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Show Sftaryri' 'NTgWNATIONAl ratW ABB0CIATIOM.t,'lJgrlU(l CJIAITr.Il XIX. , jft UK market boy -itrfjj alood at Iho gato- S! way with hit I - U . square basket, and pss ; 'jyjrjn juie had brought v1! i ''Mi I "' "" ,r,r ' Kjp ' 'V70 1 bouquet, one dear, 5 vtSJlA I bright morning. '"'T'lM I wh" Chlolltdo'a rOtKTJl ' wn"e nngere r- Wjv tVAiV ranged them In "T V"" . tho mott tempting show; when the three wcro startled by tho sudden appearance of a man who, throwing open the fold ot his cloak, which had concealed tils face, stepped forward from a hidden nook, and spoko gaily: "Good day, my fair gardener! Bell me ono of your bouquets, I pray you." Jules saw tho deadly pallor which overspread his companion's face, and desirously bending between them, himself him-self singled out a bouquet and held It toward the stranger. I The sharp, keen eyo of tho latter rorcd over his features triumphantly; but without remark, ho accepted the bouquet, and again turning to tho girl ho Inquired the price. She had summoned resolution enough to answer without sign ot trepidation. lie hunted up the money, took hta bouquet, and marched away, never once turning to glance behind. Chlotllde as he called her sclied Jules' arm, and drawing him aside, one whispered: "We must flyl not an liour, not a moment, not a second can be lost. It was M. I'lcrro; he knew mo beyond a doubt: I read his malignant triumph on his face. Oh, Julesl let us get to Hmllo somehow, as speedily as possible." possi-ble." Jules perceived at once the dangerous emergency, "Oct your hat and cloak, Chlotllde; we will go with the boy to find Umllo. What can we find to nil our baskets, to glvo us excuse for reaching hlmt" Chlotllde pointed to her plants. Without another wonl, Jules hasten- Ied to dig them up, and set them In the basket: while she entered the cottage for the few articles she dared lako with her. Side by sldo they followed, breathlessly, breath-lessly, the lead of the wondering peasant peas-ant boy, and went on Into the crowd and sllr of tho city. They were too excited and eager to bo nwaro of the dark browed, villainous looking man, who followed stealthily In their steps novcr loilnij sight of them for a moment. mo-ment. The streets were alive with denso throng of people, and It was evident I some great event was at hsnd, by tho gleaming eyes, violent, gesticulations, and set faces of tho multitude, who all ceemed surging In one direction. The guide, In spite of the remon-stranco remon-stranco of Jules, Joined tho living tide, with the careless explanation: "We shall be sure to find clllien Emlle at the square; the Gray Falcon Is always at hand when such sport Is going on It has something to do with tho Austrian woman; maybe they are to take on her head to-day You're In luck to bo In to seo the sight" Lady Kcllcle strovo to hldo tho shudder shud-der which ran through her frame at theso words, nnd glanced apprehensively apprehen-sively at her companion. Jules had turned deadly pale, his lips wcro set, his eyes gleamed fiercely fierce-ly na he answered: "Tell mo where we can nnd the Gray I'alcon's usual riaort, nnd thcu you . L. may go our way. We havo no tlmo to wasto now." I Tho boy laughed coarsely, ns the I crowd growing more and more dense I look Ihcm along with It. I "You hav no other choice." nnld ho; I "nnd thero be those In l'orls who would toko )ou up right smartly for 1 calling II a wailo of tlmo to see the 1 neck of tyranny broken on tbo shrlno ot freedom." Jules took tho retake mildly. Tho horrors of wltnrsilng the tcrrlblo scene his Imagination presented, had quite overpowered his fears for personal I safety, but now once again returned the remembrance if lliolr own danger. "We shall sell nothing here, Chlo- tilde," said he; "If we could only see the a ray Falcon, we might return ogaln H to witness tho bravo sights," I A broad shouldered, red-faced vlra- go ono ot a crowd of Hercely goatlcu- latlng Amaions, overheard his words. I "What do you expoct to do with the I flowers, while facel You had bolter throw them nwa) and take up n pike. I Thero nro no fine lords -to buy your H bouquets now; why do you bring them Hj here?" HJ "Are the nne lords the only ones to HJ enjoy nowerst" answered Jules, "I HJ thought wo cllliens wore to bo allow-HJ allow-HJ ed to enjoy them now They ure na-HJ na-HJ turo's Jewels, she puts tbom around tbo HJ cottage more plentifully than before HI the palace. Tako a