The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-08-14
THE RUBY
RR ACE!s!. y. 7 =, E'EE =
A Romance Of the French
Revolution.

More than @ hundred years ago in
secluded street cf old Paris a
young girl was dawdling through a
walled garden, with her hands full
OF half blown roses, and bored, un-
happy look upon her face.
"Ciel," he miirmured, "life is
dull here! Old SazetteNis as stupid
as a carp; the petite house is like q
tomb; my uncle, the abbe, does
nothing but scold-scold! If I had
the wings of Suzette's pigeons 1
would fly away from it ali, out into
tie great, wide, beautiful world"
Jeanne Vaubernier, whose heart
was indeed with the world and The
things thereof, stopped suddenly in
her walk, inserted small, high
hceled shoe in a fissure in the garden
wall and, climbing nimbly 10 the
top, looked over into the street.
Eagerly she gazed up and down.
at the far end Of the street a man
turned from dark archway and
advanced toward her along the pave
mcnt with the firm, elastic step Of
youth and strength. Y
He was of singularly elegant and
distinguished presence. He wore
the short sword and three cornered
hat of the period. Ills coat glitter
ed with gold embroidery; his ruf1les
we're of the finest lace. She gave
him soft, coquettish glance, and q
demon of mischief entered her
heart. A blush rose whizzed
through the air and struck the
Young gallant's sword hilt, another
his cooked hat. He looked up and
saw over the old wall an arch face
like Psyche's own, all dimples and
dazzling fairness and shining with
clusters of brown curls dropping
away on either side. He stopped
short.
With a laugh Jeanne dashed down
upon him all the roses that her
white hands held-a perfect shower
Of pink, odorous bloom; then she
sprang down from her perch and ran
off through the garden.
che is certainly q gallant of the
court" she murmurcd, her heart
futtering like a bird under the lace
and muslin Of her bodice. ooh,
what bliss to go to court--to see the
king, the mobiles, the great damesw
That day the abbe came to dine
with his niece. He was lean, gray,
melancholy. For years he had held
the Office of confessor to condemned
criminals, and the scenes that he
witnessed at a time when capital
punishment was conducted with in
fernal tortures had whitened the
head of the kindly priest and left
deep lines in his cadsverous face.
The table was laid in little room
looking out on the garden. There
were mackerel on the board, a
pigeon, fresh eggs and asparagus,
but the able. did not eat.
sYou look i'll today, uncle" said
jeanne; "you have been at another
of those dreadful executions,
maybe.s 5I !,
eyes," he sighed. yesterday
poor man was broken on the
wheel In the Place de Grave would
that the parliament of Paris would
do away with these tortures. I
stood by his side till my strength
failed-then I tainted. I grow old,
my child, and my heart Is not as
firm as it once was. Samson, the
good executioner, took me to his
own house, and kept me there till 1
recovered"
Jeanne stared aghast.
"The world is wicked. Jeanne,
and a young creature like yourself
should be early provided with nat
ural protector. Suzette complains
that you are altogether unmanage-
able. My child, I have found
husband for you-a worthy man
n. Mathurin, the notary in the Rue
st. JEAN"
Jeanne uttered cry.
I'M. Mathurin! Why, he is ugly
and old-as ugly, as old as yourself,
uncle! Marry him! Neverl A
notary-bah! have set my mind
on something better; I mean to be
grand lady and go to courtl"
The old priest grew pale.
Foolish childp he cried. "Who
but satan put such thoughts in your
head? You have no fortune, no
relatives to lift you TO a higher
state. I am poor and without in
fluence's
But the girl sprang up from the
table and ran away into the garden.
She seated herself on the messy
stone under the plum treee think
ing her own thoughts. The twilight
shadows we're beginning to. gather,
when she suddenly heard step in
the grass, a deep sigh. She started
and looked. The handsome gallant
OF the morning was standing by her