Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1899-07-21

J "Monsieur, pardon me if am wrong
! but / believe l had the pleasure oi
meeting you five or six years ago AT
| Lyons. at 4 o'clock one morning. in q
public square"
Saturn raised his head and looked al
me intcntly. "Ah" he said. "Is it pos
/ siblcT'
Yes" l went on. lookil z at him in
/ tently. wait b.t-in that square
there stood a melancholy object that
was dragged to see by two student
friends and that I've sworn never tc
look on again"
Indeed" observed Saturn. "And
what was this object, if am not in
discreet in askingT
a scan'old; a guillotine, monsieur,
if my memory serves me. Yes. 1t was
the guillotine. Now I'm sure Of it,
These words had passed in a very
low tone between us. Cantal and the
ladies stood talking near the piano
That's il. | remember" | added,
raising my voice. What do you say
to my memory? Although you drove
by very quickly. your carriage, de-
laycd a moment by nine let me catch
glimpse Of you in the torchlight. The
circumstance stamped your face Oh
my mind. You had absolutely the
same expression then rs now"
"Ah, ali" he replied. 1t is true.
You speak with great accuracy, ad-
nit" And his strident laugh gave me
the feeling of a pair Of blunt scissors
saving n lock Of hair.
zone detail among others impressed
me-" l went on. From n distance /
saw you get out near whore the scat
fold was standing. and-uniess | have
been deceived 10y a resemblance
"You have not been deceived. my
dear sir" he returned. 1T was l."
At this word / felt that the conversa-
ton had grown icy. was hunting for
a commonplace with which to change
the current OF thoughts when suddenly
Antonio turned from the piano and
said somewhat sadly:
by the way, you know there is an
execution this morning Ii is poor Dr
dc Ia Tolsc' lie a'ieh''u ule once
W hatf Is 1t reah[ ',."| J. aN''D'
AT IS o'clock. tlc fatal hour said
N"''''''' ''.''' ,.',..
II seems '"r! ""N' eFe. ''''" " I'ie'5''
er come lo assist Ai' oe i'Ti>' iH 'l'"
Of the soirmn'ly oi l"r occasion ana
the distinction oI 'hr 'f'i.iili''i
Not noticing Tie a"sIrll'y oi Her iaSl
words tur"e' 'o"'f" 'i' S''urn' ne
was sialuiA- near 'Ae "ool' wrapped
In great black cloak WIN i.s nat III
his hand and bearing in all his person
an ollcial alr
M le Baron SAID TO hlih' slhiiihs'
after your singular h'nis We nave al
most The right To ask you il il is as iAe
law. That you are ui.lid ana ue"4 as
often as God permits
He approached me- leaned toward me
jestinsly and answered I'D low tone
Hold your tongue 'A're are ll''-es
present. lie made a circular DOW ANA
went out. leaving me dumb. shiYeriils
and unable TO believe my ears.
Canial. who had Joined us during the
last speech. clappcd me on the shoul-
der. Have you lost your wis; ne
asked.
"IIe has come into a big property
and is only continuing 10 practice Whiie
waiting for a successor ] murmurcd'
enervated 10y the fumes of the punch
"Bahw exclaimed CaniaL "Do You
actually suppose ham To be attached TO
the ceremony in question!
$50 you caught the drift Of our short
talk, old fellow. did you: Short nu'
instructive. The man is mere eXecu'
tloner-a Belgian, probably. He Is
the foreigner Antonio referred 20 a ie"
moments ago. save lof iii' i'ie>eiicc ia
mind would have made a b.cak that
would have alarmed the ladies
"Come, come. cried CanlaL An eA'
ecutioner ia 10000 frame carriage
who gives diamonds To- his dinner
neighbor. who sups at the Maison Doree
the day before he devoics himself 10
patient. Since your cafe de cholscdI
you see hangmen everywhere. Drinh
some punch. Your VI. saturn is poor
lester. do You know
At those word, il seemed 20 me- thai
ooI1 ron osonvos on Cautars side. Great
lv onp,v.a. hastily picked up my hat
and cloves. and turned toward tho
door "Thls stupid hoax has lasted fal
/ 100 long" added opening the door
"If Gnd that funercal mystilier,
swear that
.Don't swcarr cried a gay. wei
known voice from behind the portierc
.cton bacl. my deer friend" And ou
fomous little doctor. les Eglisottcs. en-
tcrod sp,iurilv his greatcoat sprinkle,
wlth snow
"AIv dear dorto-." said. Il vii
coma hack shortly. but lie tool
NV, arm
..,,.hon I hovo told vou the history O
n.o a,o, ,,.ho ,cos r,ino AWAY as ar
.,'e.1 Wv, ,,.o,..,r, ,ou ,hot vou'u no
iiNN"' ''' ''''-'