Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-02-23

In the silence Of the cemetery, near
the tomb, before that name, Louis Pierre
Revere, which seemed almost like the
presence Of his dead friend, Dantin felt
tho temptation to reveal to this girl
what her father had wished her to know
They knew each other without ever
having met. One word was enough, one
name WAS sufficient, i'll order that the
secret which united them should bring
them nearer each other. What Dantin
was to Revere, Revere had told Martho
again and again.
Then, as If from the depths Of tho
tomb, Revere had ordered him to speak
Jacques Dantin, in the solemn silence Of
that city of the dead, confded to the
young girl what her father had tried to
tell him. He spoke rapidly. The words,
"A lcgacy-in trust-a fortune, fell
from his lips, but the young girl quickly
interrupted him with "A grand gesture.
81 do not wish to know what any one
has told You Of me. l am the daughter
of man who awaits me at Blois, who
is DID, who loves only me, who needs
only me, and need nothing. "
There was in her tone an accent of
command, Of resolution, which Dantin
recognized as one of Revere most re-
markable characteristics.
Had Dantin known nothing this
sound in the voice. this ardent look on
the pale face, would have given him
hint or a suspicion and have obliged
him to think Of Revere. Revere lived
again in this woman in black whom
Jacques Dantin saw for the first time.
"Then?" asked this friend of the dead
man, as if awaiting an order.
Then, said the young girl in her
deep voice, "when you meet me near
this tomb do not speak to me Of any
thing. If you should meet me outside
this cemetery, do not recognize me.
The secret which was conhdud to you by
the one who sleeps there is the secret of
dead one whom l adored, my mother,
and Of living person whom l rever-
encc, my father"
She accented the words with sort Of
tender, passionate piety, and jacques
Dantin saw that her eyes were filled
with tears.
last confidence of the dying man, but
she said again;
"Adieur"
With her hand, gloved in black, she
made the sign Of the cross, smiling sad
ly as she looked at the tomb where tho
cArySanthcmumS lay then, lowering her
veil, She went away, and Dantin, stand
| ~ M ba
pear at the end of an alley.
The martyr, oXpiating near tho old
crippled man a fault of which she was
innocent, went back to him who was
without suspicion, to him who adOred
her and to whom she was in their poor
apartment in Blois his saint and his
daughter.
She would watch, she would lose her
youth, near that old soldier whose TO-
bust constitution would endure many,
many long years. She would pay her
dead mothers debt; she would pay it
by devoting every hour of her life to
this man whose name she bore--an il
lustrious name, a name belonging to
the victories, TO the struggles, to the
history Of yesterday, She would be the
hostage, the eXpiatory victim.
With all her life would she redeem
the fault Of that other.
and who knows, my poor Revere,
said Jacques Dantin, "thy daughter,
proud of her sacrifice, is perhaps hap
pier i'll doing this"
In his turn he left the tomb. He went
out of the cemetery. He wished to wa
to his lodging in the Rue Richelieu. I
had only taken a few steps along the
boulevard, where it seemed but yestcr-
day he had followed, talking with
Bernardet, behind Rovere's funeral car
riage, when he nearly ran into little
man who was hurrying along the pave
ment The police officer saluted him.
with shaking Of the head which had
in it regret, little confusion, some ex-
Cuses
"Ah, NJ. Dantin, what grudge you
must have against me,'
Not Mt all, said Dantin. "You
thought that you We're doing your duty,
and 1T did not displeaSe me to have YOU
try so quickly to avenge my poor 10
we're "
"Avenge him. Yes, he will beaveng-
ed! would not give sous for Charles
Prades' head tomorrow, when he is
tried. We shall see each other in court.
An revoir, NJ. Dantin, and all my OK
cuseS!'
AN revoir, NJ. Bernardet, and ali
my compliIents!"
The two men separated. BcrnardPt
was on his way home to breakfast lie
was late. Nine. Bernardet would be
waiting and little red and breathless
he hurried along. He stopped on hear
ing Il nowsboy announce the last mum
Der of Luteco.
"Asl; for the account of the trial to-
morrow, the inquest by Paul Rodier ON
the crime of the Boulevard de Clichy"
The newsDoy saluted Bernardet, whom
he knew very WELL
Give me paper" said the police
officer. The boy pulled out paper from
the package he was carrying and waved
it over his head like flag.
"Ah, | understand; that interests
yon, NJ. Bernardct -
And while the little man looked for
the heading Lutece in capital letters
e;II77'.5., = ~