The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1905-04-21
VOL. LIMO. is

| up and exclaimed:
"My husband! you cannot, you must
not die. can and l will save youl'
He looked at her in astonishment, and
for moment he doubted her sanity.
But she repeated her declaration, and in
a manner so earnest, yet so calm that he
listened to the plan she hurriedly unfold
ed. Her proposition was to change gar
ments with him, when he was to leave
the prison with the others. She urged
| that to him escape would be life and
liberty, while no serious consequences
could result to her from the detention.
| She commended that as soon as the au-
thorities discovered how cleverly they
had been deceived, they would release
her, when she would hasten to join him
in his exile.
Lavalette rejected the plan. He de-
clared he would rather die than escape in
woman's attire, and leave her in the
power of an enemy who had shown how
little protection justice, law, honor and
truth afforded the victims Gifts hate. But
his wife again implored him not to reject
this opportunity of escape and live, if
not for himself, at least for his wife and
child, and for France.
The count replied by pointing out the
improbabilities of success, the impossi-
bility of passing several keepers through
files of soldiers, and through the busy
street, without certain detection, and
dwelt upon the humiliation that would
follow his discovery in woman's attire.
"But you will not be detected" urged
the faithful wife. PUT on this black
| gown, this red cloak, which l have worn
on purpose to make me marked object,
/ this gay hat, which all the turkeys will
recognize, cover your hands with gloves,
simulate tears, keep your handkerchief
| over your face so as to conceal your fea-
lures, and even the hardened men who
watch over deaths victims, awaiting
in this gloomy prison the final stroke of
the ak, thinking it is Inc, will pity your
sorrow, respect your grief, and permit
you to pass without removing the hand
kerchief. Once outside the gate, my
chair is in waiting; enter it, and, as soon
as you are far enough from here to make
it safe, leave, hurry to the house of our
friends, who will provide you place of
concealment, where YOU can remain in
safety until the excitement and search
shall be over, when you can leave the
country for home under some more
! join you very soon"
To these arguments and entreaties by
the mother the daughter added her sup
plicatious and tears, and Lavalette at
last yielded, and was soon disguised in
the garments the lady had worn.
| To diminish as much as possible the
| dangers of detection, it was determined
to prolong the interview as long as pos
sible, hoping foreman until the twilight
should aid their efforts. Several times
the guard raped upon the door to notify
them that their stay had already been
too prolonged, but upon their earnest en-
treaty they were permitted to stay lit
tie longer.
1t was now nearly eight o'clock, and
the order to terminate the interview was
too imperative to be disregarded, and as
the door opened the lady with the red
cloak and the gaudy feathers walked
out, smothcring her sobs with her hand
kerchief that nearly covered her face, sup
ported by her daughter, who was also
weeping. The turnkey glanced around
the room as he entered, and saw per-
son he supposed to be Lavalette sitting
| in an obscure corner of the room, his
head bowed upon his hands, and his
bosom rising and heaving with such
emotions as a man might be expected to
exhibit at the farewell interview with his
family.
The door was securely locked, and the
retiring members of the family were con-
| Quoted through the line of sentinels with
out suspicion, and soon found them
selves outside the Enclosure. Their hearts
bounded with mingled emotions as they
heard the heavy iron doors close behind
them. They were rejoiced at their es-
cape, but filed with sorrow at leaving
the poor wife and mother to the tender
mercies of the Bourbons.
But their JOY at their supposed escape
soon gave place to the utmost despair
and CONSERVATION, for when they reached
Madame Lavalettes chair they found it
deserted, the attendants having gone
away to indulge in frolic which was
going on nearby. Imagine the tortures
endured by the fugitive, as the minutes
went by, and they could not hope to con-
ceal it long, escape was an impossibility.
Half an hour passed and seemed almost
an age, when the attendants returned
and Lavalette entered the chair and was
rapidly borne away. When at safe dis
lance he got into a carriage and was
soon whirled out of sight and into place
daughter entered it and was slowly
borne toward her now desolate home.
While this was going on outside, the
poor, distracted woman was walking
back and forth across the narrow room
in which she was a voluntary prisoner, a
prey to the most cruel fears and uncer-
tainties, trembling at the sound of every
footstep fearing it might be the jailer,
and the fight of the prisoner discovered,
while successful pursuit was yet possible.
At last, about half an hour after the
escape, the rattle of keys, bolts and locks
announced the coming of Roquette, the
chief turnkey, and concealment was no
longer possible.
Madame Lavelette had only time to
pass behind small screen which stood
in the room and throw herself upon a
sofa, covering her face with her hands,
when he entered. He glanced around,
saw, as he supposed, the reclining figure
of Lavalette, and withdrew.
1t seems, however, he was not fully
satisfied, for he soon returned aud called
Lavalette's name. Receiving no answer
he went behind the screen and, holding
up his lamp, instantly recognized the per-
son before him. The whole truth flashed
upon his mind in an instant, and he ut
tered an exclamation of surprise and de-
spair.
"He has goue!" Madame Lavalette
TREMENDOUSLY calculated.
ooh! Madame, you have deceived me, "
' | L. ~,