After this the tramp,
tramp came back ana passed away, and the
rumble OF the death-cart died away ON the
stony street.
For three days this was repeated with
terrible miputeDesS and certainty. Bread and
water came mystic NOusly to the cell occu-
pied by Fabien and Citizen Jacguot, and the
raven, once merry. was now 'ilent and
mOrose
without the companionship of his friend
Fabien would have gone mad. he talked
to the raven, tried to cheer him up and even
sing in the old shop while at work.
why didn't they summon them to the
mock trials which sometimes prefaced the
executions of the already condemned? The
boy was eager to meet his accusers; he even
longed to stand before the dreaded man in
France, RObespierre himself, and tell him
that 1t was all wrong to make war on a
raven and boy.
One morning the raven flew to the meager
Sill OF the window from which the light had
been barred with boards and began to cav
i'll startled manner. Little Fabien sprang
up and wondered what had come over the
bird.
rs it the deatb-cart for us?" he asked.
"Have they come to our number at last?'
But he waited while the raven huitered
and cawed, and when Citizen Jacquot
ceased for moment he heard the faint
sounds of cheers and long cries. the like of
when he had not heard since they entered
the dungeon.
What did it all mean?
Presently there came to their ears the
noise of feet in the corridor. Little FaDien
ran to the door and listened. His heart was
in his throat All was tumult outside.
Long live the King" suddenly sereeched
Citizen JacquOt
Hush! !" answered the alarmed boy, You
VIII have them down upon you in a moment,
Jaequot. Keep still"
The tumult, increasing at every moment,
came nearer and nearer Ii was like n great
wave rushing down the corridor.
All at once some one seemed to be Juggling
at the old-fashioned lock of the door Of
Nc No 60" whichl, was Fapien's cell.
Blows sufficient to break in door of iron
were rained on the portal and it flew OMEN.
Llgnt poured into the dungeon and revealed
the little cobhler of the Rue Pascarin and
Clllzen Jacquot standing terror stricken in
one Corner.S
In In rushed lot of people yelling and ges-
tlculatlng Win all thoiI tI.isils-
1T is all over" they cried "Robes-
pierre and his associates are dead"
Fablen could not believe it for moment
He and Citizen Jacquot were carried in
triumph from the prison, and he heard the
story OF the fall of Robespierre, while the
streets of Paris rang with cries OF deliver
ance.
The turn in the long lane OF blood and
cruelty had come just In time for the two
friends, for they were to have been among
the next victims; and if Tallien and his
associates had not turned against Robes
pierre Fabien and Citizen Jacquot would
have felt the great sharp knife of the
guillOtine.
As it was the bow and the raven were
escorted back to the Rue Pascarin. and once
more Fabien was installed in his little shop.
There they lived TO see the complete over
turning of the revolution and the return of
law and order. AID the time came when
Citizen Jacquot could cry Long live the
King" without fear OF the bloody knife.
Crepin. the ruifian who had brought about
all the trouble, went to the gaillotine him
self IN the last batch of the victims, and
therefore his face appeared no more in the
doorway of the little shoemaker's shop.
Little Fahien and the raven grew old to-
gether, and when the once little lad of the
Rue Pascarin was white haired an old bird
would Eop to his accustomed perch on his
shoulder. and, putting his glossy head close
TO his cheek. cry out, Long live the King!'
when the old cobber never failed to reca
the strange DAYS OF Robespierre and IL @
Terror. &. Harbaugh.