Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1901-03-07

uotA, monsieur Ravaud, compel me- 10
recall the fact that your family were
under some obligation to me. From
the scullery, where your mother
washed up, had her raised in grades
to my apartments; as for your father.
l forget what position he originally
held in my stables''
The Marquise had evidently exnect.
ed that Ravaud would be humiliatet,
and confused, and that he would in
terrupt the conversation, but he list.
ened with quiet Difference, his arm
resting upon the chimney, only speak.
ing when she paused.
ALLOW me, madame, to aid yo,1r
memory" he replied, in a calm voice.
My father entered your service as !,
stable-lad; it was after his marriage
with my mother, then your maid, that
you did him the honor of making him
your coachman''
eyes, something OF that sort" re-
piled the MarQuise; land 1 have also
shown you some kindness, Monsieur
Ravaud."
Il have not forgotten it, madame. I
should be still employed in your kitcll-
ems had you not distinguished me from
the other lads. What I am I owe to
you. l acknowledge my obligation to
you to-day for the first time, because
you have not given me the opportunity
of doing so before"
Come" replied the Marouise.
pleased with his avowal. cit is rum
ored that warrant of arrest is out
against me. Tell me about it frankly,
without fear Of offending"
Il should be wanting in gratitude
to withhold the truth. madame. The
warrant has arrived"
The Marquise shivered, and fixing
her keen eyes upon the young man,
she tried yainly to read there som:
sign of emotion.
Did the warrant arrive in good
form:' she asked, with insolent sa.-
casm.
mo, madame. 1t required another
signature. have added it,
Every good. You pay your debt with
stroke Of the pen. You may tell
your escort of poppies to come up,
monsieur. Give me but time to put
on my mantle"
The Marquise had arisen, mastering
but i'll her righteous indignation. Her
naughty bearing contrasted sharply
with the calm of the young Commits
saire. He smiled quietly.
II have come alone, madame. In
questions of honor I trust to myself
alone"
Are you a man of courage, Mon
sieur Ravaud? Will you dare to give
me your arm as far as the prison?
And have you come armed with the.
warrant?"
Il have it on me, madame" So
May be allowed to see it?"
He handed her the warrant silently.
Looking searchingly into the young
mans thoughtful eyes as she took it.
| the Marquise said:
Take care, monsieur; it is unwise
to trust me with that paper. I might
tear it up and throw it into the flames.
and for the time being you would have
no hold on me-
He did not reply, but folded his
arms with a far-away expression on
his face.
She thought he was defyins her:
her eyes flashed, her fingers closed up
on the warrant
do you, think that I fear a scrap
of paper because it bears the seal of
iniquitous usurpers? Lookv'
And with quick movement Of her
feverish fingers she tore the warrant
into hundred pieces, and threw it bit
by bit upon the flames. Ravaud quiet
~ watched the burning paper till it
was consumed. Then, bowing low be-
fore the MarQuise, he said:
Il beg you to accept my respects,
| madame. The debt is paid
With this salutation he retired SLOW
ly, hat in hand, from the salon.
The Marquise remained for a mo-
ment astonished, trying, perhaps, to
fix some feeting thought in her ex-
| cited brain. Then she cried out to me
| imperiously:
"Order out the servants; tell them
to fling open the gates, and to bring
round my travelling coach Immediate
ly."
Three OF four hours later. the Mar
| qrlise and I were galloping as she had
said, at full speed before the Munich
| palite, with the windows of her trav-
cling coach lowered and her pos
tilion cracking his whip. The crowd
| just there was so dense that we We're
forced to stop. Madame du Faouet
leaned toward the window, and
| questioned Il woman standing by:
What is the matter, my good wo-
| man? What is the tumult about?'
| 'It is because of Commissaire Ra-
vaud," replied the woman. HE has
been arrested on the denunciation of
a special representative He owns to
| having received warrant from Paris
against an aristocrat, and to having