The St. Johns herald., 1897-06-05
UJE-ITIE.
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Then sue said, "He IS not it to dte." understand, fool, that he is worth 5 crowns? And listenl It is too late now. They are hereW
 A blow fell on the door as he spoke, and he 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 he was an arrant coward. "You deserve to go to prison with him, you jadel will have you in the stocks for thisP'
 She leaned against the wall where she had fallen, her white, despairing face seeming almost to shine ill the darkness of the wretched room. Mean while the continuous murmur of men s voices outside could now be heard, min- gled with the ring of weapons, and the again repeated, as if those without had no mind to be kept waiting.
 Patience, patience! l am openingP' he cried. Still keeping his face to her, he unlocked the door and called on the men tc enter. "He is in the straw, M. le Mayorr' he cried ill tone of tri- umph, his eyes still on his wife. "He will give you no trouble, I will answer for itl But first give me my crowns, mayor My crowns!"
 He still felt so much fear of his wife that he did not turn to see the 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 I ask?"
 In his eagerness and excitement he suspected nothing, but thought only that the mayor had sent deputy. "For what? For the Girondin!' he answered rapidly. Then at last he 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 faltered as he added: ''But where is the mayor, gen. tlemen? 1 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 Tellier 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. ''So you have Girondin here, have you?" he said, his voice GU. riously sweet and sonorous.
 ''I was to have , crowns for him, |" Michel muttered dubiously.
 ''Oh, PetiOn," continued the spokes- man to one of his companions, "can you kindle light? It 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 a sudden glare lit up the dark in- terior and disclosed the group of cloak ed strangers standing about the door, the light gleaming back from their muskets and cutlaSSes. Michel trembled. He had never seen such men as these before. True, they were wet and travel spend their nights in ditches and under haystacks. But their pale, stern faces were set i'll 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. It 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 satis- fed with himself.
 The answer struck him down with an l awful terror That does not follow, :" said the tall man coolIy, flor We arc Girondins!'
 You are?''
 Without doubt" the other answer ed, with majestic simplicity, Tor there are TO such persons. This is Petion and this Citizen Buzot. Have you heard of Louvet? There he stanCs. 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 l 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 blanks, uttered a cry of thankfulness. Ut is youl It IS
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