The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1915-08-27

| Maran to sign a statement that when
| a daughter was born t. the ia;e Mar
| quise de Hauteyille IL was dead. I'in
marquis had lonsed for "A daughtc
and his wife. disl.king tn disappui
Tim, had employed Marggerife to Ia.
| irOduce In the dead child : stead III,
babe Of one of the tenants just borlt
This babe had since passed AZ Estelit
de Hauteville.
Marguerite consented TO sign thi'
false statement 10 save the life Of hci
young mistress. whom she devoted Y
loved. Armed with il Castor went tU
Paris and one day sent In to Robes.
pierre a card on which was engra we'd
the name Of the Marquis de Haute
vile. Robespierre. astonished that u
man should thus give himself up TO
death and yet delighted to have the
marquis In his power. ordered that he
be admitted.
Monsieur began the supposed
marquis.
"Citizen," corrected Robespierre.
"Citizen Robespierre," CASTOR began
again, "you hold In prison one whom
you suppose to be heir to the title and
estates Of the late Marquis de Haute-
vile. This person is not member Of
that family, but changeling."
He handed the tyrant Marguerite's
statement. Robespierre read 1t and
looked up at his visitor for further de-
velopment I'm this singular proceeding.
81, Jean de Hauteville, now marquis
Of Hauteville, two years ago visited
North America. While hunting buf-
falo in the far west OF that continent
I was captured by Indians. l escaped
and have returned to find my father
dead at your hands and the girl who
was brought up as my sister In prison
awaiting execution. take It for grant
ed that you wish to exterminate fam
fly Of the French nobility. You will
not execute a noble In the woman you
consider noble. I, Marquis de Haute-
Vile, am the last Of my race. I ask
that you release her and put me in her
place"
There were many acts Of heroism In
those tragic times, but Robespierre had
not thus far met with any such self
sacrifice as this. 1t was some time be-
fore he made reply, his eyes mean
while fixed intently on his visitor.
What his thoughts were no one knows.
Possibly, impressed by this example
Of heroism, he may have been think
ing on a plan to save the hero. Posi-
bly, the De Hauteville estate interfer-
ed with such desire. Presently he
said:
"Citoyen, France accepts the offer of
yourself in lieu Of one who has passed
as Mile. de Hauteville. She will be re-
leased Immediately. Guards"
Several soldiers entered and took
CASTOR away to prison. A few min
utes later messenger carried an Or
der to the keeper of the Conciergerie
prison to release Estelle. Then Robes
pierre gave Marguerite Maran's state
ment to his secretary to be filed among
important papers. One more thing
needed to be attended to In connection
with the matter. An order was issued
to subordinate to investigate the man
who had offered his life as substi-
tute for the released prisoner and as
certain IL he were really the Marquis
de Hauteville.
When Estele returned to the chateau
she learned from the Marans that her
lover had returned from America and
had offered his life for hers. She was
about to return to Paris to reveal the
imposture when she was stopped by
Francois Maran.
"You cannot save his life by giving
yourself up and revealing the truth"
said the old servant. Rather join the
emigres In Belgium or England and
send statement, In which Marguerite
will join, that hers Is false, that you are
Marquise de Hauteville and that the
man who has personated the marquis
Is not the marquis at all. They will
then investigate. Such problems are
hard to solve at any time, but now
they will be harder STILL Meanwhile
time will elapse. and perhaps new
man will be in power, or the thirst for
blood will have been quenched."
Estelle saw the force of this argu-
ment. She adopted 1t except on the
matter Of leaving France. She chose
rather to go into hiding. This she did,
and Francois took her statement, In
Guiding one from Marguerite. to Paris,
where he left them with Robespierre's
,secretary.
NFrancois' surmise was correct. There
were plenty Of noblemen and noble
women whose identity was unques-
toned to satisfy the appetite Of the
revolutlonists for blood without sacri-
ficing one who might be commoner.
Besides. those were times when the
situation was rapidly changing. Gas
ton remained for long while in prison
while notary was investigating his
identity. drawing pay oil the while and
In no hurry to lose his job by making
a report. Meanwhile the guillotine was
working much more slowly and more
conservative element was gaining the
upper hand. When the reign OF terror
was over CASTOR Renaud was released,