The Somerset reporter., 1900-01-04
FORGOTTEN
A Tragic Story of the French
Revolution.


Some few years after the reign of
terror a 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,
haH curious, half in kindness, he made
some remark as to the strangers ap-
pearance, coupling it with the question,
do you want aught else for your COM
fort ?"
NAY, nothing" said the pale man
hastily. 81 have food and light and
air; what could | want moreW 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
guessed aright?'
His guest looked up. Would you
hear my tale?' he asked. For years
have kept silence, but today 1t seems
as II it would tighten my heart to
speak Listen and believe IL you can.
Less than seven years ago was gay,
light hearted youth in this our quiet
fatherland. Having no near relatives,
was led to visit some distant ones
who had lived for many years in a
small town In France.
My uncle, as | called him out of
friendliness, was a kind, good fellow.
we'll known and respected in the place.
where he carried on the craft of a
matchmaker, and he proposed that
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
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
strange land.
1T was happy little household. No
wonder | was glad to belong to 1t.
But. alas, it was soon to be swept
away by terrible affiiction. 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
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 a 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 a
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 IA
few moments. My aunt and her maid.
ems arranged as usual the midday
meal and we were all ready to sit
dom. only my uncle was missing. He
YVES usually so punctual that we dined
without him. Al the close of the meal
| stepped out to look for him.
81 had not got n dozen yards from
the mouse when met our bakers wife.
her eyes starting out of her head. Go
back she said go back; ii Is too late!
The monster. The wretch! He has
executed the honest man without even
the farce Of a trial on his accursed
guillotine yonder.
81 stood petritied with horror. Could
she be speaking of my uncle. so re-
spected. so quiet as he was? II was
too true The wretch in Office had lost
no time. but had begun his work of
hloodshed 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 poor Swiss. | 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 fearful,y in the background. |
tried to speak. but | turned away and
burst into tears. was young then,