The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-02-07

understand, fool, that he IS worth D
crowns? And listenl 1t is too late now.
They are herol"
A blow fell on the door as he spoke,
and no stepped toward it. But at that
despair moved her, and she threw her.
self upon him and for moment wres-
tied with him. At last, with an effort
he flung her off, and brandishing his
weapon in her face kept her at bay.
"You vixenr' he cried savagely, re-
treating to the door, with pale cheek
and his eyes still on her, for no was an
arrant coward. lyon deserve TO go 60
prison with him, you jade! will have
you in the stocks for this!"
She leaned against the wall whore
she had fallen, her white, despairing
face seeming almost to shine i'll the
darkness of the wretched room. Mean
while tho continuous murmur OF men 5
voices outside could now be heard, min
gled with the ring Of weapons, and the
summons for admission was again and
again repeated, as if those without had
no mind to be kept waiting.
Patience, patience! / am 6peningW
he cried. Still keeping his face to her,
he unlocked the door and called on the
men to enter. "He is in the straw, M.
le Mayorr' he cried in tone of tri-
umph, his eyes still on his wife. "Ho
will give you no trouble. will answer
for it! Bat first give me my crowns,
mayor. My crownsr"
He ctf1l fo1+ CO ,,,,,oh foor 90 b,o %
that no did not turn to see tho men en-
ter and was taken by surprise when a
voice at his elbow--a strange voice
said: Five crowns, my friend? For
what, may ask?"
In his eagerness and excitement he
suspected nothing, but thought only that
the mayor. lad sent deputy. 'For
what? For the Girondinv' he answered
rapidly. Then at last no turned and
found that half dozen men had enter
ed, and that more were entering. To
his astonishment, they were all stran-
gers to him--men with stern, gloomy
faces and armed to the teeth. There
was something so formidable in their
appearance that his voice fnltered as he
added: "But where is tho mayor, gen.
tlemen? / do not sec him.
No one answered, but in silence tho
last of the men-there wero ii in all
entered and bolted the door behind him.
Michel Teller peerod at them in tho
gloom with growing alarm. In return
the tallest Of the strangers. who had en-
tered first and seemed TO be in command,
looked round keenly. At length this
man spoke. $50 you have Girondin
here, have yon?" he said, his voice Gu
riously sweet and sonorous.
81 was to have crowns for him."
Michel mutterod dubiously.
''Oh, Petion," continued the spokos-
man to one Of his companions, "can
you kindle light? 1t strikes me that
wo have hit upon dark place."
Tho man addressed took something
from his pouch For moment there
was silence, broken only by the SHARP
sound Of tho flint striking the steel
Then sudden glare liz up the dark in
terror and disclosed the group Of cloak
ed strangers standing about the door,
tho light cleaning back from their
muskets and cutlasses Michel trcmbled.
Ho had never seen such men as these
before. True, they were wet and travel
stained and had tho air Of those who
spend their nights in bitches and under
haystacks. But their pale, stern faces
were set in indomitable resolve. THOR
eyes glowed with steady fire, and they
trod as kings tread Their leader was
man of majestic height and beauty, aud
in his eyes alone there seemed 10 lurls
a spark Of some lighter fire, as if his
spirit still rose above the task which
had sobered his companions. Michel
noted all this in fear and bcwilderment;
noted tho white head and yet vigorous
bearing of the man who had struck tho
light; 1loted even the manner in. which
the light died away in the dim recesses
Of the barn.
"And this Girondin--is he in hiding
here?" said tho tall man.
THAT is so" Michel answered. "But
] had nothing to do with hiding him,
citizen. Ii was my wife hid him in the
straw there"
And you gave notice Of his presence
to tho authoritios?" continued tho stran-
ger, raising his hand TO rcprcss sonio
movement am ing his followers. =
Certainly, or you would not have
been here, replied Michel. better satis-
fed with himself.
The answer struck him down with an
awful torror. "That does not follow"
said the tell man ooolly, "for we Gro
Girordins!'
"You arcg"
"Without doubt" tho other answer
cd, with majestic simplicity, 'or there
arc 40 such persons This'is Petion and
this CiiizanBGcot. Have you heard OF
Lonye;g There nc stands. For nc, am
Darbarolx.
Michcl's spaguo seemed glued TO tho
roof Of BIS mouth. Ho could not utter a
word. Bns another could. On tho far
side Of tho barrier a sudden rustling was
heard. and while all turned TO look
but with what different fcclings!-tho
pale face Of .hc youth over whom MI.
chel had bent in tho afternoon appeared
above tho partition. a smile OF jcyfrl