Show foe FOR A i count clairville has just given in mar riago his only daughter yolande to the marquis Marq uta of of an old and proud bretone family the ceremony was over and the church doors were flung open displaying the high altar decorated with flowers and lights and in the garlanded doorway appeared while the bells pealed joyously all nature seemed to be in festal attire attiM for arthe sweet odors of spring filled the th air the wild birds were singing merrily and sunbeams sun beams fell like a halo across the foreheads of the bride and groom she was fair and graceful and in her white gown and veil seemed like an angel strayed from heaven the bridegroom noble and gallant looked with love unutterable at the fair girl who leaned upon his arm the country people were dressed in their sunday clothes the men wearing rosettes in their buttonholes the women with lilies of the valley in their bodices bo dices and all waved do flowering hawthorn branches and made the air ring with acclamation long lire mile yolander Yo landet long live the bridet bridel god bless our sweet young they cried and from time to time they added long live the sI the church of clairville ov overlooked the village being built on a rocky eminence and was approached bya by a steep winding path and stair stairway rich and poor noble and simple dead and living all must enter the church by way wyot of paradise road the wed wedding dinic party glittering in gold and silk and velvet and followed by the cheering crowd walked down this rustic palho paths way to where the carriages were waiting and the bridegroom pleased by the enthusiasm thu thusia sm of the people and their evident affection for his bride said to her hex tenderly j you see my love how dear you are to these people they will never forget you I 1 fear they owe me a grudge far for stealing their good angel from them 1 the bride smiled and raised her sweet ey eyes a to his face for a moment and then she turned turned to her father saying it is such a beautiful day papa may we not walk home homet I 1 certainly dear if you wish it he lie replied glad of an opportunity of pleasing III his Is child from whom he must soon part and accordingly the bridal pair and all the young persons of the party walked through the village to the chateau of clairville which was situated at the other end while the dowagers and other persons followed in their carriages yolande leaning on her husbands arm stopped repeatedly at the humble cottages where the poor old men and women whom age or w infirmity rendered unable to go out we were waiting in their doorways to see the bride for each one she had a word and A smile and many a trembling hand i and a weak thin voice was raised to bless her the joyous procession now reached a turn in the narrow road and came to A standstill being met by a funeral party jt it was a very poor affair there was a coronet emblazoned blazoned em on the white pall which w alch covered the face ace of a young maiden and not a flower flow cr was w a teen seen there not a single blossom in spite of the warm springtime behind the bier a poorly cladman clad man the only mo mourner timer walked slowly looking with his head bent and bis his face covered by bis bands hands a picture of despairing grief at sight of the wedding party the men carrying the bier topped stopped and would have turned out of the road but the mourner raised his head and gazed fiercely at the happy throng who with their IN rich gala clothing and smiling faces seemed to offer ler insult to hla his sorrow go on conr he said in a hoarse voice to the porters as an if he would have liked to crush abe be fine lords and ladies beneath his feet but the men did not stir 1 7 hen ben the count stepped stopped forward forwar ti gravely gra respect Ke the dead friends friend si fall back and let the bier pass jia ile was instantly it eyed and the funeral moved on OIX past the gorgeously attired throng who made imade way w ay reverently the la alm crossing themselves and the lords re tny ing their hats As the bier passed tho the bride she was filled with pity at sight of the young stiff form under the white pall and taking a sprig of orange blossom out of her bouquet she laid it gently upon the bier the stern mourner saw the act and his expression softened a little then covering lri his face again he broke into low sobs who Is that man asked count clairville 1 I do not know my lord replied the man addressed dressed he is a stranger lie ire came to the ina inu a few days ago with his sister she was almost dead as nay any one could see ue lie seemed to love her very much and when she died he be cursed liko like a heretic and shook his fist at heaven this morning I 1 told him it was too early tobaie to have the funeral and that he ought to give the cure time to change his stole after tho the wedding but he would not 16 listen ten to me the bridal party moved on and soon the merry peals of the church bells were changed to a mournful tolling as the bier passed under the gay floral decorations of the door who is that young lady asked the mourner of a bystander the bride bridet that is mile yolande dc do clairville was the reply and the stranger matured murmured softly may the she always bo be happy I 1 then hen he went into tho the church twenty years passed and the reign of terror began in la vendee the war w ar was a nt t its height when the convention sent one of its members to nantes with instructions to take swift and violent measures against the royalists accordingly this man carrier by bt name caused a large number of suspects to be confined in the a building near t the he cathedral of st Il pierre erre men women and children were hustled into this antechamber of the river loire I 1 and find in spite ot of tho the daily the prison was ever thronged thron ged with victims in a large low hall the terrible proconsul