The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-02-14

1 Jean walther. brandishins mon ills, ! led the van. Several women marched with the men. but all shrank from { | sinister recruit, La Mere Margot, thu 1 witch, who rose like a mist from behint one began La Marseilios." and the res shouted fierce chorus. Men. druni | with the song and the wild madness waved torches that shot little, fiery stars on the dusty road. where they wers | struggled up a hil and crashed headlons | through briers and underbrush to the sleeping brook. Tha water woke into life red rDRsas .saao~, siansa .s to mock their own reflection. Still the | peasants pressed on up the terrace. cut | ting the velvet grass with their sahots As they approached, the dark mass O, | the windows of the front sent back the | torches light Jean Walther thundered | on the door with Mon Els"
 What would youT' quavered voice Come down. snzon." shouted the 1 Maire; eve must search the chateau" Eh. hurry" called Pierre Dreisler. the carpenter; "this house Is the nations property; The sovereign people would
 "silence." commanded Walther.
 The bolts screamed as the door grudg' ingly opened.
 "Inere are none nere, began oIu Oo1on
 "stand aside in the name of the na- | tion,' cried the man from StrasbourG pushing past her.
 The kuddled crowd flocksd S .n, staring 1T. I,' wonder lessened. they were ready fol | pillage. One man flung a mirror to tho ! floor. his friends applauding as 1t shiv' cred into a thousand fragments. Tha was the signal. Some prodded the chair | xxJf VtkhR nfharQ laMRhtnR hOi9t erously. pulled down the tapestry ant wrapped themselves In trailing mantles The women had their arms full of spells Old Margot silently passed from group tt l group; at her approach the boosting ant wrangling ceased.
 l "Tiens mon ami." bawied Dreisler bringing his fist down on an inlafd ta ble. "this nights work will rejoice th' hearts of our friends In Strasbourg." l "The conspirators will escape" cried the municipal officer shrilly. 'on. cito | yens, forward"
 The citizens, enriched with the plunde, on conspIrators. But. obedient to thei, maires orders, they tramped through l the empty rooms, rousing unaccustomed echoes. They were seated and their ex' Look at Margot," whispered the wo. men, she's talking to something un' | holy"
 .The witch's figure seemed taller, hei dry. lips were moving feverishly: At last they came to the picture gal | lery. The portraits in calm state dis | dained the strange visitors, their in. suits and the wounds they inflicted. :. "Suzon's right" the invaders growled there's no living soul here" Then. at the upper end of the room | little figure, vaguely outlined in thu moonlight, advanced to meet them. Tht | child had stolen away from the sobbnf | women and had come to defend his home perhaps-his heart beat fast-perhaps tc | die.
 i There was a moments silence. Then l as their fright wore away, the Maire, 1 kindly man. spoke:
 Your name. mon petit?" l "Henri," answered the child steadily "I will not sacrifice to Jupiter"
 feeling had turned.
 Who lives here?" continued the | Maire.
 "Tante Amelia and suzon. am read! to die, but they have done no harm"
 Jean Walther turned to the man iron | Strasbourg.
 Here are your conspirators," he said
 Then Margot the witch, coming for ward. took the child's hand.
 Thou shalt not die." she crooned. |" see thy fair life in the years to conn and I see thy honored end"
 "The child stood still. He was not tt have the glory of martyrdom: he fel
 Thd blacksmith picked him up and carried him to Tante Amele
 'Le petit and you can live here il l peace." he said gruffly, train him t' | be a good citizen'
 But the child grieved at his own un l worthiness.
 hv Zoe Anderson Norris