The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-09-09
By Maurice Jokai.

d A Tragic Story Of Man Who Died
Rather Than Betrsy the Wo- y
II man Who Shielded Him.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
In 1927 conspiracy was discovered at
Amiens which had for its object the cap
ture of Charles X on the occasion of his
visiting that town, but he sent regiment
of the Ninth Municipal guards to capture
the conspirators. 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 fugitives took refuge in the different
departments, where they hid themselves
in the houses Of their friends and ac-
Quaintances. Such unexpected visitors
usually caused 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.
from justice was young poet, Saint
Creux by name, whose revolutionary po-
ems already lived or the lips of the peo
pie and whose talents were acknowledged
by all connoisseurs. 1t was difficult, in
deed, for him to conceal himself, for his
portrait was in every hand and appeared
rs frontispiece to the songs, which were
sold at every street corner. BY his thin,
delicately curved lips he could easily be
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 village maiden, with
a red braided jacket. red shoes and a
white bonnet. She put basket Of eggs
on his arm, and he was 80 successful in
passing the outposts Of the municipal
guards that the sergeant nmorously
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 Therme was a
famous woman. of her time, both by her
beauty and her advanced political IDEAS
1t was owing to the latter that she Ind
been disgraced at court and dared not
leave her chateau, and it was owing to
the former that the divorce proceedings
which she had instituted against the
count--a man she justly hated-were
hindered from progress. The count re-
sided In Paris. He was favored Mt court,
one reason Of this being that his wife
detested 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
tattiers of fashionable society, but Saint
Creux was MS noble minded ms 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 a slight portion Of her beautiful
white shoulders. But his hand already
trembled and he would not unfasten the
second hook. He kneit before Josephine
and confessed everything-that he was
not a girl ut all, but 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 she con-
cealed him in his feminine guise ut her
chateau, people would sooner or later get
wind of it, and the disgrace and ignominy
which she ut present suffered would be
increased tenfold. Which course should
she take? With fine heroism she quickly
decided to sacrifice herself-not the refu-
gee. SHE told Saint Creux that he should
occupy the next room to her own. Her
previous maids had always dressed for
her the long flowing tresses 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 so because she suffered
so much from headache. Saint-Creux
alone knew why she had stripped her.
self OF this lovely ornament
At times, when there was no reason to
suspect that they would he invaded,
Saint-Creux would relate to the countess
the story Of his misfOrtunes, and Joseph
inc was convinced that beneath his
Breton bodice noble heart palpitated
and noble sentiments dwelt. As time
went on an intimacy sprang up between
them, which was all the sweetcr mas
much as they had both to guard against
q common danger. Before long Josephine
conceived u 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 could make
her his wife. Perhaps it was some slight
symptom of preparation for departure
which excited the suspicion of the hun
dreds Of spies who lowered about her
castle, but one night, in any case, the
castle was surrounded by detachment
Of the cavalry Of the municipal guard.
There was not q moment to be lost. The
countess hurried with Saint Creux into
her bedroom. She approached a large
mirror inclosed in a carved oak frame.
She touched spring. The mirror slowly
opened and revealed secret cabinet. I,
Glide yourself here" exclaimed the
countess, until the soldiers who are
searching for you have gone. Over your |
head you will find cord. Draw this |
cord, for It will open ventilator which
will conduct fresh air to you. 1t has to
be .cpt closed, as n rule, for otherwise |
the bats would fly in during the night |
and reveal by their cries the fact that
this cabinet exists. The Marquis de Cas- |
ton hid for day and a half during |
the Huguennt persecution, and he there
by saved his life"
Already Saint-Creux had entered the |
cabinet. But one more word before !
leave you," said the countess, as she |
proceeded to close the door. "lf | should |
he taken prisoner and carried away, you
can, so soon rs you hear that the soldiers |
have departed, get out of the cabinet by |
pulling the door handle on the inside, and |
you can then quit the palace safely b. |
the secret staircase"
The door closed upon Sant-Creux. The
clanking of sword and spur WAS already |