The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-12-22


escape are watched and cut off,"
"The ruffiansl" exclaimed st. Jean
under his breath, as he read and reread
the note. AT first he thought that this
was simply threat by his enemies to
terrify HIM into submission or to make
him fly, for he believed that they would
be quite willing to see him we'll out of
their way. But on further considera-
tion his estimate of the missive changed.
He recalled that the republic was fond
of killing those whom it considered it's
enemies. He remembered the eases Of
men personally known to him who had
been led to death, whose families had
been left destitute, whose estates had
been confiscated. Then he marveled
that he should have remained so long
unharmed. At last: "This is from a
genuine friend" he exclaimed, "else it
would not address me by my military
title. / should have been called cit
izenl'"
The more he thought about It, the
more serious the matter seemed, until
he finally made up his mind to fight,
but how?
Father" said sweet voice, inter-
rupting his meditations, may come
in to say good-night?"
"Yes, Marie" responded st. Jean,
gravely; "come in and sit beside me q
moment"
Marie obeyed, silent and wondering.
She saw at once that something Of seri-
Gus import was troubling her father,
and, drawing low chair to his side, she
sat down and raised her calm gray eyes
to his.
my child" he said, after moment
ary silence, "we must leave Paris"
Have the citizens threatened you,
father?" she asked, sadly.
MANY times" replied st. Jean, rest
ing his hand caressingly upon her head;
"and at last--read this"
She took the paper and read it quick
ly.
$50 we must CO." she said, With a
tremulous voice; "how cruel to treat
my good father so badly. wish l could
tell them how good and kind he Is.
Couldn't l say something to them, ia
ther?"
Hardly, Marie" replied st. Jean,
STOPPING over to kiss her forehead;
"they would not believe you. You had
better get ready for journey tonight.
We will leave in the early morning in
closed carriage and go to suburban
railway station, there to take the train
for Havre."
"But father, see! 1t says you must
60 secretly. They would surely take
you in carriage. They are about the
house all the time"
"Well, Marie, how shall we go?"
Father and daughter sat silent for
some minutes. st. Jean was revolving
all kinds of wild schemes, involving the
greatest danger to them both, for he
could think of nothing but bold as
saults, brilliant maneuvers, in which
the enemy should be overcome by sur
prise and the sudden movement of the
fugitiyes.
II have it, father" exclaimed Marie,
at last; you can carry mel"
Garry you?"
"Yes; aren't you strong enough?"
"Of course l am; l could carry two
like you"
a large amount of baggage, for my
weight in clothing would make enough
to last us long time"
What in the world are you thinking
of, Marie?"
"Oh, I'll show you. Haven't you often
seen ragman carrying a big bag of
rags that was twice as large as he WASP"
"Yes, my child, many times"
"Well, now, don't you see? Come
right upstairs and let us see if we can
not make a ragbag out of a bedticl1,
that will be large enough to hold me
and a small bundle of clothing"
Marie sprang from her seat, and
throwing her arms impulsively about
her fathers neck, kissed him fondly as
she continued:
II am sure the plan will succeed. No
body will recognize you If you shave off
that big mustache and imperial, and
dress up in ragged clothes, and nobody
will see me, for l shall be all out of sight
but won't it be q hard task for poor
papa! How tired he will be before we
get to the railway station"
Interested, but half incredulous, st.
Jean followed his daughter to a cham
Der, where she began at once to pull
bed to pieces, talking all the time about
the fight, what they should need to
carry, what they should wear, and
many other things thatsuggested them
elves to her busy brain.
1t was about midnight before they
stopped work, and st. Jean stood, razor
in hand, before mirror, gazing regret
fully at his dropping mustache.
Morning comes at last. The dark, |
'rownish mist that pervades the street
ind envelops the house in moist en-
Drace rises slowly under the influence
IF the suns rays, until, cleansed and
purified by them, it hangs over the
himney tops, a white, glistening mass
If vapor. Even the dull red bricks, the
clothes yards on the roofs, are rendered