Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-12-23
A Christmas Gift
Ard a Return 1t Led to Later On.
By 7. c. BURROWS
Copyright. 1919. by American Press
ASsAc&Gtt0a
By T. c. BURROWS

The Count Edouard German was
sitting in his study the morning be-
fore Christmas. 1t was during the
later days of the eighteenth century,
when the woes of the people Of France
had become SO unbearable that NUT
terings were heard all over the land
and loudest among the poor. For CEN
turies the kings and nobility had
through inOrdinate taxes sucked the
very lifeblood from the nation. The
count, who was humane man, was
meditating upon the storm that he
saw brewing when the downtrodden
should arise, turn and rend their op-
pressors. He was thinking especially
Of The Christmas season and that thou
sands of families would 60 as hungry
On that day as on the other days of
the year.
Suddenly he heard shot.
"Ah," he said, there Is poaching
going on
He sat modify regretting that the
starving people about his estates need
ed his game, how they would persist in
shooting it without leave and how he
must punish them as lawbreakers, for
he was magistrate as well as land
ed proprietor. Presently a servant an
nounced that he was wanted below.
He went down and saw young man
held by the gamekeeper and q groom.
The counts little daughter Elise was
standing looking on. The gamekeeper
had in his hand a pheasant the culprit
had just killed.
why do you shoot my birds with
out my leave" asked the count.
Because my wife and children are
starving. l was thinking as passed
your estates that tomorrow will be
Christmas, and have nothing but a
little black bread to give them for n
Christmas dinner. whereas your woods
are full of game The temptation was
too much for me-"
Il am heartily sorry for you" re-
piled the count, but it is my duty to
send you to prison. Besides, If l did
not punish you within few days I
should not have bird left on my
estate"
"Papa," cried Elise, will you give
me Christmas gift?'
Il have number for you, my
daughter" replied the count
mot those. One l wish for now.
Give me this mans forgiveness"
The count, glad Of an excuse for
clemency. forgave the poacher and
told the gamekeeper to let him take
away the pheasant he had shot. AS
the culprit turned away he looked very
hard n Elise.
''Why do you stare thus at my
daughter" asked the count
THAT l may fix her face on my
mind. The day may come when a
poor poacher may aid her"
Something in the words and the tone
with which they were spoken made
the count tremble.
Several years passed. The Count
German was prisoner in one of
those old piles that had been used for
centuries TO hold persons whom the
kings and nobility of France chose to
put out of their way. His daughter
Elise, who was now just stepping
from childhood to womanhood, went
to one of the members of the revolu
tionary committee who was at work
with others on the nations business to
ask for permit to visit her father
that evening to bid him adieu since he
was TO die on the guillotine In the
morning.
What is your name?" asked the rev.
olptionist
Elise de Germain."
The man started. He sat looking at
her for time, then said harshly:
you mean Citizeness Elise Ger
main" Then, turning to one near
him. he said:
This Is the daughter of the Count
Germain. am going to take her to
see her father ON condition that she
reveals the hiding place Of some aYis-
t0crats whose heads We want"
Good. citizen; ] trust you viii get
lot Of them
The man took the girl with him to
the prison, where he was well known,
and into her fathers cell Once with
In he closed the door and said:
"Mademoiselle, you once gave me
nrescnt-nly liberty and a pheasant for