The Winslow mail., 1897-07-17

lHBU SUB outu, nc 10 UOG Jtt W utS.
understand, fool, that he is worth 5
crowns? And listenl 1t is too late now
They are herep'
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 vixenw 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 jade 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 i'll 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
summons for admission was again and
again repeated, as if those without had
no mind to be kept waiting.
Patience, patience! I 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, NJ
le Mayorl" he cried in tone of tri-
umph, his eyes still On his wife. ''He
will give you 10 trouble. I will answer
for isl But first give me my crowns,
mayor. Ny 5 crownsp'
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 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 a 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? do not see him.
No one answered, but in silence the
last of the men-there were IL 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-
A,rcf 20 I1<.
looked round keenly. At length this
man spoke. $50 you have Girondin
here, have your" he said, his voice Gu.
riously sweet and sonorous.
Il was to have crowns for him, T"
Michel muttered obviously.
"Oh, PetiOn," continued the spokes.
man to one of his companions, lean
you kindle light? 1t strikes me that
we have hit upon a dark place"
The man addressed took something
from his pouch. For 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
terror and disclosed the group of cloak
ed strangers standing about the door,
the light cleaning back from their
muskets and cutlasses. Michel trembled
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
Ill his eyes alone there seemed to lurk
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 bewilderment;
noted the white head and yet vigorous
bearing of the man who had struck the
light; noted even the manner i'll 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 coolIy, 'for we arc
Girondinsl"
lyon are?'
Without doubt" the other answer.
ed, with majestic simplicity. 'or there
are 10 such persons. This is Petion and
this Citizen Buzot. Have you heard of
Louvet? There he stanCs. For me, l 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
pale face of the youth over whom Mi
chel had bent in the afternoon appeared
above the partition. A smile of joyful
recognition etfaced for the time the lines
of exhaustion. The young man. cling
ing for support to the planks, uttered
cry of thankfulness. 1T is you! 1t Is
really you'll You are safer' lie exclaim-
ed.
'We are safe, all of Us, Pierre, > Bar
y L.