The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1901-08-23

suspected and acknowledged mobiles
thronged the prisons TO be led forth in
carts, batch by batch, as an offering
to the murderous guillotine. Men, wo-
men, children-none were spared.
Amongst those now expecting death at
the Conciergerie prison were the old
Marquis de VaudmOnt and his young
daughter Helene; by some, perhaps
fortunate, mistake the poor girl had
not been incarcerated with the ordi-
nary crowd of aristocrats which filed
the dungeons, but had been allotted a
separate cell, where old Matthew, the
Jailer, came once day with the mea-
ger meal of bread and soup and water.
Matthew's daughter, Elise, occasionally
was allowed to visit the female prison
ers, and by word, an encouragement,
sought to console the often broken
hearted captives.
Elise had long resided near Lille with
her aunt and uncle, and her dearest
bosom friend was ROsine Pichou, their
only daughter 1t was IA great shock
to Elise when she saw poor Helene de
Vaudmont brought in one night by the
terrible soldiers of the revolution, for
Helene was the young lady" of the
castle which had for many genera
lions ruled the little village where the
and Rosine experienced the kindness of
the Naudmonts, who, though aristo-
Gratis, associated freely with the sim
pie village folk. Then the fearful rev.
olution had burst forth, spreading ter
ror in every corner of the land. Young
de Vaudmont had joined the Royalist
troops of Condo and the "emigres," and
added laurels to the old family name;
yet he had longed to revisit the place
of his birth, and had ventured, under a
disguise. to re-enter France; a friend
followed him, and one dark and stormy
night the old gentleman and Helene
clasped the young man to their bos-
oms.
Hector de Vielleroche, young De
Vaudmont's friend, soon won the hearts
of all-of all, yes, for poor Rosine loved
him, though he never saw it, blinded,
as he was, by his own passion for
Helene; the months passed, each day
bringing news of fresh atrocities all
over the country; then came the sum-
mons for the young men to gather once
again round the banner of the feur-
de-lis, and both obeyed.
1t was sad parting, Helene and
Hector vowing eternal love, and poor
Rosine following with her heart the I'M
suspecting loved one.
How the authorities learned that the
young rOyalists had been for months
secreted at the castle none could tell;
but suddenly the place was invested
with soldiers, and old NJ. de Vaudmont
and his daughter were carried off to
Paris to be cast in the dungeons of the
Terror.
You will try and help me, Rosine,"
pleaded Hector de Vielleroche, who had
braved thousand dangers to re-enter
France and to try to save his bride.
But how?"
Gould you not persuade Elise to al
low mademoisclle to escape?"
"Elisev' cried the young girl; Elise!
l have plan, yes" she said. Il will
help you; will try to save her." and
she turned away to hide the tears that
crept up into her eyes.
He wondered, but did not under
stand.
What are you going to doT'
go to Paris"
I'VE had better start at once" said
the young man.
Il will start at once" she answered;
'you stay here concealed"
The busy guillotine had spread sor-
row in many a family; all over the
country a bloody stream flowed free
ly; on the Place de la Revolution Fou-
quier-Tinville's victims increased in an
alarming manner; amongst the doomed
batch that vas to amuse the Parisians
on the next day was Helen de Vaud-
mont; her father had preceded her In
the next world some time before.
Il must see her. Elise" said Rosine
eagerly.
But cannot get the keysv'
20 yes, you can-you must; surely you
would not let the poor mademoiselle
die without word of comfort?'
mo, no." answered Elise. sobbing;
what are we coming tor
Trust to woman's wit to obtain what
she desires; Elise managed to get pos
session of old Matthews keys for an
hour or so, and Rosine was admitted 10
the cell, where on a straw pallet lay
Helene de Vaudmont.
Dear Mistress" she cried. kneeling
beside the young captive. "cheer up;