The Press., 1912-09-04

| Eneu,s ga1Q the latter, '1f live to
 cross the border will renew my pro
 posal."
 '"That will not remove the stain be
 fore the world, but for the world I care
 not. Come, let us lay our plans"
 The Marquis de Lavalette having de
 sired to see his father in prison, had
 visited him there disguised as serv- ant. He was with his father when the
 latter was taken away to the guillo-
 tine.
 By the sons paroxysms of grief
 tt was suspected that he was more
 than a servant to the man about to be
 executed. As he was moving away
 from the prison lnsensible to all but
 grief some one beside him said sharply,
 "Run for your life." Casting glance backward, he knew that he was pur- sued. In his flight, seeing door open, he had entered and begged those he found there to hide him.
 That night, with nothing except the clothes they had on and some money in their pockets, the 1.-two sisters" left the house, turned into street running northward and crossed the Place de Ia Revolution, now the Place de Ia Con- corde. In it's center, where the Egyp- tian obelisk now stands, stood the gull lotine, and Louise felt the marquis hand tremble on her arm as he glanc- ed toward it. Passing over the Seine, they hailed a cab-the first they had met-and ordered the coachman to drive them to the barrier. There they were inspected, but since there seemed to be no reason for detaining them they were permitted to go through. Then the '.sisters" offered the coach man gOodly sum to drive them to Chantilly. It was late, but the cab man was tempted and consented.
 They reached Chantilly in the morn ing, and since 1t was on direct line between Paris md the Belgian line the nearest route by which the emigres could flee to a foreign country-they felt that they were objects of suspi- cion.
 There were interrogated by an agent of the revolutionary committee, but Louise, who was an excellent ac- tresS, whose resources were unlimited and whose nerve nothing could shake, declared with tears in her eyes that their mother was dying in St. Quentin and they were trying to reach her to receive her blessing before she died.
 So they were permitted to hire an- other conveyance. which took them to St. Quentin. Before entering the town, which they reached late in the after noon, Louise thinking it best not to submit themselves to another such scrutiny as they had been subjected to at Chantilly, fearing also that some one might be spying upon them to learn if the dying mother story were true, decided that they would better leave their carriage and steal around the town without entering 1t. So they called a halt, paid for the use of the vehicle and trudged on afOot.
 Reaching a peasants hut just after Louise knocked at the door and told, pitiful story of having walked out from St. Quentin to hunt for flowers and got lost, asking food and lodging for the night. There was but one room, so the marquis, feigning to be cold, insisted on sleeping by the great open fire which blazed merrily.
 The next day but twenty miles re mained to the nearest point of the Belgian line, and the fugitives to make 1t, getting lift from some conveyance going the same way when possible. They walked more than half the distance and crossed the line at an unfrequented point. exhaust cd, but greatly relieved. The moment they were assured that they were on Belgian territory both knelt and gave thanks for their safety.
 "And now," said the marquis, "I re- new the offer I made in Paris. not as an offer, but as 8 prayer-that I may devote the life which belongs to you to your service" ....
 q am one of the people" replied the girl. "You are noble"
 My nobility is gone. I shall never ,laim it. shall go to America, to New Orleans. where so many of my friends l nave gone, leaving my title behind me. ! Come with me. beseech you, that nay repay what owe you with life 'Sne of love and gratitude"
 There is house still standing at | a short distance above New where lived the marquis and his wife, though not as nobles. When Louis XVIII. was restored to the | throne of France he invited them to re- turn, but neither the husband nor the | wife had any desire to do so. They | died in the Crescent City beloved and by ali who knew them and leaving large number of children and The marquis kept his word as to his title and never used 1t.