The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-09-30

In 1897 conspiracy was discovered at
Amiens which had for its object the cap
ture of Charles Y on the occasion of his
visiting that town, but he sent a regiment
of the Ninth Municipal guards to capture
the conspirators. News of the kings in
tended vengeance went abroad, and those
who felt themselves in any way impli-
Gated in the affair fed, some to England
and others to Belgium, while third set
of fugitives took refuge in the different
departments, where they hid themselves
in the houses of their friends and ac-
quaintanees. Such unexpected visitors
usually caused great deal of nervous
ness on the part of their hosts, who were
thus exposed to being flung into dungeons
for concealing the culprits, though it was
in very few cases indeed that hospitality
was refused.
Among the refugees who were hiding
from justice was young poet, Saint
Creux by name, whose revolutionary po-
ems already lived on the lips of the peo-
pie and whose talents were acknowledged
by all connoisseurs. 1t was difficult, in
deed, for him to conceal himself, for his
portrait was in every hand and appeared
as frontispiece to the songs, which were
sold at every street corner. BY his thin,
delicately curved. lips he could easily be
recognized, and, moreover, he was so
young that he could not disguise himself
by shaving off the very slight growth OF
hair on his face. 1t was easier for him
to assume the disguise of a young girl.
This was the first sensible thing to do,
and peasant woman of his acquaintance
dressed him up as a village maiden, with
a red braided jacket, red shoes and q
white bonnet. She put basket of eggs
on his arm, and he was so successful In
passing the outposts of the municipal
guards that the sergeant amorously
pinched his cheek. In this garb he man.
aged to reach the Chateau de Qnatre Ri
viera, where the Countess Therme was
residing.
The Countess Josephine Therme was a
famous woman of her time, both by her
beauty and her advanced political ideas
1t was owing to the latter that she had
been disgraced at court and dared not
leave her chateau, and it was owing to
the former that the divorce proceedings
which she had instituted against the
count-a man she justly hated-werC
hindered from progress. The count re-
sided in Paris. He was favored Mt court
one reason of this being that his wife
detested him.
Saint-Creux, arriving at the chateau
of the countess, endeavored to enter hei
service. She was accustomed always tc
engage her domestics in person, and she
admitted this seeming peasant girl to heI
presence and engaged Saint Creux as
her lady's maid. Great scandal might
have proceeded from this among the
tattiers of fashionable society, but Saint.
Creux was as noble minded as the count.
ess was pure. On the first occasion
when she sent for him to attend hes
toilet he unfastened, by her request
the topmost hook of her bodice, thus re.
vealing a slight portion of her beautiful
white shoulders. But his hand already
treinbled, and he would not unfasten the
second hook. He knelt before Josephine
and confessed eyerything-that he was
not girl at all, but prosecuted man
the unfortunate Saint Creux. The count
ess was, of course, startled at the reve.
lation. What was she to do? If she
drove him away from her-and he was
one of her best partisans-he would fall
into the hands of the enemy. II she con-
cealed him in his feminine guise at her
chateau, people would sooner or later get
wind of 1t, and the disgrace and ignominy
which she at present suffered would be
increased tenfold. Which course should
she take? With fine heroism she quickly
decided to sacrifice herself-not the refu.
gee. She told Saint Creux that he should
occupy the next room to her own. Her
previous maids had always dressed fol
her the long flowing tresses which she
snh H..
streamed down her entire figure SO as
TO sweep the floor. What was she now
TO do? She took a pair of scissors and
cut off the whole of this beautiful hair
intending to explain to those around hei
That she had done SO because she suffered
30 much from headache. Saint-Creuz
alone knew why she had stripped her
self Of this lovely ornament.
At times, when there was no reason t.
suspect that they would be invaded
Saint-Creux would relate to the COUNTIES.
the story of his misfortunes, and Joseph
Inc was convinced that beneath hi.
Breton bodice a noble heart palpitatet
and noble sentiments dwelt. As tim.
went ON an intimacy sprang up between
them. which was all the sweeter mas
much as they had both to guard agains
a common danger. Before long Josephine
conceived plan by which they NIGH
escape from the country for England
and there she would await the issue Of
her divorce proceedings, which, no doubt
In consequence Of her flight, would b.
FASTENED, and then the poet could max,
her his wife. Perhaps It was some Sigh
symptom of preparation for aepartur,
which excited the suspicion Of the hun
dreds Of spies who lowered about hel
castle, but one night. In any case, thu
castle was surrounded by detachment
Of tbs cavalry Of the municipal guard
There was not moment to be lost. Th,