Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1901-11-06
Fear Chou Not
A Tale of the French
Revolution.

duCP, Wuou uuuldu lu6 was Ol
account and when as if wearied viii
its wickedress, God seemed to hay
hid his hace from the sinful land.
No one may count up the tears the
were shed, the means that we're madl
the hearts that were broken in thos
dreadful times, but here and there on
of the great mass of human misery his
tory has preserved record Of III
trials and sufierings of some helpless
ones, reading which we shudder ant
thank God that we live in happier
days.
Some few years after the reign Of
terror-as this outburst of sin and
madness was we'll named-a man OF
middle age entered small inn in Ger.
many and called for refreshments. His
manners were timil and striking, and
be looked as if he might just have re-
covered from some terrible lllness-he
was so strangely, gastly 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. II have food and light and
air. Weat could I want more7" And
he sighed deeply.
"My friend" said the landlord, seat
ing himself, "you speak as if you hal
known the want OF these things. Have
1 guessed arightf'
His guest looked up.
"Would you hear my tale7" he asked.
"For years 1 have kept silent, but
today it seems rs if it would Tighten
my heart to speak. Listen and be-
ieve it if you can. Less than seven
years ago was a gay, hgh hearted
y nth in this our quiet fatherland.
Having 10 near relations, was led to
visit some distant ones who had lived
for many years in small town in
France.
"My uncil, as I called him out OF
frendliness, was kind, Sood fellow,
vel known and respected il the place,
where he carried on the craft OF a
matchmaker, and he proposed that l
should become his apprentice and part
ner. 1 liked the little town, [ liked
my uncle, liked my aunt, and soon
gave my consent. They had no chill
dren-I thank God for that now-bdt
my aunt's kindly soul could not be
content without young people around
her, so she kept and clothed two house
maidens, children of some poor neigh
b rs. Trim and neat they looked, too,
wearing the costume of that part o!
Germany from whence my aunt came,
a pretty fancy of her own. 1t seemed
quaint enough in strange land.
at was a happy household. No
wonderI vas glad to belong toit. But,
las, it was soon 10 be swept away by
terrible afflicted For some time we
had heard of strange troubIes going on
in Paris and the large towns, but our.
little place was still quiet. One morn
ing, how ever, We woke to find every
thing in confusion. Oar mayor had
been ordered to resign, and his place
was to be filed by some. one sent from
Paris.
"Still. we never dreamed OF what
fearful misery this was the forerunner.
We had no time to dream. either, the
bow fell so suddenly. There had been
a stir going on in The market place for
the two days TO lowing the arrival OF
the new official. but my uncle aud |
w.re busy over new discovery which
be 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 ev,s
and look about him for few moments.
Ny aunt and her maldens arranged. ai
usual. the midday meal, and we were
a ready to sit down, only my uncle
was missing. He was usually 50
punctual that we wondered and wait
g and at last we dlned without him.
At the close o the meal l stepped out
to look for him.
Il had not got dozen yards from
our house when 1 met our bakers
wife, her eyes staring out of her head,
"'Go backp she said. go bacb! 1t
is too late. The monster, the VIZ itch!
lie has executed to honest man, with
out even the farce Of trial, on the
actursed guillotlne yonderl"
81 was . trlfed with horror. Could |
sho be speaking of my uncle. so re-
spected, 50 quiet as he was? 1t was
too true. The wretch in office had |
begun his work of bloodshed at once,
snd my uncle was his first victim, his
only crime being that he was OF foreign |
birth and had sheltered under his roof |
some months since poor Swiss. 1 re-
traced my steps to the house. My
aunt's anxious face met my troubled
gaze. She had begun to suspect evil
The two girls waited fearfully in the
background I tried to speak, but l
tnrned away and bur- into tears. / |