Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1904-01-07
AN EPISODE OF THE
n REIGN OF TERROR
lOriginaIl

Nine. de Four's husband took sides
with the revolutionists, while NJ. Bre-
ton was a royalist one day Nine. Bre-
ton came hastily from her chateau and
told her friend that young Victor Bro
ton was to be arrested.
An arrest during the reign OF terror
meant death The young man must be
concealed, and the two women hurried
ly consulted as to how this could be
best accomplished Nine. de -Four final
ly agreed that he should come to her
house, provided he could be taken there
without being seen. But how was this
10 be done7 II was morning and as the
arrest WAS liable TO take place that
afternoon he must go in broad day
light In fact, the revolutionary com
mIttee had him already under surye4l-
lance till they could make other tmpor-
tant arrests and fnd time TO attend to
his case Therefore, since the mother
and her friend could not wait for dark
ness. some disguise was essential, and
as the boy was only twenty, had no
beard. but did have pair OF pink
cheeks, they decided to put him into
girls clothes Young Breton, having
donned feminine attire. walked down
the road, passing citizens" who were
watching 10 see that he did not leave
the house. Nine. de Four picked
him up IN her carriage, and he drove
with her to her chateau. Once there,
he was introduced as Nine de Fours
niece.
The risk Nine. de -Four was running
in concealing royallst kept her in an
agony OF fear, for If discovered she
would fall under the ban of the revo-
lutionsts. She would have better TAX
en- her husband or at least her daugh-
ter into her confidence. Louise de
Four was only eighteen, but was far
beyond her years in good sense Be
sides. women are far better fitted for
aiding and abetting such concealment
than men. Madame's keeping her Sc
cret from Louise resulted In its getting
to the reyolutioniSts. Louise spoke TO
a friend about her cousin. wondering
fore and why she always kept her
room. This friend told the police.
One evening there was stormy
scene at the De Fours' NJ. de Four
came home and told his wife that be
was suspected Of harborlng young Bre-
ton. Madame confessed to her hus-
band, and, the danger threatening the
whole family being of the greatest mo
ment, Louise was called into the con
ference She saw at once that In her
ignorance she had put the hounds on
the scent But now that she knew all
she proved the most fertile of any OF
them in expedient She laid a plan and
at once put It in opera ton.
1t was Just after dusk that corporal
and six men, accompanied by woman,
reached the De -Four chateau. The
lamps were lighted but turned low.
Corporal" said NJ de Four, proceed
with your search. The premises are
at your service, and if any royalist Is
hiding here | hope you Will find him.
HIN" said the corporal, wEo knew
well who was suspected. Summon
the inmates of the chateau"
This was done, and when all were as
sembled the corporal at once turned
his attention to the niece who had
lately come and who was present with
the others.
Who is this person." asked the cor
poral
MY niece, Julie de Four" replied
Mime. de Four.
"And thisf"
my daughter"
Mime. Renaud," said the corporal
TO the woman who had accompanied
him, take Mile. Julie de Four aside
and see II she Is a woman"
The woman called the niece 10 one
end OF the room and ordered her to un-
button her dress from the throat.
What she exclaimed. rs it really
sof She's a woman"
by gar! Who has put us TO all this
trouble for nothingY exclaimed the
corporal
"If II is any one In this house" said
NJ. de -Four with dignity, Il demand 10
be Informed who he or she is,'
Monsieur need not suspect any one
here. The information came from the
outside. | am sorry TO have troubled
30 good friend to the cause. Mon
sieur, bid you good evening"
With that he led his men and the
woman, Renaud, away. AS soon as
they had gone NJ. and Nine de Four,
Louise and the niece went upstairs
and entered room for conference.
She who had been Louise took the
hand Of her who had been the niece
and said
"a thousand thanks, mademoisells.
owe you my life"
Yes. and you came pretty near ow-
ing me your death. 1t was I who in
nocently gave you away"
Louise took off a wig and going to
a basin began to wash paint from her
face During the process part OF her
nose came of, a thin slice OF her
cheeks and the paint OF her chin. She
had made herself mp to play the part
Of the suspected niece and Victor Bre-
ton was similarly altered 10 look like
her.
The next day Nine. de -Four with
Julie (Victor Breton) drove to the hotel
whence the post started for Paris, the
niece took her departure and the same
evening Victor, in mans attire, left the
capital with party OF emgrants for
the border. When the Bourbons were
restored he entered the service OF TIE
king and was instrumental In savir ;
from banishment NJ. de Four, who bid
become prominent rs a revolutions.
The families were, however, mea l.
while united in the marriage Of Victor
and Louise