The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-01-30
The 3lst of
October, 1913
By F. A. Mitchell


win, an American bachelor who had
been spending an evening at a stu
dents ball in the Latin quarter Of
Paris, on his way to his hotel in the
Rue Rivoli crossed the bridge leading
into the Place de la Concorde. Just
as he reached the fountain midway
between the two obeliskS a clock in
deep tone struck the hour of /.
Something like d shudder came over
the young man. Perhaps it was the
for the Place was deserted
that is, at the moment, since this
central location can never be said to
be deserted for any length of time
even in the small hours of morning. Il
Perhaps it was the contrast between 4
his surroundings and the gay scenes
he had just left. contrast heightened .
by his knowledge of the history of the
location where stood the fountain he
was passing. He stopped and unused.
During the reign of terror where the /
fountain is now stood the guillotine. |
Every day a succession of carts |
brought victims to this Moloch OF the /
revolution. At first the nobility of |
France were in process of removal; |
then when factions became jealous of |
each other the party in power removed !
those who were its rivals. For awhile /
Robespierre was virtual dictator and
decided who should be executed. The
leaders of the Conservatives, the
Girondists, he sent after those of royal
and noble blood. Then new faction
gained the supreme power and sent
Robespierre after the Girondists.
While Goodwin unused there was no
sound but a distant cab rafting over
the stones or shout of laughter from
a cafe on the Champs Elysees And
even then came at intervals the thought
that he was alone. But suddenly
he caught sight through the spray of
the fountain of woman's figure OF
the other side Of the basin. Impelled
by curiosity he moved around to where
she stood. What was his establishment
to see one whose features indicated
that she was lady Her dress also
bespoke her rank. The costume was
in the directoire style which was in
vogue some time ago. She was very
pale.
1t has never been permitted to Pari-
sian ladies to be on the street alone
even at midday. AS for a lady being out
unattended ut l O'Clock in the morn
/ ing. such 4 thing was unthinkable, and
| vet the American was positive that
/ the person he saw on the other side
! of the fountain was a lady. Her fea-
| lures were French. As TO her costume.
/ though it was in a style in vogue a
| hundred years before-a style that had
been revived-the collar and cap were
/ those worn at the close Of the eight
zenith century.
Madame" exclaimed Goodwin.
surely you have been. through some
error on the part of your escort or
your coachman. caught out alone win
You permit me TO call a carriage?"
What day is this?' asked the lady.
DAY Of the week or the month";"
THE month"
This is the 31st of October"
do you hear them singing?"
Surely this woman had lost her rea-
son and. having eluded her keeper.
had wandered forth in the night,
Goodwin was at loss to know what
to do-whether to call the police or 4
cab.
There are only three voices now
continued the woman. Mine was one
of the first to be stifed"
Wont you take my arm. madame e.
said Goodwin. extending it. THE
night is chill. and you do not seem to
be sufficiently clad"
Now there are two" was the only
reply.
Il beg of you come with me--for :
little way-to the Rue Rivoli. We viii
find n cab there"
Now there is one"
Goodwin was badly upset Alone in
Paris with crazy woman between !
and in the morning. he would have
left her. but this would be desertion
He could not bring himself to do it
Fortunately a cab came across the
bridge. When it arrived opposite the
fountain he ran out to call the driver
AS he started the lady he was leaving
said
I Now, there is none"
D The cabman stopped, and his cal
l was empty Goodwin returned for the
e lady.
. She was gone.
All in a SILVER, Goodwin got into the
y cab and was driven to his hotel.
The next afternoon he walked on
o through the Place de la Concorde. Th,
day was bright and the space was fill
ed with carriages and pedestrians. II,
stood by the fountain on the exact spo
} where he had stood the night before.
Had he been dreaming?
Three years later he was reading
history of the Girondists. The las
pages of the book gave an account 0
9 how they died on the guillotine singin
II the 'Marseillaise" the volume of SCUM
growing less till the last one san
alone. That single voice stilled, al
had nnriShed Turning 10 the date O