The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1900-01-16
FORGOTTEN
A Tragic Story of the French
Revolution.

Some few years after the reign Of
terror man of middle age entered a
small inn in Germany and called for
refreshments. His manners were timid
and shrinking. and he looked as if he
might just have recovered from some
terrible Illness. he was so strangely,
CHASTITY pale.
The landlord supplied his wants, and,
half curious, half in kindness, he made
some remark as to the strangers APP
pearance, coupling it with the question,
do you want aught else for your COM
fort?'
"Nay, nothing" said the pale man
hastily. Il have food and light and
air; what could | want moreY And he
sighed deeply
my friend,' said the landlord, seat
ing himself, ''you speak as if you had
known the want of these things. Have
l guessed arightY'
His guest looked up. would you
hear my tale?" he asked. "For years
have kept silence, but today 1t seems
as If it would tighten my heart to
speak. Listen and believe if you can.
Less than seven years ago was gay,
light hearted youth in this our quiet
fatherland. Having no near relatives,
l was led to visit some distant ones
who had lived for many years In a
small town in France.
my uncle, as l called him out of
friendliness, was a kind, good fellow,
well known and respected in the place,
where he carried on the craft of a
matchmaker, and he proposed that l
should become his apprentice and part
ner / liked the little town, | liked my
uncle, liked my aunt, and soon gave
my consent. They had no children-I
thank God for that now-but my aunt's
kindly soul could not be content with
out young people around her, so she
kept and clothed two neighbors. Trim
and neat they looked, too, wearing the
costume of that part of Germany
whence my aunt came-a pretty fancy
of her own; it seemed quaint enough in
a strange land.
at was happy little household. No
wonder l was glad to belong to it.
But, alas, it was soon to be swept
away by terrible affection. For some
time we had heard of strange troubles
going on in Paris and the large towns,
but our little place was still quiet.
One morning, however, we woke to
find everything in confusion. Our may
or had been ordered to resign. and his
place was to be filled by some one sent
from Paris.
'Still, we never dreamed of that fear
full misery of which this was the fore
runner. We had no time to dream, Ell
ther the blow fell so suddenly.
"There had been stir going on in
the market place for the two days fol-
lowing the arrival of the new official,
but my uncle and / were busy over
discovery which we had made in our
trade, and we were less than usual In
the streets. At noon on the third day,
however, he went out for stroll to
rest his eyes and look about him for
few moments. My aunt and her maid
ems arranged as usual the midday
meal, and we were all ready to sit
down, only my uncle was missing. He
was usually so punctual that we dined
without him. At the close of the meal
| stepped out to look for him.
81 had not got a dozen yards from
the house when I met our bakers wife,
her eyes starting out of her head. Go
back she said; go back; it is too late!
The monster! The wretchl He has
executed the honest man without even
the farce of a trial on his accursed
guillotine yonderp
az stood petrified with horror. Could
she be speaking Of my uncle, SO re-
spected, so quiet as he was? 1t was
too true. The wretch In office had lost
no time, but had begun his work of
bloodshed at once, and my uncle was
the first victim, his only crime being
that he was of foreign birth and had
sheltered under his roof some months
since a poor Swiss. I retraced my
steps to the house. My aunt's anxious
face met my troubled gaze. She had
begun to suspect evil. The two girls
waited fearfuliy in the background. l
tried to speak, but turned away and
burst into tears. | was young then,
Master Landlord, and had tears to
shed. My aunt passed me by and rush
ed into the street, straight to the mar
ket place l could not follow. What
happened there was told me later.
"Wlld with agony at her husbands
fate, my gentle, loving aunt had burst
into flood of reproach of his murder
err In these days this was crime
enough for the heaviest punishment,
and before evening she had shared the
same fate as my uncle.
1.-THE reign of terror had indeed be-
gun with us. The girls had fed, terri
fed at the fate which had befallen
their protectors, and was meditating
in half stupefied way the same meas
ure when knock came at the door,
and two men who had often eaten and
drunk at my uncle's table came In and
made me a prisoner, contiscating all
the possessions of the family to the
state.
"Ip those days a mans foes were
often members of his own household.
/ offered no resistance. The shock Of
the day had completely unnamed me.
| made certain that |, too, should die
that night. But my time was not yet
come.
"In consequence of the lateness of
the hour | was taken to the town prls-
on, a dismal building which | had new
er known to be occupied. There l was
thrust into deep dungeon and left In
total darkness till morning, when
doubted not should be conducted to
the same cruel fate as my poor rela-
tives had met.
But morning came, as | guessed by
the sound without, and still no sum
mons Worn out with suspense and
waiting, | fell asleep. When l awoke,
hunger and thirst oppressed me. Hap
PLY had stored some bread and meat
and a small bottle of wine in one of
the pockets of my coat preparatory to
my Intended flight. OF this l now ate
and drank. No one came nigh me, end
yet could hear sounds as If wretched
prisoners were being led forth out of
neighboring cells, doubtless to death,
for they wept and pleaded vainly, as
II seemed to me.
"But the third day great stiffness
fell on the prison. ] could not under