The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1899-09-15
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In 1927 a 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 Il regiment
of the Ninth Municipal guards to capture
the conSpiratCrs. 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 fugitivcs took refuge in the different
departments. where they hid themselves
in the houses of their friends and ac-
quaintanCes. Such unexpected visitors
usually caused Il 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 connoisscurs. 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 he
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 young girl.
This was the first sensible thing to do,
and peasant woman of his acquaintance
dressed him up as Il village maiden, with
4 red braided jacket. red shoes and
white bonnet. She put a basket of eggs
on his arm, and he was 50 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 Quatre Ri
viera. where the Countess Therme was
residing.
The Countess Josephine ThCrme was
famous woman of her time. both by her
beauty and her advanced political ideas.
1t was owing to the latter that she had
been diSgraccd ut court and dared not
leave her chateau. and il was owing to
the former that the divorce proceedings
which she had instituted against the
count-a man she justly hated-were
hiadered fram progress. The count re-
sided in Paris. He was favored at court,
one reason of this being that his wife
detestcd him.
Saint-Creux. arriving at the chateau
of the countess, endeayored to enter her
service. She was accustomed always TO
engage her domeSticS in person, and she
admitted this seeming peasant girl to her
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 her
toilet he unfastened. by her request,
the topmost hook of her bodice. thus re-
vealing Il slight portion of her beautiful
white shoulders. But his hand already
trenblcd, aud he would not uufasten the
second hook. He knelt before Josephine
and confessed eyerything-that he was
not girl at all. but a 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. If size con-
cealed him in his feminine guse at her
chateau, people would sooner or later get
wind of it, and the disgrace and ignominy
Siie at IitStHb Shtltlcu NpuIu be
increased tpnfod. Which course should
she take? With fine heroism she quickly
decided to sacrifice herself-not the refu-
gee. She told SaintCreux that he should
occupy the next room to her own. Her
previous maids had always dressed for
her the long flowing tresscs which she
possessed and which. when unfastened,
streamed down her entire figure so as
to sweep the floor. What was she now
to do? She took pair of scissors and
cut off the whole of this beautiful hair.
intending to explain to those around her
that she had done because she suffered
so much from headache. SaintCreTx
alone knew why sh" had stripped her
self OF this lovely ornament.
at times, when there WIS no reason TO
suspect that they would be invaded,
Saint Crcux would relate to the countess
the story of his miSfortuncs. and Joseph
inc was convinced that beneath his
Breton bodice a noble heart palpitatcd
and noble sentiments dwclt. As time
went on an intimacy spranE up between
them, which was all the swceter inaS-
much as they had both to guard against
q common danger. Before long Josephine
conceived a plan by which they might
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 be
fastened. and then the poet couId make
her his wife. Perhaps it was some slight
symptom of preparation for departure
which excited the suspicion of the hum
dreds Of spies WHO lowered about her
castle, but one night. in any case. the
castle was surrounded by Il detachment
OF the cavalry Of the municipal guard.
There was not Il moment to be lost. The
countess hurried with i5aint-Creux into
her bedroom. She approached q large
mirror inclosed in n curved oak frame.