bunch, cltlxenv, and see how pretty It will make you look; HI so young and gay. you know." MJ The woman laughed coarsely, Ihrust HJ out her horny hand for a bouquet, and HJ fastened It at her breast. "Well, well, at Iho best, I can make iH of It, for when the proud Austrian (HJlays her dainty head ou the block, I'll joining It In her face. She's used to bou-(HJhuets, bou-(HJhuets, you know, and will appreciate .jHJ'he compliment." liS Julc echoed her laugh, though his jHJpieart was froien at tbo brutality of SHfthe creature, but his companion turn-)jHJd turn-)jHJd her wild eyes Into the woman's face jHJfrlth an expression of utter horror jHjpntch it was Impossible to mlxunder-i!HUB( mlxunder-i!HUB( I HE Tho virago penciled It, and exclaimed ex-claimed angrily "What ails that simpleton? does she dare to sympathno with the proud tyrants? ty-rants? 8hc's nn aristocrat, I'll twear!" Lady Fellclo trembled from head lo foot, her fortitude seemed entirely to have forsaken her. Jules hastily pressed her arm In warning, and began lo rail angrily "Yes, )cs, she's n silly thing. She's been sick and lost all her sense She was always afrnld of blood, I'm In hope to teach her yet the difference betwixt aristocratic blood, which deserves de-serves to bo split, nnd the honest tide of the people's pulse" "She looks like one of 'em. Stand out, here, wench, and let us make sure, that's too doll-like n face lo belong to a cltltcn's daughter. And sho shows her guilt. I'll swear, sho's one ot them." 8he cleared a little space around them as she spoke, and dragged l'e-llclo l'e-llclo forward The poor girl, white as any statue, turned her eyni appeallngly to Jules, as the Iron Oncers left their cruet print upon her tender arms, "Nay, nay; aho's a good girl, cltlien-ess, cltlien-ess, only fop being so frightened," cried Jules; "Jet ber go, I beg of you H Ily this time other attention was drawn to the scene, and tho burrylnn crowd paused to gather around the group, and question tho cause of their agitation. "An aristocrat; she would save the Austrian woman!" cried the Amazon, with her grasp still tightening on the arm of the terrified girl. "Away with her then; to tho prison with hert" shouted a doxen fierce voices, as the angry eyes glared upon her, "Leave her to me!" exclaimed Jules, pressing forward to her sldo. "I shall punish her well for this silly terror." "Mako her look on and seo the haughty queen's proud head rolling In the dust," shouted another. "Hid her shout with us, Death to the aristocrats! Liberty and equality forever!" for-ever!" "Bhe can do that Come, ChlotUde shout with met" cried Jules, swinging bis cap and sending up a cheery hutxa for "Freedom nnd equality foroverl" A man In the crowd stepped forward nnd looked eagerly and scrutlnlxlugly Into the pallid, but handsome, clear-cut features of the youth. "I'll swear to that facel" muttered he, "It's him, and no mistake." Jules himself caught that searching glanco, and though his faco gnvo no sign, his heart sank In despair, "Lel' tako them along," said tho man; "we'll see for ourselves bow the pair enjoy Jubilee day." He who bad so persistently tracked tbem all the way from tho cottage, added ad-ded his voice now. "Yes, yes; show them how Marie Antoinette An-toinette finds a necklaeo sharper than diamonds, tho free gift of the people. There'll be some one here, anon, who can tell their true names." "What! Is the man suspected, also?" asked the woman who had cuased the whole detention, Tho last speaker nodded acquiescence. acquies-cence. Whereupon the wholo crowd around took up a nendlsh yell, more like the cry of a blood-thirsty, wild beast than the volco of human beings, and began bustling the ptlr along toward to-ward the spot where tho hapless u i was expected to appear. Jules flung his arm around his companion com-panion to steady her steps, and shield her from the rudo Jostling of tbo crowd. "It Is only a Jest, Chlotllde," said ho, In as cheerful a voice as ho could force himself to assume; "they will discover our Innocence, and let us go, i'crhape some friend will appear to give assurance assur-ance of our good bcbatlor and loyal tentlments." Sho knew what ho meant, It was Indeed In-deed her last desperate hope. If Hnillo would appear la aaetbeml And ct. how was It possible for nny ono to save? She asked this question dreamily, dream-ily, as her eye ran along the sea of faces around ber, and found no plt-Ing plt-Ing eye no gentle expression of mercyonly mer-cyonly