The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-02-14
THE ADVERTISERS
 ] DAILY SHORT STORY


 The child lived. in an old chateau. built of some soft. gray stone that time hae eilowed to exquisitely tender tnts. oae poplars rustled drowsily. broad terraces kissed by the sun, sloped down p sI cea, brook that loitered through the greer fields and the woodlands until 1t sharply turned towards the village. The child often sat on the bank in moonlight nlgnts and watched the stars. reflected in the 1t came and whither 1t would go and wish 1t would tell Its secrets to him instead of to the round white pebbles in its bed and to the waving blades ol grass. that bent to listen. But in the l,s through the darkened rooms of the cha. teau. In the picture gallery a ray oi sunshine sometimes stole through the barred shutters and danced on the op- posite wall. The child thought that the boys and girls in the dark frames mus, be tired of their fixed positions. Their elders, doubtless, liked the dignitied re- pose. but surely little Marie-Eustachie in the pink brocade. would sometimes Charles Louii would gladly take his hand from the sword-hilt he had pressed so long. The child knew the names of all-Tante Amelie had told hfm-Tante Amelie. who, in her sunny room & at the the prayed. But somehow she would speak of the Saints.-their holy lives and blessed martyrdoms.
 Are there saints now?" he once
 "Oui. mon enfant. holy men of God driven forth from their fiocks. hunted like wild beasts. And martyred king the son of Saint Louis"
 These stories thrilled him with mix ture of exaltation and awe. He knew they dared not venture to the village. lest evil men should harm them. And in the long days and nj hts he dreamed Of martyrdom, of the short, dreadful wrench the celestial joy and peace of God tha passeth all understanding.
 The whole commune was pressing around the door of the blacksmith forge. Women, holding their babies, wer, long days work in the wheat wer' gathered in small groups. vaguely curl ous as to the cause that had brough a municipal officer from Strasburg tt blacksmith. stood in his doorway; nj. tall figure in all its awkward strength loomed dark against the red glow of tho fire behind him. The Maire was the strongest man for miles around. nont but himself could lift the large hammer which he always called mon fils," ant TOW he lowered over the small figure ol His visitor.
 Friends he shouted in his big voice 'the citizen here has something to say to us"
 The citizen here" paused for a mo. ment. then began in thin. high pitched tone that sounded like the echo of Mattress shout. He told of the good fortune the Revolution had brought, the glories of "Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite.' then continued:
 And now that our liberty is won, now that we. free people, rule a free coun try, 1t Is our duty to cleanse ourselve: of the old stain. Priests. spies. eide wants, the emissaries of foreign tyrants all must be exterminated. With sorrow we have heard that YOU. citizens. arc harboring conspirators against the na tion. That den of iniquity,' he pointed towards the chateau. that lurking-plac, of oppressors, holds a dangerous banC of plotters, who would bring hack th' priests who cheated us with lies and tn, their fellowmen. Will you suffer thi; crimei Nay. rather shall we fire tha accursed house of traitors and drag tn, evi-doers to justice.''
 There was no answering murmur much to the orators surprise. He scorne( urchanging' 'toil. They had no smould ering sense of injury that breath coult klndle into flame: the Revolution ha, abolished the gabelle and torn down tn plgeon-cote at the chateau. it had n further meaning to theu. To some tn seemed blasphemy. But gradually thei slow minds seized on the fact that the. were threatened with some indefinite los and theys were reused to a state of fear rage and violent patriotism. Arms wer collected, scythes. pitchforks. old, mus kets from the days of "Malbrook," ant
 Saturdays story. HER PARIS GLOVES,