The times., 1899-08-20

phrase ana DloW- feYered Plerfe HaQ iai-
len upon them in sort of madness and
was being badly treated when the officer
arrived. Then there was further bully
Raging and even sullen silence. which is
more dangerous, but despite both Colonel
NIncepnes took my unhappy ancestor on
his arm and his sword in hand, thus leav-
ing the assemblage behind in fearful anger.
The poor player was i'll for month after
this and his rescuer never quilted him.
And Pierre Wizard, being uneommonly
grateful, afterward declined a proffered
bounty and elected TO remain with the
Colonel from that on-this though matters
had commenced threatening in earnest
and the home of a commander was not
the safest place in France.
The two lodged at the barracks and in
due time grew to be great friends. Pierre
Wizard had learned somewhere the art of
cooking and took up voluntarily the du
ties OF housewife. Colonel Vincennes was
finding himself a bit pinched as to money
and was but too glad of this assistance.
In return he taught his companion, who
had not been troubled with such lessons
in other days the use of tierce and carte;
of rapier and pistol. In a great court
yard that had but three sides and looked
upon the street both practiced until their
skill had been heard OF throughout Nanci
and needed no exhibition to make the men
known.
Had show been required however. op
portunity would not have been lacking.
At Paris the Minister of War, Latour du
Pin. had appointed commissions to look
into the difficulty in the south and these
commissions had been received more than
harshly. Then had come a message 10 the
National Assembly. and from the National
Assembly orders for Nanci to repent aud
submit. Whereupon Journalism had adopt
ed all causes, military delegations had
been sent by the regiments to Paris and by
Mayor Bailly to prison-all Nanci was in
uproar and confusion Several times Colo
mel Vincennes was assaulted almost before
his own door and on each occasion he had
warned my relative that the end could not
be held of long; that General BouilIe and
his army at Vic and Marsal was but like
an Aeolus Cave, keeping alive the flame;
that a peaceable actor might well desert
his savior without dishonor. To all of
which suggestions Pierre Wizard replied
firmly and kept on with his cooking.
So, too, was the fencing continued and
the shooting. Fine figures these men must
have made-both of a size-Pierre Wizard
grown sound and strong; grown to look
not unlike Hereulean Colonel Vineennes
himself. But the practice was made less
public than before, crowds of lettering ruff
fans rendering the courtyard unsafe for
such exercises. The actor was not slow in
learning nor backward in teaching either.
for he brought what passed then for make
up from the Theatre de Vaudeville and
showed his friend its uses. That there
were plays given or limited at | very much
doubt, but the good-natured officer daubed
his face frequently and still more often en-
joyed the changes Pierre could work in
himself. In this manner July passed and
August came.
But Colonel Vincennes had been right in
his warning and the end could not be held
of long" Grievances had been heard in
Paris at last, and intrepid, adamantine NJ
Malseigne was appointed to come TO Nanci
as inspector. On August "A he arrived and
began his session. sitting all of Thursday
and Friday at the barracks of the Chateau
Nieux. No settlement was reached, but the
officials life was threatened and such G
hub-dub kept up that il was deemed wise
to send for aid. Three or four thousand
constitutional National Guards were driven
into Nanci on Saturday, but, suspicious oi
themselves and each other joined in the
rebellion at noon and refused to fire a shot
Whereupon NJ. Malseigne, with pretence Of
examining the ramparts, rode straight tc
the loyal regiments at Luneyille, leaving
Nanci half frenzied and wholly sure thai
all in power were going over to the Aus
! trians-
The result of this rumor was not long il
being felt At o'clock every man, woman
and child in the southern town had gather.
ed in the streets and was marching TO tht
barracks The greater portion of the Off
GERS there heard of the news and fed
Only Colonel Vincennes would not go and
deserted in a room at the head of those
steps which lead 10 the court, implored
Pierre Wizard to quit him. This my an
cestor refused TO do, contenting himself
with loading the pistols while his comrade
looked TO the massive door below. I'VE
shall beat them away" he said
But neither knew what awaited. At :
O'Clock the mob appeared. Glancing across
the yard, Pierre Wizard could see il coming
The narrow, hilly street facing him was
first filled with straggiers, and next blocked
by dense mass of roaring, threatening
humanity. Held only by the walls at eithel
side, the crowd hurried through the high.
way as streams flow between near banks;
was vomited out and into the court disgust.
ingly Iron -yisaged soldiers there wert
with uniforms and muskets; demoniac gi-
ants with red caps and pixies, coarse womer
shouting at the top of their voices. Sway
| ing and struggling all stopped at the oaker
| door and waited for their prey. This until
someone caught sight of Colonel VincenneE
/ in the window, and, aiming a weapon a
him. was shot in the wrist by my skiIlfu
Pierre.
Then did the storm break "Cette porte
doit etre facilement forceer' cried a has
above all the rest. For an instant there
was silence. Two lamp-posts stood at tht
corner and one of these was being tori
down. When 1t was brought into the court
J the noise was redoubled. The other pole
/ had been left for a purpose-one did exc
cution enough. And as ten strong men
/ who had fought for the position, drove the
metal against the stronger oak the yells
below kept grim accompaniment.
"A bas ParistocTatei"
-'Percez-let''
METRE a la lanternei"
Both OF the men upstairs knew that all
1 their hope lay in the door below. Once
safely through the passage, the crowd
would swarm up the steps and, even If il
saved the younger defender would teal
/ the officer TO pieces. And the oak was
] yielding 10 the blows rained upon il. With
fast-heating pistols the prisoners fired
upon the stalwart giants at the lamp-pos
| but without result. When one fell anoth-
ct struggled to take his place and the moi
was bowling more inexorably than ever
Those who had guns had forced their way
to the front and stood there, grimIy 81.
lent. shey wasted little shot on the hid.
den pair. but waited for what must come
Meanwhile in the intervals between roars
actor and soldier could hear that for which
| ali were listening-the breaking of wood
! Colonel Vincennes leaned out TO observ,
and got a bullet in the shoulder.
! Quand les patriotes font des eombats pour Ie
/ droits de la Hberte,
| La tyrannie trernble ct tombe-
the workers were singing. Pierre Vim
ard, blackened and wet with perspiration
turned to Colonel Vincennes. who was try
:. a-.o-- ...,a.1.li .nlAia.. I.