Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-02-01


what, may ask?''
In his eagerness and excitement he
suspected nothing, but thought only that
the mayor had sent deputy. "For
what? For the Girondinr" he answered
rapidly. Then at last he turned and
found that half dozen men had enter
ed, and that more were entering. To
his establishment, 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 faltered as he
added: But where is the mayor, gen
tlemen? l do not see him. "
No one answered, but in silence the
last Of the men-there were II in all
entered and bolted the door behind him.
Michel Teller peered at them in the
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 a Girondin
here, have your" he said, his voice Gu
riously sweet and sonorous.
81 was to have crowns for him, I"
Michel muttered obviously.
"Oh, Potion, continued the spokes-
man to one of his companions, "can
you kindle light? 1t strikes me that
we have hit upon dark place"
The man addressed took something
from his pouch. For a moment there
was silence, broken only by the sharp
sound of the flint striking the steel.
Then sudden glare lit up the dark in
terror and disclosed the group of cloak
ed strangers standing about the door,
the light cleaning back from their
muskets and cutlasses. Michel tremhled.
He had never seen such men as these
before. True, they were wet and travel
stained and had the air of those who
spend their nights in bitches and under
haystacks. But their pale, stern faces
were set in indOmitable resolve. Their
eyes glowed with a steady fire, and they
trod as kings tread Their leader was a
man Of majestic height and beauty, and
in his eyes alone there seemed to Turk
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 bewilderment;
noted the white head and yet vigorous
bearing of the man who had struck the
light; noted 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 the tall man.
"That is so, " Michel answered. "But
had nothing to do with hiding him,
citizen. 1t was my wife hid him in the
straw there"
'And you gave notice of his presence
to the authorities" continued the stran-
ger, raising his hand to repress some
movement among his followers.
Certainly, or you would not have
been here, ~ replied Michel, better salts
fed with himself.
The answer struck him down with an
awful terror THAT does not follow"
said the tall man coolly, "for we arc
GirondinsW
'You are?''
"Without doubt" the other answer
ed, with majestic simplicity, "or there
are no such persons. This is Potion and
this Citizen Buzot. Have you heard of
Louvet? There he stands. For me, am
Barbaroux.
Michel's tongue seemed glued to the
roof of his mouth. He could not utter a
word. But another could. On the far
side of the barrier sudden rustling was
heard, and while all turned to look
but with what different feelings!-the
pale face of the youth over whom Mi
chel had bent in the afternoon appeared
above the partition. A smile of joyful
recognition effaced for the time the lines
Of exhaustion. The young man, cling
ing for support to the planks, uttered a
cry of thankfulness. 1T is you! 1t is
really you! You are safeW he exclaim-
ed.
eve are safe, all of us, Pierre, " Bar.
baroux answered. "And now"-and he
turned to Michel Teller with sudden
thunder in his voice-''this man whom
you would have betrayed is our guide,
let me tell you, whom we lost last night.
Speak, man, in your defense, if you can.
Say what you have to say why justice
shall not be done upon you, miserable
caitiff, who would have sold man.
life for a few pieces of silverp
The wretched PEASANTS knees,tr em-
bled, and the perspiration stood upon
his brow. He heard the voice as the
voice of a judge He looked in the stern
eyes of the Girondins and read only an
ger and vengeance. Then he caught in
the silence the sound of his wife weep
ing, for at Pierre's appearance she had
broken into wild sobbing, and he spoke
out of the base instincts of his heart
"He was her lover" he muttered. 81
swear it, citizens"
HE lies" cried the man at the bar
rier, his face TRANSPORTED with rage. II
loved her it is true, but it was before
her old father sold her to this Judas.
For what he would have you believe
now, my friends, it is false. l, too,
swear it. "
A murmur of execration broke from
the group of Girondins. Barbaroux re-
pressed it by gesture. what do you
CONTINUED ON 7TH PAGE.