The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1915-02-19
The 3 st Of
October,1793
BY F. A. Mitchell

In the autumn of 1893 Charles Good
win. al American bachelor who ha6
been spending an evening at q stu.
dents ball In the Latin quarter OF
Paris. On his way to his hotel In the
Rue IiE'oli 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 to le struck the hour Of 1.
Something like shudder came oyer
the young man. Perhaps II was the
loneliness. for the Place was deserted
that il. at the moment. since this
central location can never be said tC
be deserted for any length of time
Perhaps IL was tho contrast between
his surroundings and the gay scenes
nc had lust left. n contrast heightened
by hisa;uowledge Of the history Of the
location where stood the fountain be
was passing. He stopped and mused
During the reign Of terror where the
fountain is now stood the guillotine
Every day IA 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 mused there was no
sound but distant cab rattling over
the stones or n shout Of laughter from
cafe Oh the Champs Eiysees. Ant
even then came al intervals the thought
that b. was alone. But suddenly
he cautht sight through the spray o.
the fountain OF womans figure on
the other side OF the basin. Impelled
by curiosity he moved around 10 where
she stot d. What was his astoniShmen,
to see one whose features indicated
that she wns lady. Her dress also
bespoke her rank. The costume was
In the directoire style which was H.
vogue some time ago She was yer,
pale.
Il has never been permitted TO Pnri
sian ladies' to be on the street alone
even at midday. AZ for lady being our
unattended at I o'clock In the morn
Ing. sue b thing was unthinkable. and
yet the American was positive thai
the person he saw on the other side
Of the fountain was lady. Her fea
lures were French. As to her costume
though II was In style In vogue
hundred yenrs before--a style that had
been revived-the collar and cap were
those worn at the close Of the eight
eenth century.
mad ime." exclaimed Goodwin
surely you have been. through some
error on the part OF your escort OF
your CO ichman. caught out alone. VII.
you per NIT me 10 call carriageT
"what day Is this7" asked the lady.
bu. VI tue Wten VI tue thouiuf
The month"
This Is the 31st OF October"
do you hear them singing?"
Surely this woman had lost her rea
son and. having eluded ber keeper.
bad wandered forth in the night
Goodwin was at loss 20 know what
60 do--whethe- TO call the police or a
cab.
There are only three voices now"
continu "a the woman. mine was one
OF the first to be sti6ed"
won't you take my arm. msdamer'
said Goodwin. extending It. The
night chill. and you do not seem Ia
be SUN ,iently clad"
"Now there are two." was the only
reply.
II bex of you come with me-fos a
little wiy-to the Rue Rivoli We VIII
nnd q cab there"
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