The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1913-10-10
BY topueh 1907 BY PO6tW Chambers
)lrw1N Myers CopT9ht 1902 by PECoher8S Son

8ES
think how best l might carry out my
to a successful finish.
The colony at La Trappe was, as far
as could judge, a product of condi-
tons which had, a hundred years be-
fore, eliminated In the French Revolu-
ton. Now, in 1870, but under different
circumstances, all France was once
more disintegrating socially. Opposi-
tion to the Empire, to the dynasty, to
the government, had been seething for
years; now the separate crystals which
formed on the edges Of the boiling un-
dercurrents began to grow into masses
which, adherlng to other masses, in
terfered with the healthy functions of
national life. First among these came
the International Society of Working
men, with all its aflliations--the In
te%rnationale," as It was called. In its
wake trailed minor societies, some
mild and harmless, some dangerous
and secret, some violent, advocating
openly the destruction Of all existing
conditions.
With n exception, all those whom
the police and the government regard.
ed as inclined to violence left the
group. There remained, with this n
exception, a nucleus Of earnest,
thoughtful people whose creed was in
part the creed Of the Internationale,
the creed Of universal brotherhood,
equality before the law, purity Of in.
dividual living as IN example and an
incentive to a national purity.
To this inoffensive group came one
day a young widow, the Countess de
Vassart, placing at their disposal her
great wealth, asking only to be re-
ceived among them as a comrade.
Her history, as known to the police,
was peculiar and rather sad: at six.
teen she had been betrothed to an ell
derby, bull-necked colonel of cavalry,
the notorious Count de Vassart, who
needed what money she might bring
him to maintain his reputation as the
most brilliantly dissolute old rake in
Paris.
Her dossier-for, alas! the young
girl already had a dossier-was inter
estlng, particularly in its summing up
of her personal character:
TO the naive ignorance of a con-
vent pensionnsire, she adds an limo
cence of mind. a purity of conduct, and
a credulity which render her an easy
prey to the adroit, who play upon her
.sympathies. She is dangerous only as
a source Of revenue for dangerous
men"
1t was from her salon that young
Victor Noir went to his death at
Auteuil on the 10th of January; and
possibly the shock of the murder and
the almost universal conviction that
justice under the Empire was hope
drove the young Countess to seek
a refuge in the country where, at her
house Of La Trappe, she could quietly
devote her life to helping the desper-
ately w%retched, and where she could
in security, hold counsel with those
who had chosen to give their lives to
the noblest of all works-charity and
the propaganda Of universal brother
hood.
And here, at La Trappe, the young
aristocrat first donned the robe of
democracy, dedicated her life and for
tune to the cause, and worked with
her own delicate hands, for every
morsel Of bread that passed her lips.
But the simple life at La Trappe,
the negative protest against the En-.
plre and all existing social conditions,
the purity of motive, the serene and
inspired self-abnegation. could not
save the colony at La Trappe nor the
young chatelaine from the claws of
those who prey upon the innocence
Of the generous.
And 80 came to this ideal communi-
ty one John Buckhurst, a stranger.
quiet, suave, deadly pale, a finely
nodded man, with delicately fashioned
hands and feet, and two eyes so color
less that in some lights they appeared
to be almost sightless.
In a month from that time he was
the power that moved that community
even in its most insignificant machin-
cry. With marvellous skill he con-
structed out Of that simple republic
Of protestants an absolute despotism.
And he was the despot.
An intimation from the Tuilerles In
corrupted a meeting of the council at
the house in Paradise; an arrest was
threatened-that of Professor Reclus
and the indignant young Countess
requested to retire TO her chateau
OF La Trappe. She obeyed, but invited
her guests to accompany her. Among
those who accepted was Buckhurst.
About this time the government be-
gan to take a serious interest In John
BuckhuTst On the secret stan Of the
Imperial Military Police were afways
certain foreigners-among others, my.
self and a young man named James
Speed; and Colonel Jarras had already
decided to employ Us In watching BucR.
hurst when war came on France like a
bolt from the blue, giving the men
Of the Secret Service all they could at.
tend to.
There is no reason why II should not
be generally known that the crown
Jewels Of France were menAced from