The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-12-08
THE MARCHIONESS.

sore and weary in the vicinity of an old
mill, somewhere between Mortagne and
Conde-sur-l' Huisne. It was a comfortable
looking place, and determined to solicit
the owners hospitality
The miller received me very courteously,
and was soon stretching my legs under
the table and partaking of the most ex-
quisite dejeuner that was ever placed be-
fore a hungry sportsman. There were
trout from the mill stream and cartridges
from the neighboring moor, cooked to a
turn and accompanied by some really ex-
oelIent wine, not the ''petit vim of Nor
mandy, but good mellow bordeaux This
somewhat surprised me, but when at des-
sert the miller invited me to visit his gal
lery of family portraits was perfectly be-
wildered.
''Whatl'' said I to myself GA picture
gallery in a milll'
OF course accepted his invitation and
found that the pictures really existed and
were fine ones too. There were a dozen of
them, representing Louis XIV courtiers
and marquises and zRnarchionesses of the
times of Louis XIV and Louis XVI, the
series being closed by a buxom looking
farmers wife in a white sunbonne6 next
to delicious little marchioness
Stopping before the two latter portraits,
the miller said
These are mother and daughter. -
He appeared to be amused at my sur
prised expression and continued:
Yes, sir this country woman is my
mother, and that pretty little marchioness
smiling there is my grandmother. 1t is a
strange story. Every body round about
knows il, and may well tell it to you
As you have probably surnised from
the age Of these portraits the story is laid
during the terror. The father, mother and
elder sister OF yonder little marchioness
were arrested, and soon afterWard Judged
and executed The little marehioness, my
grandmother, sir, found safety only in
flight. The poor orphan took refuge with
one of the farmers on the family estate,
whom she knew she could trust This
farmer was a young man. He was only
about 80 years of age. He had known the
little marchioness from her babyhood and
was devOtedly attached to her. In fact, to
be frank with you, sir, in his heart of
hearts he loved her.
He was greatly troubled by the peril
Gus position in which her presence placed
him; but he could not turn the poor child
away to be massacred by the savage revo-
lutionists. He hid her in the cellar, and
the mob vainly secured the whole country
in search of her. But neighbor, a fero-
cious Jacobin, had marked the farmers
trouble, and suspecting the reason for it
denounced him to the revolutionary COM
mittee.
''In few minutes the house was sur
rounded by a horrible mob, bowling for
the death of the hated aristocrat They
battered in the front door and poured into
the place. All, sir, it was a terrible mo-
men5I'
Here the miller paused and mopped his
brow, while his eyes glistened with excite
ment.
The first room was empty" he went
on. They smashed everything in it they
could lay hands upon, and were about to
break open the door of the next room when
it suddenly opened and the marchioness
stood before them, beside the farmer who
was half dead with anguish and terror.
For an instant the mob stopped short
But it was only for an instant. Shrieks of
Down with the aristocrabP Kill herr
Away with herl' Burn herr Tear her to
piecesp arose, and the bloodthirsty brutes
were about to rush forward when the lit
tie marchioness was suddenly struck by
an inspiration. All, sir, it must have como
from on high. She made signs to them
that she wished to speak
IS Citizens, she began.
'UnaccustOmed to hearing such an ap-
pellation from the mouth of dainty arts
tocrat, the mob again stopped She profit
ted by the pause, and continued:
" Citizens, what do you want with me9
Why are you incensed against me? What
have done to you? am one of you'll
am your sisterr
'tMurmurs Of approval and Of protest
were heard, but in the main the mob ap-
peared to be astonished and suspicious
She's fooling US, the aristocratp
shrieked woman, who, with her dishev-
eled hair, flushed face and crooked fingers
ready TO claw the delicate girls eyes out,
looked like one Of the fnries let loose.
g No nor exclaimed the marchioness
earnestly. I swear to you that am no
people. In proof of it, here is my future
husband. And she pointed to the farmer,
who, too overcome to utter word, would
have bent his knee before the brave young
girl, but she prevented him.
Her remarkable presence of mind was
their salvation. The fact that she was
willing to marry simple citizen caused a
complete revulsion of feeling, and the
Tretches who moment before had been
lusting for Ter blood now applauded her.
- We must be married under the tree of
liberty, she added, and, citizens, we in
vite you all to the wedding.
Another burst Of applause followed this
invitation. Friendly hands seized the little
marchioness and the farmer, and they were
straightway shOuldered and carried in tri-
umph to the tree of liberty, escorted by the
cheering mob, waving their pixies and
soy thes.
ssThe marriage took place, and the crowd,
joining hands, danced the carmagnole
frantically around the newly made hus-
band and wife, and the festivities, with
eating and drinking. were kept up till
nightfal, when those of the revelers who
were not too intoxicated escorted the cou-
pie back 80 the farm.
LAS soon as they were alone the assumed
familiarity of the farmer Immediately van
ished. Dofhng his hat he bent respectful
ly before the marchiOness, and with tears of
gratitude in his eyes exclaimed:
g sAademoiselle, L thank you from the
bottom of my heart Your sacrifice was
our salvation. I beg you to pardon the
liberties the critical position in which
were placed compelled me to take. 1t is,