The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-10-30
A BIRTHDAY GIFT
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one morning at the breakfast table In
his chateau near Paris. The count was
4 widower, and the opposite end of the
table was occupied by his daughter
Lizette, fifteen years old. There was 4
without, and the butler an
that poacher had been
caught the night before and had been
brought to the chateau. The count gave
an order that the offender should be
brought to him, and young man Of
perhaps twenty was led in by the game
keeper, backed by a gardener and 4
stable boy. The count questioned both
the poacher and his accusers, and since
he had been caught redhanded directed
that he be taken to Jail.
Papa" said Lizette, Il have a IA
vor to ask. Tomorrow Is my birthday
and you gave me the selection of my
gift l ask the forgiveness of this
man."
The count, who had no wish to pun
ish the poacher, except as a matter OF
duty, complied.
why did you kill papa's pheasantsT
asked Lizette of the man.
Because, mademoiselle, my mother
is ill and needs dainty food. l have
nothing else TO give her"
Take the birds you have shot," said
the count, "and call on my butler for
what else you need"
Ten years passed. France was in the
throes of revolution. Each day the
Paris prisons gave up a number Of
the crowds of aristocrats who filed
them to be led out to the guillotine To-
Gated in the Place de la Concorde.
Paris was literally drunken with blood.
As each cart was driven from the pris-
on to the guillotine crowds Of revolu-
tionists followed, hooting and jeering
the victims it contained.
One morning a cart was driven from
the Conciergerie to the Place de Ia
Concorde containing but two people, a
white haired old man and his daugh-
ter, the Count de Bonneville and
Lizette, the latter now a woman As
the cart was driven up to the guillo-
tine a party near it were pouring
red liquid from a bucket into cups,
drinking and singing a song In which
occurred. Lizette held out her hands
imploringly and begged them to spare
her father and be content with her
own life. They only hooted, and the
! two were taken from the cart and led
up to the guillotine Then a man in
! the crowd suddenly called out: :
What say you citizens? Shall the
citizeness save the old man by drink
ing with us cup Of bloodY"
mo, nor' cried some of the crowd.
Spare no aristocrats." "Yes. yes"
cried others LET her drink what we
drink"
Meanwhile the man who had pro-
! posed the draft filled one Of the cups
i with the liquid from the bucket and,
handing it to Lizette. said:
Drink with us, citizeness. Wash
out the blood of IN aristocrat. become
a commoner, and you and your father
shall go from this wearing your heads
on your shoulders"
The crowd laughed and jeered and
howled as IL each individual were q
fiend and had been dispatched by
/ Satan to represent him at this bis
| carnival. Several of the most violent
pushed forward to stop this stay OF
| death, but the man who held the cup
| waved them back with an air Of au.
thority.
'sThis girl is to become one Of US. -
he said. "She will give us the hiding
places of her fellow aristocrats and
furnish a dozen heads for two. That's
a good bargain! Six for oner'
Drink he said, forcing the cup Il
Lizette's lips.
Lizette, with shudder, seized it and
shutting her eyes, forced herself II
drink every drop. Then she and he
father were thrust into the cart and
driven away. the man who had beel
the chief actor in the strange seen,
mounting the cart and taking the rein
from the driver For awhile ii wa
doubtful whether the crowd would per
init their departure. but, cartful o
new victims driving up. the first wer'
forgotten for. the last. Ten minute
later the man who had saved Lszett
and her father ordered the driver b
get down. He did so. and the mai
drove on till they passed the barrier
where they all descended and stood
moment in the road.
Now, NJ lie Comte and Mile. d
Bonneville. fly for your lives This
the road to Boulogne. Travel by nigh
and hide by day till you reach tn
coast, then take boat for England"
WHO am l to thank for our lives?
asked the count, "and why have yo
done this?"
do you remember years ago
poacher being brought before yo
when you sat at one end of the breal
fast table and your daughter at tn
other?'
NO" replied the count; Il don't N
member"
''It was the morning. mademoisell'
before your birthday. You chose fo
your gift my pardon"
"Now I remember" said Lizettc.
"In return l give you for your ne,
; birthday your life and the life Of you
father"
Lizette, her eyes swimming wit
: grateful tears. put out her hand.
"was it only for this that you hav
returned so much?'
"The count gave me the birds for N
dear mother"
"All this is very little for two live
I wonder that you remembered u.s."
THAT morning / took an image int
my heart that I shall never forget"
Lifting her hand TO his lips he kisse
II fervently. and. turning. jumped u
+ on the cart and drove back to Pari
The count and Lizette escaped to En-
/ land. When they returned to Franz
their preserver had been executed Z,
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