flaming, Infuriated, retcngc-tul retcngc-tul counteuanccti. The peasant boy who had acted as guide, after hearing the first words of tho crowd darted away. Young as he wes, be knew the danger of falling under un-der tho displeasure of tin so lawless mobs; or of seeming to bold acqualnl-anro acqualnl-anro with any one suspected of the obnoxious ob-noxious aristocracy. And almost lifted from their feet, amidst Jeers and threats, and bitter taunts, Jules and bis fair companion were borne toward the fatal guillotine where LuuU bad olrt-udy laid down his life The riace Da La Revolution was already al-ready thronged and thero was scarcely standing room left. Horrible Jests, violent Imprecautlons, demonlao rejoicings re-joicings were tossed to and fro from mouth to mouth. CHAPTER XX. , f 11331? two sensitive, sensi-tive, refined natures, na-tures, transHxed with utter loathing loath-ing and horror, could glvo no outward out-ward sign ot their detestation of the VVfWt ,OirW- ceno. A doxen pltl- rfoBy '" "Jn wcre :? p watching every '" " shade upon their faces. They bad each other's Icy hands, and sternly bor It with all the heroism Ihsy oeuld master. It was not iwrt-1 ble for either to behold their beautlfirt queen led forward to tho bUk. I-splle I-splle the scrutiny bent upon them, both Instinctively closed lhJr eyes and held their breath through Iho last Lrrlhla hfnmenl. The wild about that broke upon the deathly stillness told when Ihe spirit of Marie Anlolnetto Joined that of her murdered husband At the same mo-menl mo-menl Kellcle fell fainting against Jules shoulder. The struggling mass of people peo-ple shut out the air, nnd almost crushed crush-ed her unconscious form. He looked around him Imploringly for a single traco of humanity, but found none. Supporting her as well a ho could with one arm, he chafed wlln the free hand her Icy fingers and mar-bly mar-bly stiff arms. The same virago whose attention had Interrupted their progress In the commencement, com-mencement, elbowed her way to him. "You think more of the dainty minx than )ou pretend, sirrah," she said, nn-grlly. nn-grlly. "she's an aristocrat beyond doubt She must go to the trial, and will take her turn nt tho axe yonder, I doubt not Why must she swoon away, when franco Is made free! Nothing, no queen now. Liberty and equality foroverl Death to the aristocrats'" aristo-crats'" "8ho Is a young creature, and ha no strength, such as sho cannot look calmly upon bloodshed, bo It friend or foe. Let her go now, I beseech you. 8ho Is the nleco ot tho Gray Kalcon she Is no aristocrat, I will vouch for It," exclaimed Jules Imploringly. "No aristocrat, with tboso lady features? feat-ures? and look at her bands! pshaw! cltlxen." "And do you deny that we may And such lovely facea, and delicate frames among the people?" cried Jules, still inoro eagerly; "nny, beauty ha no partiality par-tiality tor nobility Thla maiden Is of humbla birth, and yet no princes was ever more lovely In person or character. charac-ter. I assure you she Is of the people." Kellcle bnd slowly revived. As he said theso words a strong shudder shook her frame, "Perhaps you are right," said the woman, slowly; "but If the Gray Kalcon Kal-con Is her uncle, he should teach ber a little ot his spirit I should Ilk to see sornn one elio who knows her." "Here comes the very one you wish to see, cltlxcness," said a smooth vblce, whoso first accent mado tho Ijidy Kellcle Ke-llcle spring wildly to her feet "I am well acquainted with the girl; she will tell you so; I will take care of her." Jules know, without asking, who It waa that spoke. M. Pierre bad arrived arriv-ed to complete their despair. He advanced eagerly and laid Ml hand upon the girl's shoulder, white he said significantly: "You have nothing to fear now from the people It you come with me peaceably. peace-ably. 1 havo been looking for you n long tlmo; but as you remember of old, I never grow weary ot working to se-euro se-euro my object" Ijuly Kellcle shrank back and clung to the arm ot Jules. The brow ot M. Pierre darkened, and bending closely to her ear, he said In a savage whisper; "Your life Is not worth a straw, not, safe an hour, If I do not save you. They will tear you limb from limb; beware then how you refuse my aid, how you reject my friendship. Will you como?" All tbo strength which till now had nee-ned entirely lost, came back to the llrl with the tldo ot Indignation nnd abhorrence which throbbed In avcry pulse. tross coxTivasn.1 |
