The Cairo bulletin., 1910-12-04
A Christmas Gift
And a Return 1t Led to Later On.
BY r. c. BURROWS
Copyright. 1910, by American Press
Association.

terings We're heard all over the land
and loudest among the poor. For cen
turtles 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 OPP
pressors. He was thinking especially
OF the Christmas season and that thou
sands of families would so 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 we'll as q land
ed proprietor Presently servant an
| nounced that he was wanted below.
| He went down and saw young man
held by the gamekeeper and 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 l passed
your estates that tomorrow will be
Christmas, and have nothing but a
little black bread to give them for a
Christmas dinner, whereas your woods
are full Of game. The temptation was
too much for me-"
Il am heartily sorry for you" re-
piled theAcount. but 1t Is my duty to
send you to prison. Besides, If / did
not punish you within few days ]
should not have q bird left on my
estate"
"Papa," cried Elise, Twill you give
me Christmas gift?
Il have number for you, my
daughter" replied the count.
mot those. One wish for now.
Give me this mans forgiveness"
The count glad of an excuse for
clemency, forgaye 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 at Elise.
"Why do you stare thus at my
daughterY asked the count.
"That / may fix her face on my
mind The day may come when d
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
Germain was prisoner in one OF
those old piles that had been used fol
centuries to hold persons whom the
kings and nobility of France chose tt
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 worn
with others on the nations business tc
ask for a permit to visit her father
that evening to bid him adieu since h
was to die on the guillotine in the
morning.
what is your name?' asked the rev
olutionist.
Elise de German"
The man started He sat looking a
her for time, then said harshly.
"You mean Citizeness Elise Ger
main" Then, turning to one neal
him, he said:
"This is the daughter of the Coun
German. am going to take her &
see her father on condition that she
reveals the hiding place of some arts
tocrats whose heads we want"
"Good, citizen; trust you will get {
lot Of them"
The man took the girl with him t
the prison, where he was well knows
and into her fathers cell Once with
in he closed the door and said:
"Mademoiselle, you once gave me {
present my liberty and pheasant fol
my starving family for Christmas
dinner. | am going TO try to give yot
return--your father. Wait here"
The man went away and called fCl
the governor of the prison, to whom
he said
II have discovered a plot to rescu,
tonight prisoner here, the Cotn
German. He must be removed q
once. Gall fiacre."
A keeper was sent out for fiacre
while the revolutionlst returned to tn,
counts cell.
Come he said.
The count and Elise went with tn
man, who held the counts arm, ana
after few minutes wait within tn
prison door were hurried into vehi
Gle.
The revolutionist gave his orde
In whisper to the cabman, VIII
drove off at gallop. He stopped be
fore the house Of the revolutionisi
where the count was concealed for
day, and the next night in suit o
his preserver's clothes he passed out
shouting, Down with aristocrats!
Within a week he was safe In Brus
sells.
There his daughter Joined him, an
other members Of his family followed