The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1914-01-23


tire French army-the awful spectacle
OF single division of seven thousand
men suddenly enveloped and crushed
by seventy thousand Germans.
The rain fell steadily but less heavi-
ly. changed my civilian clothes for
a hussar uniform. sent a trooper to
find me horse, and sat down BY the
window to stare at the downpour and
think how best might carry out my
instructions to successful finish.
The colony at La Trappe was, as far
as could judge. a product Of condi-
tons which had, 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-
ton 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 UNI
dercurrents began to grow into masses
which, adhering 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 afiliations-the EN-
ternationale," as it was called. In it's
wake trailed minor societies, some
mild and harmless, some dangerous
and secret, some violent, advocating
openly the destruction of all existing
conditions
With one exception, all those whom
the police and the government regard
ed as inclined to violence left the
group There remained, with this one
exception, nucleus of earnest,
thoughtful people whose creed was in
part the creed Of the International,
the creed of universal brotherhood,
equality before the law, purity of In
dividual living as an example and an
incentive to 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 comrade.
Her history, as known to the police.
was peculiar and rather sad: at six
teen she had been betrothed to an ell
derby, bullnecked 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
esting, particularly in its summing up
Of her personal character:
ITO the naive ignorance OF a con-
vent pensionnaire, she adds an limo
cence of mind. purity of conduct, and
credulity which render her an easy
prey to the adroit, who play upon her
sympathies. She is dangerous only as
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
less, 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 wretched, 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-
pire 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 so camesto this ideal commune
ty one John Buckhurst, stranger,
quiet. suave, deadly pale, a finely
nodded man, with delicately fashioned
A0AUo anu ASCbp d1Au LWO eyes 81 COlOI-
less that in some lights they appeared
to be almost sightless.
In 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 Tuileries in
terrupted a meeting of the council at
the house in Paradise: an arrest was
threatened-that of Professor Reclus
-and the indignant young Countess
was requested to retire to her chateau
of La Trappe. She obeyed. but invited
her guests to accompany her Among
those who accented was Buckhurst