The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-12

served as valet de chambre at the house
of one of my friends. I called him by
name and gave him some money. Touched
by this irresistible argument. he put his
finger over his mouth and whispered to
me, very low. to hide carefully all the
gold had, and my pocketbook. ...
.'If you do not watch WE'LL he added,
they will steal everything from you.
Since that time he has rendered me
many kind acts. as far as he is able, and
has instituted himself my silent. pro
tector. r...- ."..#....
Prairial 6. We live in continual alarm.
They have told US that the Plesss is
prison reserved for the Revolutionary
tribunal and that no one can be impris-
oned In it except by order of Fouquier-
Tinville. We know, then, now, that the
scaffold is awaiting us. and we no longer
think Of anything but to show Death a
brave face. Each time that one of US
is called to the record office, a shudder +
seizes u.s. Yesterday pretty Madame
dEcouviers was taken from US. She said
good-by calmly, distributed her money |
and jewels among the young daughters |
of the emigres who came with us from
Versailles, and then fled. to avoid our
| farewells which she said would weaken
her courage. Our common misfortune |
binds us all very closely together, and |
the arrest pronounced against one of us
seems to reach US all. Yet in spite OF
1 bHSSo Keen anN1olleS, one becomes dCCuS-
toned to the worst miseries. Little by |
little we are growing familiarized with |
the prison. We exchange calls as If we
| were still in the world. We play cards
and checkers. The customs. the demands,
| the follies of high society are openly
compiled with. We make our toiettes.
! we powder and patch and we seek to
| please. The necessity for exercise brings
the young people together In the court
yard. They sing and play at proverbs.
| often ask myself if ! am dreaming, If
| death no longer hovers about the thres-
hold of the prison. The French forget
and endure everything; neither memory
of the past nor fears for the future seem
! to trouble the greater part Of us. Yes
| terday caught myself looking in little
pocket mirror, for which I have to thank
Dominic and his kind protection. I was
curled and puffed to perfection, the pow
! der lent a freshness to my somewhat
faded complexion more charm to my
brown eyes and more piquancy to the
| turned-up corners Of my red lips. I felt
that I was almost pretty, and sighed sadly
to think that 1t could no longer serve me
for anything
Messidor, year II. Every day brings
new prisoners among u.s. Among the last
l noticed yesterday; In the court, a man
about thirty, with a handsome face, well
nodded, an eager, caressing eye and a
mouth at once amiable and spirituelle. His
name is the Chevalier de Chanvey. He
was my partner In a game Of hombre and
II found his conversation, like his face,
very attractive. He has, in his manners
and in his eyes, that magnetic charm
which Is natural to men who have loved
much and deeply. After the game we
prom enaded together. In the olden days
he knew one Of my brothers, but there
was no need Of this detail to inspire
reciprocal confidence between us. A Sc
q %o~% %{,,oe 10
already rendered us unreserved towards
each other. He was, he told ME, COM
4 promised in the affair OF Catherine Theot,
the Mother Of God but he expects to
Ffbe soon free, relying upon Robespierre's
protection, with whom he is in friendly
correspondence. And this intimacy with
that frightful diotator-I almost blush to
1 confess it-gives 1 do not know what
mysterious strangeness to this charm ng
cavalier, which renders him even more
interesting. ~
Messidor 5th This morning, as I en-
| tered my room, I saw a bunch Of roses
| carefully placed upon my table. My first
| thought was of utter establishment:
| where could these flowers have come
| from? Who could have brought them SO
| kindly into this sad placer" I finally sat
/ down in front of the lovely bouquet;
caressed the roses with my lips, I filled
myself intoxicatingly with their colors and
their perfume. A kind Of voluptuous ten
derness spread thru my heart, and felt
| myself become gay and happy I ran out
and asked Dominic; his only answer was
/ to wink his eye and make a rapid ges
4 ture towards the courtyard I descended
rapidly the three flights Of stairs, ant
| there, in shady corner, recognized thu
Chevalier de Chanvey. The jail yard wa!
| almost deserted, and, seeing me come out
| the chevaier' came towards me. "Cheva
| Her." 1 asked. my heart beating wildly
1 lis it you whom have to thank for tn
\ gift of these flowers which make my room
| so beautiful?' Have they pleased you I?
he answered. "They have given me tn
greatest pleasure that I have felt 70
months Il am very glad. May the
recall me to your memory and tell you a.
| that feel for your I blushed deeply an
l did not dare question him more on tn
nature Of what he felt. We sat togethe
there, in the shady corner, and picked u
the threads of our conversation Of tn
night before. Only, our remarks wer
more confused interspersed wit
! long silences. Other promenaders cam
into the courtyard, and as an indiscret
] curiosity was watching us, we spoke
i none but Indifferent things. but our con
fused chances were charged with all "
dared not say. When I came in at las
I threw myself upon the roses and ter
derby and foolishly covered them wit
kisses.
Messidor 18th The chevalier loves M
and I confess that I adore him. VIII
should be ashamed to confess it? on
love is forced to be platonic; the prise
wherein we are shut UP will not permit
e to become dangerous. But yesterday, whe
he left me, he murmured: II think
shall soon go from here, and, once Out
side, my first care will be to obtain yor
release"
q Messidor 18th. Alas, he has gone, m
chevalier. This morning he was called
the record office and told that he was fire
Thanks to Dominic's aid, we were able
say goodbye to each other at the end
- a deserted passage. I gave Chanvey
- little ring whose bezel. in the shape of
heart, was set with marcasites. It W;
the only jewel that I had left: Keep
=; my beloved" I whispered, land if I di
~ wear it in memory of one who gave herse
! utterly to YOU NO., he cried, 'you W
~ not die. Robespierre Is all powerful. WI
lse his help, in a short time you shall be fr
- and we will be united forever I held hi
in in my arms. our lips met in one long kis
Nv then he was called and was left alon
We Thermidor 10th, year H. There Is ce
a. tainly something unusual happening GU
IN side. Yesterday the keeper Of the Pless
was both ,agitated and thoughtful T.
jailers came and went without any a
IKE parent motive, and when evening car
AIN they neglected to lock up their cells. II
US morning Dominic came In crying. Robe
aaII pierre is beyond the law, but he has be
II. able to avoid the blows which have thres
ened him. Couthon, Saint Just and he a
II,<,1 49, 80 Il Il