The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1899-04-28

tator, here at Grenoble. II we can only
move him from his bitter spirit OF re-
venge, all will be we'll for everyone. We
have our own account to urge: surely
my mother and I, the only beings on
earth that he loves, may plead sue
cessfully. Put away your fears, vio-
lante, and pardon me that In this hour
of afliction wild Joy thrills my heart
with the hope that now may win her
whom I have loved so devotedly but
hopelessly."
Later, on that eventful night, when
poor Violante's terrors were banished
in the slumber the opiate had brought
to her exhausted frame, the cavern sa-
loon saw strange sight. There was
citizen Jean, who had preached so flu
riously to the mob for the downfall of
the nobility, with his sister and his
nephew at his feet, clinging to his
hands, and with tender appeals and
heart-wrung tears, imploring him to
forego his fatal revenge. For long
time he was implacable and obdurate.
At length his sister. in the wretched-
ness of despair, exclaimed frantically-
"Oh, Jean, Jean, it is in your power to
give me few peaceful days at the
close of my eventful life. You may
send ne too to your dreadful guillo-
tine, for if the father Of my child per-
ishes by its fatal axe, shall die of
shame and horror and remorse."
Then the stern face Quivered, the
fiery eyes lost their fierce blaze in a
gush of tears, and M. Jean exclaimed
ruefully:
"You have conquered, you shall have
your way"
And that way brought about, that
in the dead of night, two wretched
fugitives arrived at the cliff, and re-
ceived shelter and comfort within its
hidden walls.
Count Beauvais, completely cured of
pride and obduracy, with tears of
thanksgiving, caught his recovered
daughter in his arms, and giving her
to Bernard, gave also his warmest and
most grateful blessing.
For Count German was in a more
critical situation. To meet as preserv-
ers and benefactors the wronged wife
and son was almost equal to ascending
the guillotine. But remorse and mis-
cry had wrought purifying work. Be-
sides he came there to receive their
pardon and die. The countess had in
some way obtained paper Of poison,
which she had administered to him is
we'll as herself. What was speedy
death for her was a slower process
upon his stronger frame. He died, per-
itent and hopeful, breathing his last in
the cavern, surrounded by his weeping
wife and forgiving son, and leaving
his papers to reinstate Bernard in his
lawful position, if the bloody crisis of
the country should pass away. The es-
cape of the two counts was always
| marvel, but rapidly surging events
swept it away from the minds con-
stantly familiar with new and as des-
perate tragedies, and no one had been
bold enough to question M. Jean, the
noted Jacobin. No one either suspected
the existence of the wonderful cavern,
which he had enlarged and fitted up
for the secure retreat of his sister and
her child. There Violante and her
father remained in safety until an OPP
portunity came through Christophe's
sloop to escape to England with Ber-
nard, his mother and uncle, who, upon
the fall of Robespierre, knew that
France was no longer safe retreat for
him.
When prosperity and peace, under
Napoleon Bonaparte, once more
smoothed away the agitation of the
land. among the first to return and
claim their estate and title was Count
Bernard Hugo Germain with his young
and lovely wife and her aged father,
Count Beauyais. NJ. Jean was left be-
hind in an English grave. The spirit
that had burned SO wildly and chafed
and fretted against the bars of fate.
was early exhausted and extinguished
Need l add one of the dearest spots to
the young heirs of both German and
Beauvais, was the romantic cliff that
leaned over so frowningly upon the
blue rolling Isere?
THE END.l