The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-22
THE MINNEAPOLIs JOURNAL

YHE \
rapidly abroad, and all too swiftly the
truth was generally known. The story
started in rl1rnor that shares had been
offered and declined at a price which had
been current but few moments before.
This was something which had not been
known In all these feverish months Of the.
Messasebe. Then came the story that
shares could not be counted upon to real
lie over 5000 ivres. At that the price of
all the actions dropped in a FASH. as Law
had prophesied.s A sudden wave Of SAN
tty, q panic chill Of sober understanding
swept over this vast multitude OF still un-
reasoning souls who had traded so long
upon this impossible supposition OF an
ever-advancing market. Reason still
lacked among them. yet fear and sudden
suspicion were not wanting. Man after
vately his shares before greater drop In
the price might come. He met others
upon the same errand.
Precisely the reverse Of the old situa-
ton now obtained. AS all Paris had
fought to buy, so now all Paris fought TO
SELL The streets were filled with clamor-
ing mobs. II earlier there had been con-
fusion, now there was pandemonium.
Never was such a scene witnessed: Never
was there chronicled so swift and utter
reversion of emotion in the minds OF
great concourse of people. Bitter indeed
was the wave Of agony that swept
over Paris. It began at the Mesa
sebe. TN the gardens Of the Hotel az
Soison, at that focus hard by the temple
of Fortuna. 1t spread and spread. edging
out into all the remoter portions of the
walled city. It reached ultimately the ex-
IRENE confines Of Paris. Into the crowded
square which had been decreed as the
trading place of the Messasebe System,
there crowded from the outer purlteus yet
other thousands Of excited human beings.
The end had come. The bubble had burst.
There was no longer any System OF the
Messasebe!
It was late in the day, In fact well on
toward night, when the knowledge Of the
crash came into the neighborhood where
dwelt the Lady Catharine Knollys. To
her the news was brought by a servant,
who excitedly burst unannounced into
her mistress presence.
Madame! Madame!' she cried. "Pre-
pare! IT'S horrible! Ills IMPOSSIBLE! All
is at an end!''
What mean you, girl?" cried Lady
Catharine, displeased at the disrespect
What is happening? Is there fire? And
even if there were, could you not remem-
Der your duty more seemly than this?''
Worse. worse than fire. madame!
"OESe Cildn any l1llIlS! Lie Dd11A 1IdS
failed! The shares Of the system are 60
ing down! IT'S said that we can get but
three thousand Hvres the share, perhaps
less-perhaps they will go down to moth
ing. I am ruined, ruined! We are all
ruined! And within the month I was to
have been married to the footman Of the
Marquis dAllouez, who has bought him.
self title this very week.
"And If it has fallen so ILL., said Lady
Cathartne, "since I have not specuated in
these things like most folk, shall be none
the worse for it, and shall still have
money to pay your wages. So perhaps
you can marry your marquis after ALL"
But we shall not be rich, madame! We
are ruined, ruined! Mon TDieu! we poor
folk! We had the hope to be persons Of
quality. IT'S all the work of this villain
Jean Las. May the Bastile get him, or
the people, and make him pay for this!"
stop! Enough of this, Marie' said the
Lady Cat arine, sternly. after this have
better wisdom, and do not NEEDLE in
things which you do not understand"
Yet scarce had the girl departed before
there appeared again the sound of run
ming steps, and presently there broke,
equally unannounced, into the presence of
his mistress, thes coachman, fresh from
his stables, and none too careful OF his
garb. Tears ran down his cheeks. He
flung out his hands with gestures as of
one demented.
''The news! cried he. 1.-THE news.
my lady! The horrible news! The system
has vanished, the shares are going DOWN.
Fellow, what do you here?" said Lady
Catharine why do you come with
brought to me? Can you not learn your
place?''
But, my lady, you do not UNDERESTIMATE
reiterated the man, blankly. Ills all
over. There is no Messasebe; there Is no
longer any system, no longer any Com
pany of the Indies. There is no longer
wealth for the stretching out Of the hand.
lis all over. I must go back to horses
1, madame who should presently have
associated with, the nobility!''
well, and if so,'' replied his mistress,
Il can say, to you, as I have to Marie.
that there will still be money for your
wages
''Wagest My faith what trifles, my lady!
This MONSIEUR Las, the director-general
ne 1t Is who has ruined us! Well enough
1t Is that the square in front Of his hotel
is filed with people! Presently thew viii
break down his doors. And then, pray
God they punish him for this that he
has done!" ~-s
The cheek Of Lady catharine paled and
sudden flood Of contending emotions
crossed her mind. You do not tell me
that Monsieur Las Is in danger, Pierre %
said she.
"Assuredly. Perhaps within the very
hour they will tear down his doors and
rend him limb from limb. There is no
punishment which can serve him right
him who has ruined our pretty, pretty
system. Mon dieu! It was so beautiful
rs this news certain?'' = ..:'-'
| "A ssuredly, most certain. Why. should
it not lie? The entire square in front OF
the. Hotel de Scissor IS packed. Urtless my
lady needs me, I myself must haster
thither to aid in the punishment Of this
Jean las"
You will stay here" said Lady Cath.