Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1915-10-21
NO. g..

evidently believed that she was in Q
fair way to seduce- him from his al.
legiance to the republic.
Pardon me- he said gravely, but
should do wrong If permitted you
to remain under any delusion. Patrick
MacMahon, duke of Magenta and
Marshal Of France, has nothing to
restrain him from yielding to any con-
ditions you may choose to impose;
but the president of the French re-
public cannot betray his oath
"The lady Of the lilies made ges-
ture Of rage.
"'Why did you not tell me this in
your garden? she cried passionately
You asked me to let you visit me, you
come here, l receive you alone, and
after you have compromised me be-
yond recall, you tell me that you have
been mocking met
"'Ah, mademoiselle, do not speak
so harshly! 1t is who am compro-
missed, on the contrary, by my pres.
ence in this house.
Not at all, Monsieur If our meet
ing is not political you are not COM
promised at all-and I am compro.
missed unless it is political
1T was impossible to escape from
this cruel dilemma. The marshal
tore his mustache.
"'Listen!' he exclaimed. In a year
my term of Office will have expired.
and shall be free to accept your COM
mands.'
"The girl waved her hand impatient
ly.
land when you are no longer
president, what assistance can you
render to US? Do you think it is
merely the duke of Magenta whom
have risked SO much TO-
She had got thus far when they
were interrupted. A hasty knock came
on the door, it was thrown open, and
the host of the Fleur de Lys' rushed
in.
Pardon, r-mademoiselle! Par
don, NJ le President, but the chief OF
police has just arrived with a body
Of men to search the house, and they
are coming upstairs!'
THE girl uttered Mortified cry.
The president sprang to his feet. 1t
was necessary to decide at once how
he should act.
IA thousand pardons, mademoi.
selle,' he whispered in her ear but
you see how it is. You are masked
the French police are gallant men,
you will allow me to save my honor?
She arose to her feet with the dig
nifty Of queen, and, withdrawing her
mask, looked MacMahon full in the
face.
Monsieur, l am the daughter of
your sovereign
1.-The Princess - gasped the
Mortified marshal.
The princess bowed, and quietly
replaced her mask, just as the chief
of police made his way into the room.
The chief had received his instruc.
tions two days before. A watch had
been set upon the president, and 1t
had been ascertained that he was hold
ing secret communications with a.
mysterious woman who had been
traced to the Royalist hotel. The sole
question which the ministry had to
determine, before they proceeded to
decisive measures, was whether this
affair was in fact a political conspiracy
or mere intrigue. II 1t should be the
former it would become necessary to
publicly accuse the president to the
nation. If the latter, it was a very
different thing and 1t would be un.
necessary to take any step, except
perhaps to hint to the head of the
state that it was undesirable to create
scandal at the Elysee. 1t was in
order to satisfy the doubt in their
minds that the chief of police had
forced his way into the presence Of
the suspected president.
1T was of course his part to feign
the utmost surprise at the meeting.
"'Pardon, M. le President, but
hadn't the least notion of finding you
here!' He glanced from thelowering
brow of the fierce old marshal to the
shrinking form of the masked prin.
cess. It's my duty to inform you, M.
le President, that we believe this lady
to be conspiring against the republic
"The president looked at him. II
was a friehtful moment. If he ex.
pressed the least surprise, the honor
Of the princess would be reflected on.
Without permitting himself so much
as glance in her direction, he forced
himself to say, in steady tones:
"T know it. The meeting between
this lady and myself has concerned
a question of politics.
"The chief bowed, and replied:
"'In that case, M. le President, it's
my duty to report to the minister of
justice that you are in communication
with Royalist plotters.'
"'Do your duty, monsieur returned
MacMahon.
"And he followed the bewildered
chief out of the room. not staying to
receive the thanks Of the stricken
girl, whose rashadventure had brought
him to dishonor in his old age.
"The next day the resignation of
President MacMahon was in the hands
of the president Of the senate. The
national assembly was convened, and
M. Grevy became president of France"
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Invitation to tho Nest7
A couple of Pennsylvania farmers,
a man and wife, drove from their