presided at the mock trials the prisoners prison err erv were divided two pin ties tho the accuse accused 4 and jua the condemned the former group diminished rapidly as the latter increased and at last carrier resolved to h hurry the proceedings by dispensing with all formality tn in disposing of the victims then the fatal words condemned to de death athill 1 were heard repeatedly as the royalists were hurried across the hall 1 henri de called the clerk a and nd a young man about eighteen years of age left his companions and advanced toward w rd the tribunal ho ile bowed bow ed to the judge with as an much case ease and grace as a it if be were 7 at the court of versailles versaille and seemed to be unconscious of the tact fact that a cruel death awaited him ayou arc are Acci vied fit of t the I 1 I 1 U L aliu I 1 t person of Ms rip r i p R 5 WE aa tive said carrier you took part lua lu a plot against my life the youth turned a frank fearless pair of eyes toward the speaker and answered slowly 1 I owe my fathers death to you I 1 always puy pity my debts henri cried a womans comans voice entreatingly carrier cast ca st a furious glance around him and then alenri Her gonet was hurried away two women now stood before the judge who aided of the elder one are you the mother of that young youn g maul man 1 I am she answered and this girl Is his sister your name yolande de clairville marquise de ker gonet the judge looked fixedly at the speaker for a minute then declared the investigation at an end and added briefly brley condemned to death all turm the doomed were now led back to their dungeons and at 9 at night the executions began tied together two by two the unfortunates were thrown into boats taken out on the river and dispatched by sword or bayonet and their bodies cast into the water this method however soon won proved too slow to satisfy carrier and he caused hundreds of his victims to bo be driven out to a neighboring quarry and shot the marquise de and her two children were awaiting their doom in silence when the jailor entered their cell and ordered the daughter to follow him why must we be separated cried the mother citizen carriers orders replied the man be after a long and tearful embrace the young girl left her hir mother and brother and followed the jailor into the presence of the dreaded consul who looked at her earnestly and when they were left alone asked slowly what la Is your name yvonne de 11 dodou love your mother ah A yes monsieur r replied plied the girl in trembling ibling with terror and your brother what would you do to save his life 1 I would gladly give my own dufel cried yvonne eagerly 1 I do not zot want your life child but your silence how old are you sixteen years monsieur then you have not yet learned to lie listen to me here Is a letter which I 1 confide to to you yo u on cri condition of your promising me that it shall not bo be opened until midnight moreover you are not to speak of f it to any one have I 1 your promise c very well dwell gol the frightened girl took the letter put it into her bogent and waa was taken back to the cell but before wore she had bad time to reply to the anxious questioning with which her mother and brother greeted her a man appeared carrying a pistol signed to them all to follow him and led them out of the prison then imposing the strictest silence upon them he gave his arm to yvonne while jhenry supported his mothers trembling form in a few minutes the little party reached the riverbank river bank a after hurrying through the dark streets of the city and the royalists realized at a glance that they were not far from the pot where the executions of that day bad had tak taken ou place their guide gave a signal anda and A man in a boat instantly made his appearance pe arance from out of the gloom get in said the boatman in analow a low tone and as soon aa as they were seated he be rowed out into the middle of the stream be brave little sister whispered alend clasping yvonne to his heart and then they all waited calmly for their I 1 last ast hour to come in a few brief mome moments ants they teemed to live their whole life over to feel again the joys and sorrows of their early childhood as well as their recent trials and alarms suddenly they saw raw in the distance the outline of a chip ship dimly defined against the dark sky they approached it rapidly and before they had bad recovered from their amazement found themselves on board while their late conductor rowed back to shore what does do eathia this mean asked henri after an astonished pause that you are saved replied thecae the captain of the ship saved how by whom that is more than I 1 can tell you madam all that I 1 know odthe of the matterfis mat matter teris Is that a few hours ago I 1 received a large sum of money and an order to wait here for three passengers who wished to go to england the rhe order was accompanied by a safe conduct signed by the proconsul carrier in a few days we shall with a good wina wind be in eight of the english coast the little family hardly able to believe their ears rears looked at fit each other in wondering delight nod and mme ame murmured with a prayer of thanksgiving who can our unknown friend be then wilert avorine asked the captain what the lour hour was it la is just halt half past 12 mademoiselle he be answered and the girl hastily drew out tho the letter she had bad received tore it open and read the first line to mile yolande de clairville it Is for you mamma she said giving at i it to her mother but the marquise signed to her son to read it aloud it ran as follows twenty years ago on your wedding day you laid a flower from your bridal bouquet on my bisters la coffin she was dat sixteen years old I 1 wish to pay my debt and in return tor for your flower I 1 give you three lives CARRIER CARRIE translated from the french of arthur for new york mercury |