Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1898-05-19
Providential Escapes.

THE person who does not at some
time or other of his life experience
what can only be described as ''provi-
Dental escape" must be quite unique
parsonage We have all known or ca
perienced them, and tales of this order
are multitudinous in their number.
Some of them may briefly relate.
The cellar-fap was cautiously raised,
and the head of woman appeared
through the dark entry-a woman of
three or four-and-twenty with fair, dis
hevelled hair, and u face in which con-
siderable beauty combated an anxious,
worn expression. The woman had
passed through the terrors of the first
siege of Paris, and was now experience
ing all horrors of the Commune.
She looked anxiously in the direction
of a group Of men, who were hauling
with ropes the carcass of q horse killed
by shell from Nersailles) in the direc-
ton Of that cellar-ilap which she now
carefully raised
In this way did Gretchen Hoffman,
and her sister run" the Hotel du Nord.
the shutters of which were closed dur
ing that memorable occupation OF Par
is. They supplied the wants of many
nd customers. who might otherwise
have starved. while their coward!y
brother Carl. the proprietor of the
hotel, was chuckling in comfortable
lodgings in Soho. Carl had fed TO Eng
land, leaving his plucky sisters to bear
The brunt and burden of the day alone.
Some time had elapsed since the
trifing incident just recorded. when
scene took place on the steps connuni-
eating with side street TO the st.
l.azare station.
man with a portmanteau was nerv-
ously descending, looking from right TO
left, when he attracted the attention
of tall. seedy. semi rnilitary-looking
Individual. who arrested him in the
name of the Commune as Mons. Jae-
quelard. The mans first impulse was
10 run-but he was speedily seized, and,
after brief struggle, hurried into
haere, in which his captor rapidly con-
veyed him TO the prison of La Ro-
quette;" his explanation that he never
heard of Jacquelard in his life going,
Of course, for nothing. Now, in those
days the accused had short shrift; the
fact that a man was believed to be
notorious informer was enough for his
hastily-assembled judges. After
mock trial, at which the prisoner had
no opportunity of clearing himself, he
was condemned with nine others
leharged with various real or supposed
ofenses) to execution within "a hours.
~ the prison yard.
The man of whom ] particularly
speak was absolutely innocent of the
oiiense imputed to him; in fact. he had
had no. concern whatever in the affairs
Of the Commune. To dilate on that
terrible interval. day and night, be-
tween his condemnation and the mo-
ment when he was led out into that
Prison yard to be shot like a dog, would
occupy unnecessary time. since, II i can
ne realized at all, it can be better
imagined than described; suffice it to
say, he was the last of the victims
brought out. His face was of green
ish-sray hue. his eyes were dilated, his
reason already almost unseated; IN
need had it not been for the support Of
ne prison wall. he must have fallen
ne hring party were already drawn up
IA llne, the moment for the command
70 FIRE." had come.
suddenly an officer who. with a
group OF others. was looking on. rushed
p 70 the one in command of the firing
,afty and insisted on moments delay
..e men. in great excitement. returned
- those with whom he had been con-
rs,ng, and to one Of these. a man in
,.o'nfe authority. he addressed him
net man IS innocent. pointing 10
supposed Tacqnelard. Il can swear /
-iil- he is 4 reenecfable hotel