The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1894-01-19
THE VIOLET.


srs, the lovSlisst of her children. After
such q storm ~ history seldom records,
the last waves of the revolution arsSRlllen-
ly beating upon the land of the Burgundy
rose and bourbon lily.
ByA quick combination of old royalists
and Jacobins the new convention Of Paris,
though preferred by the people, is likely
to be beaten by the mob. The 90 wards of
the city on the Seine are ablaze with pas
sion. The women who dipped their hand
kerchiefs in the blood that spurted under
the guillotine when the last of the I'M
broken line of Louises died in the Place of
Peace are full of savagery Of the ancient
days, and nothing but the red stream flow
ing anew can quench their mad thirst.
The convention is in session. 1t is awed
by the old royalist armies and the newer
national guards.
One commander after another has gone
over either in person or spirit to the enc
mics of peace. Barras, who leads the con-
vention, is alert and ready, full of the fer
tility of expedients that characterizes the
Latin race, but he can see no hope. The
republic is lost, and mighty France, whose
traditions of honor and glory for thou
sand years have had one unbroken line in
history, is to lose her place among the ma
tions at last, for who shall be her deliverer
from the awful cruelty of her own t.nnat-
ural children2
The shadows of the soft May daY we're
growing longer when Barras, the peoples
champion, left the heated hall of the con-
vention for little rest and thought, and
his steps led him to the salon of a woman
famous in those days-for she was beauti-
full, well born AMI patriotic-whom he
tenderly loved. She was alone, and to-
gether they spoke OF the nations danger,
of the fear which filled each heart that
the life of the republic might soon run out
in stream Of blood.
"There is no longer a leader among us,
chere annie" said the great statesman and
orator, whose fervor and passion had so
touched the peoples hearts. 1.-The end has
come"
"Never despair. Perhaps the good God
may help us" softly replied the gracious
woman who was so dear to him-a woman
to fill the ideal Of such man as her lover
was; woman brave with sweet heroism,
tender and true
"Bah, that good God-he is SO long in
comingr' said Barras He had learned
his theology from the great orator of the
mountain who died saying "Sprinkle me
with perfume and crown me with flowers,
for death is but an eternal sleep"
"Nay, believe it not, mon ami" she
softly whispered. "Help will come.
"And you say you have no leader?"
She spoke after a long silence i'll a musing
way, thinking aloud. 'Who are your COM
manders then? Where is that droll little
man you presented to me at Nine. de Stael's
the other evening? He seemed to have
brains and courage, too-that little Corsi-
CAM"
"Pardiel" said Barras, springing into
new life. belle annie, you have given
me thought that may yet save France!'
They talked very seriously for few
minutes, and he returned to the conven-
ton full of a new hope But before he had
left the saloon he had written little note
addressed to "The General of the Bri-
gade, Napoleon Buonaparte spell
ed his name thus until after his corona
ton as emperor-praying his immediate
presence at the convention, and trusty
servant was charged to deliver it person
ally into NJ. Buoneparte's hands and not
to fail
81 have sent for you, NJ. Buonaparte, 3"
said Barras an hour later to the small,
pale faced man with whom he was ear
nestly talking, "because you are our last
hope, and will now present you to the
convention"
"Can you restore peace and orderS" said
the president to the young man before
him. The members looked curiously on
and listened.
$50 Frante has come to this, whisper
ed one graybeard to his neighbor, THAT
her life and fate lie in the hands of youth
of 25"-who looked even less than his age
-"only feet 2 inches in stature, with
hair combed low on his brow like a wom-
ans? Farceur vaW
81 am perfectly aware of the difficult
ties in the path, but am accustomed to
success" said the young man, speaking
with strong Italian or rather Corsican
accent. "But one thing must insist upon,
1t is that / must not be embarrassed by
orders. must have supreme command.
That is all.
And bowling low to the peoples repre-
sentatives the little pale man, but feet 2
in stature, with gray brown eyes and bang
ed hair, left the hall, and the convention,
with closed doors, proceeded to consider
his proposition.
AS Buonaparte left the hall Barras fol-
lowed him for last word. eco to your
rooms and remain there" said the poll
tician in quick speech to the young Off
Ger, land / will send you the result as
soon as possible"
at must be all or nothing" answered
the other.
Just then a flower girl came up to them
with her basket full of fragrant violets,
and Barras bought bouquet for the wo-
man he loved. The little mans eyes soft
ened.
"They always remind me somehow of
home" he murmured apologetically as
he gave the seller a sou and took tiny
bouquet. A thought struck Barras.
go to the salon of Nine. -" said
he, "and remain there until 10. If sue
coed for you, she will send you violet"
The young officer went as he was told.
It was early, hours before the time of re-
ception, but he was admitted. The salon
was empty. Alone the young Corsican
paced the spacious room. 1t was Z, then
1880, then 8. At last the clock in the hall
began to strike off 8. AS its chimes ceas-
ed a servant entered the room with bill
Yet.
"For the General Buonaparte, from
Nine. -" said the man as he with
drew.
Rather listlessly Buonaparte opened it,