Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1915-06-16
Saved From the
GuillOtine
A Story Of the French
Revolution.
By r. A. mitchell


During the last decade OF the nine
tcenth century there lived In France
the Marquis de Hauteville, widower
with two children. y boy and girl.
the former twelve, the latter ten years
oil Jean. the boy was OF an adven-
turous spirit and listened with great
interest TO those Of his countrymen
who had fought In the American Rev
dictionary war under the Marquis de
la Fayette When be became eight
cen years old despite his fathers wish
es he embarked for the new world.
Jean de Hauteyille had cousin.
CASTOR Renaud. who bad been the In
innate companion OF himself and his
sister After Jeans departure the child
companiousAip between Castor and
Estelle de Hauteville ripened into love.
For time letters came from Jean
from America. but after the receipt OF
one In which he announced his inten-
tion TO visit the great falls Of Niagara.
which were on the American frontier.
nothing was heard from him.
America was then so far distant
from Francc that the marquis. his IA
ther. could get no news OF his son.
After writing to different persons con-
corning Jean with no satisfactory re-
suit he was In despair Then CASTOR
Renaud volunteered to so to America
and institute search for his lost
cousin, Estelie. though much relieved
In one way by the offer. was much
troubled la another. Having expert
enced the disappearance OF her brother
ia that remote country she dreaded TO
send her lover there lest he. too. should
not return. AT the parting between
the two she chung 10 him. wish difficult
ty bringing herself to let him so.
ON reaching Philadelphia. the port
for which he had sailed CASTOR wrote
that be WAS going 10 leave for Fort
Dnquesne. which was beginning to be
transformed into the future city OF
Pittsburgh. From there he expected
TO proceed northward 10 Niagara An
other letter came. stating that he had
traced his cousin 10 Cincinnati vii
iare on the Ohio river. and he was gs-
ing there 10 look for him.
When CASTOR left France the rum
hlings of that great CONFUSION, the
French revolution. were just beginning.
A great deal took place In France with
In few months after his departure.
but since at that time thirty to forty
days were required for vessel to
make the trip from the French TO the
American coast, and news travelled
very slowly to the United States terri
tories in what was then the far west.
CASTOR knew nothing OF the terrible
events that were developing In his ma
tive country. On reaching Cincinnati
he learned that CASTOR had been there,
hut had left for French settlement
sti'i farther west called St Louis.
Thither CASTOR departed In company
with a party Of emigrants. who trav-
eled much as the gold seekers half q
century later crossed the plains" to
the Rocky mountains.
AL this took a great deal of time. Al
St Louis after diligent inquiry CASTOR
learned that hts cousin had gone into
the buffalo country to the northwest
and had never returned One Of the
party with whom he had started re-
ported that he had been captured by
Indians and had doubtless been put to
death after torture.
Castor was preparing for an expesii-
ton to go into the Indian country to
satisfy himself as to whether Jean was
alive or dead when he received news
II the opening OF the reign OF terror
In France. He also received a letter
from Esteile announcing the arrest Of
her father by Robespierre and his ad-
herents. and she had no hope that his
life would he spared. since the radicals
were getting rid OF the mobiles as fast
as the guillotine would do the work.
CASTOR abandoned the search for one
who WAS probably dead and started
eastward ON his way back 10 France.
II was sad day for him when he
arrived at bordeaux and learned that
the marquis had been executed under
the charge OF being an enemy Of
France and Estelle was in prison. like
ly to suffer the same fate Not only
did the revolutionists wish to stamp
out the Hauteyil.e family. but to con-
fiscate the Hauteville estate. Ii Jean
were dead and Estelle should be exc
cuted CASTOR would be heir to the
title and properties Of the Hautevilles.
He therefore realized that should he
be known as one Of the family he
would undoubtedly die on the guilio-
tine. He therefore concealed his iden-
tity until he could form some plan for
future action
There was strong resemblance be-
tween the cousins. Jean and CASTOR.
Castor was two years younger than
Jean. and. since the latter had not
been seen in France for two years, It
was not impossible for CASTOR to per-
senate him. Castor proceeded north
ward to the province now called tho
Yopa rfmapf NJ Haufa whoro fha Cho.