Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-10-20
she felt to be the cruellest Of mocker-

room. without even the preliminary Oh
| knocking, and exclaimed: Madame,
your Majesty, those hell witches of
Paris are here in their thousands
| clamoring for your head" Marie An
toinette made no reply for time, but
sat with her long white hands clench-
ed till the nails cut into the flesh, and
her eyelids, showing their blue veins,
| dropped.
She was very beautiful woman with
/ high forehead, delicately moulded fea-
lures, thin nostrils and thinner, ner-
vous lips. Her color was that of ala
| baster.
| Nobody in France had ever seen be-
hind that alabaster. Ever was her
manner frigid and her words were ever
naughty. That haughtiness was to
cost her dear yet.
Madame, your Majesty" repeated
the chamber-woman, will you not
| fly"
The eyelids were slowly raised and
the head was slowly turned. do you
mean that | should run away" she
asked
The manner in which the question
was put was like an open slap in the
face, and the chamber woman GRIM
soned and was abashed.
IF the women of Paris desire to see
their Queen, l am here" added Marie
Antionette. She folded her hao1s in
her lap. lay back in her seat and closed
her eyes.
1t was clear she intended the inter-
view to end, and the chamberwoman
was too conversant with the imperious-
ness of her mistress TO make further
endeavor to break through the silence.
Silently she bowed herself from the
room.
Down before the palace entrance the
unruly, passion-swayed marfet women
of Paris were gathered. They had
been standing to their arms.
Those behind cried: ION the An
toluGttt > IOOHS. DuI thcoC III HUM
were restrained by the great dread.
General Latour stood a few steps be-
fore his men with the light of the main
corridor falling full about his Shout
ders. Anathemas and viXenish ejaeu-
lations were hurled at him by the
checked throng, But he remained
still. waiting.
1T is the Queen we want" shrleked the
sinister old bag who had so deafeninsly
hammered the Presidents bell when the
women had gathered in mock Parliament,
Her Majesty" replied the General has
retired for the night. Any message you
wish to convey will be graciously received
by her in the morning.
"Hoity-toity" laughed a thin shrew;
land will you tell Marie Antoinette of
Austria that the sovereign people of Paris
will be graciously pleased to see her
now"
Had it not been that the Generals back
was to the light the mocker would have
seen a. black cloud on the old mans face,
and pucker, like a twist of whipcord, be-
tween his brows.
The woman with the stern iron jaw,
whose eye was as cold as death and whose
voice grated rustily. the woman whom no
body knew, whose very name was mys-
terry. who constantly appeared in every
moment of crisis, now spoke up.
Sir" she demanded. by what right
were the women of Paris trapped into the
Assembly Hall so that their lives might
be sacrificed in flames
,aa1 -
be addressed in this style. But he realized
there had been some giant mistake.
Believe me-" he shouted, in strong. Wig
orous tones you are in error. No one
would have been guilty of so dastardly an
act If you imagine her Majesty had ever
dreamt of such a thing you indeed know
little of your Queen. Remember, she is
woman as you are"
1t was these last words that awoke in
the minds of the marauders exactly what
their errand was. The crowd was too
massive for all to hear: and although in
the hindermost parts OF the crowd there
still swayed ruthless tumult. the conta-
gion of more reasonabeness began to pre-
vail.
That probably would not have gone far
in soothing the inflamed desires that were
rampant. But just then General Latour
turned his head so that his face was no
longer Swallowed.
There were many of the women now
present who had been in the Place aux
Marches that memorable night when the
cavalry charged uoon them. and, as on
the recognition of a deliverer, a mighty
glad shout went up to the darkened heav-
ems.
General Latour turned in surprise. The
words with which he was hailed proved to
him that though his action in checking
the soldiers had caused many shakings of
the head In Court circles, it was really the
most diplomatic actioneof his life.
He pressed home his advantage. "Wo-
men of Paris he shouted, in voice ro
bust with confidence, you are my coun-
trywoman. My heart bleeds much at your
misery. Believe me, both their Majesties
are deeply distressed at the lack of food
in the land. Already have they given
proof, here at Versailles, that what food
the, is shall be wh...igly shared with
their people"
1T was dragged from them" came a
voice from the darkness.
The General paid no heed to the inter-
ruption. These soldiers he said, with a.
movement of his hand behind him, are