The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-26
UNKNOWN, UNTOLD.

perhaps even HOISO bnau 1BS predecessor,
1894. Thousands of suspected and &C
knowledged mobiles thronged the prisons,
to be led forth in carts, batch by batch, as
an offering to the murderous guillotine
Men, women, children-none was spared
Among those now expecting death at the
Conciergerie prison were the old Marquis
de Vaudmont and his young daughter
Helene. By some perhaps fortunate mis-
take the poor girl had not been incarcerat-
ed with the ordinary crowd of aristocrats
which filed the dungeons, but had been
allotted a separate cell, where old Matthew,
the jailer, came once day with the meager
meal of bread and soup and water. Ma
thieu's daughter, Elise, occasionally was
allowed to visit the female prisoners, and
by word, encouragement, sought &c
console the often broken hearted captives
Elise had long resided near Lille with
her aunt and uncle, and her dearest bosom
friend was ROsine Pichou, their only
daughter. 1t was a great shock to Elise
when she saw poor Helene de Vaudmont
brought in one night by the terrible sol
diers of the revolution, for Helene was the
young LADY, of the castle which had for
many generations ruled the little village
where the Pichous had lived Often had
Elise and Rosine experienced the kindness
of the Vaudmonts, who, though aristo-
Gratis, associated freely with the simple
village folk. Then the fearful revolution
had burst forth, spreading terror in every
corner of the land. Young de VaudmOnt
had joined the ROyalist troops of Condo
and the ''emigres'' and added 1aurels to
the old family name. Yet he had 1Onged
to revisit the place of his birth and had
ventured under q disguise to re-enter
France. a friend followed him, and one
dark and stormy night the old gentleman
and Helene clasped the young man to
their bosoms.
Hector de VieIleroche, young De Vaud-
mont's friend, soon won the hearts OF all
of all, yes, for poor Rosine loved him,
though he never saw it, blinded as he was
by his own passion for Helene. The
months passed, each day bringing news of
fresh atrocities all over the country Then
came the summons for the young men to
gather once again round the banner of the
feur-yIe5-1Is, and both obeyed.
II was a sad parting, Helene and Hector
vowing eternal love, and poor Rosine fol-
lowing with her heart the unsuspecting
loved one.
How the authorities learned that the
two young royalists had been for months
secreted at the castle none could tell, but
suddenly the place was invested with sol
diers, and old NJ de Vaudmont and his
daughter were carried off to Paris to be
cast in the dungeons of the Terror
''You will try and help me, Rosine, -
pleaded Hector de Vielleroche, who had
b-aved a thousand dangers to re-enter
France and to try to save his bride.
but how?'
could you not persuade Elise 30 allow
madenoiselle to escape?'
"Elisel' cried the young girl; "Elise
I have a plan, yes,'' she said. II will
help you L will try to save her. And
she turned away to hide the tears that
crept up into her eyes.
He wondered, but did not understand.
what are you going to do?''
$50 to Paris
I'VE had better start at once, said the
young man.
Il will start at once" she answered.
''You stay here concealed.
The busy gui1lotine had spread sorrow
in many a family. All over the country a
bloody stream flowed freely. On the Place
de la Revolution Fouquier- Tinville's vic
tins increased in an alarming manner.
Among the doomed batch that was to
amuse the Parisians on the next day was
Helene de Vaudmont. Her father had
preceded her in the next world some time
before.
Il must see her, Elise, - said Rosine
eagerly.
but cannot get the keysr'
ooh, yes, you can-you must. Surely
you would not let the poor mademoiselle
die without word of comfort?"
'No, no." answered Elise, sobbing.
''What are we coming tor
Trust to woman's wit to obtain what
she desires. Elise managed to get posses
sion of old Matthew's keys for an hour or
SO, and Rosine was admitted to the cell,
where on a straw pallet lay Helene de
VaudmonS
Dear mistress, she cried, kneeling be-
side the young captive, cheer up. bring
you good news"
Good news to Feae, ROsine. What good
news can expectY The best news would
be that of my approaching deliverance by
the
.'Oh, say not thatl Say not that!''
You are right. It is wicked to grum-
BILE against fate she added listlessly.
'tBut what about your good news, dear
Rosine?"
II can set you freer'
"Thank you, kind, good Rosine, thank
you But what is liberty to memo home,
no family, no.
IN de VieIeroche waits for you, - said
Rosine quietly. And it hurt her poor,
loving heart to say these words to her
rival.
Hector, oh. Hectorp' And Helene
sprang up, animation in her countenance,
her eyes sparkling. But
"But-no but" said Rosine firmly.
Change clothes with me and slide out
while 1 talk to Elise. She is sure not to
notice your clothes Immediately
But yOu?"
"Oh, that's all right They have prob
ably forgotten you and consequently will
forget me-" she added, though she knew
HeIene's name was to be called on the
morrow.
Helene escaped unnoticed, even Elise in
the dark passage failing to detect the
fraud, for Elise respected what she thought
was Rosine's grief and did not speak to
her.
And when that same night, Rosine was
bundled off to the COnciergerie dungeons
none knew of the substitution in the hur-
ry for more victims.
1t was only some months afterward that