THE CHEVALIER DE MAISON ROUGE.

Western Star, Issue 2220, 8 July 1898, Page 5

THE CHEVALIER DE MAISON ROUGE.

CHAPTER XLVI.— Continued. i o uibwfc' to respond with blows, to imprecations, by a look before which the most courageous quailed; to complaints, by a carelessness bordering on disdain. At last he arrived behind the powerful young man, who. so to speak, closed the entrance to the hall in the midst of geueral expectation—for all were anxious to see how the contest between two such rude antagonists would terminate—he essayed his peculiar method, which consisted in planting his elbows between two spectators, and thus breaking through. He was, notwithstanding, ;i ''short young man, whose wan face ana emaciated appearance, betokened latent illness. His elbows had scarcely touched the young mai'. before him, when he, indignant at the aggression, turned sharply round, at the same moment raising his clinched fist, which threatened, in falling, to crush the slender form of the intruder. The two antagonists now found themselves face to face, when a cry of recognition escaped from each. •' Aii. Monsieur Maurice," said the delicate young man. with an accent of inexpressible anguish. " permit me to pass; only let me see her. I entreat von; then kill me afterward." Maurice—for it was he—felt himself affected by admiration and compassion, excited by this ceaseless devotion, this adventurous daring.

" You here !" murmured he. " How imprudent !" '• Yes; but lam exhausted. Oh. mon Dieu ! she speaks. Let me see her-let me listen to her." Maurice drew aside, and the young man passed before him, and being at the head of the crowd, there was nothing now to intercept the view of him who had undergone so many blows, so much buffeting to attain his end. All this scene, and the murmurs it occasioned, aroused the curiosity of the judges. The accused also turned around and immediately perceived and recognized the chevalier. A shudder ran through the queen's frame, seated in the iron armchair. The interrogation, conducted by the President Harmniid, interpreted by Fouqnier Tiuville. discussed by Cheveau Legarde, the defender for the queen, lasted as long as the strength of the judges and the accused permitted. During all this time, Maurice remained motionless iu his place, while several times already the concourse was renewed both in the hall and the corridors. The chevalier leaned against* a pillar. He was no less pale than the marble that supported him. The day was succeeded by a dark night; some lighted candles on the tables of the jurors, and some smoky lamps on the walls of the hall, threw' a red and sinister expression on the noble face of that woman who had formed the beautiful ornament of the splendid fetes at Versailles. She was alone there, replying iu brief and dignified language to the questions of the president, and occasionally addressed some words to her counsel iu a low

voice. Her white and polished forehead retained all its original pride. She was neither humbled nor cast down. Sho was attired in a black dress, which she had worn ever since her husband's death. The judges retired from the hall. The Bitting had terminated. " Have I evinced too much hauteur, monskmr?" said she, addressing herself to Ohevcau Legarde. " Ah, Madame," replied he, " you are always right when you act like yourself."

" How proud she is !" cried a woman among the audience, as it' a voice from the people had replied to the question of the unfortunate queen to her advocate.

The queen turned and looked at her. "Yes," repented the woman, "you are proud, Antoinette, and 1 tell you pride has been the ruin of you." The queen blushed. Tin: chevalier turned toward the female who had uttered these words, and replied, softly: " She was queen/' Maurice seized him by the wrist, saying, iu a low tone : " Take care; do not forget yourself. "Oh, Monsieur Maurice," replied the chevalier, " you are a man yourself, and you know you are speaking to a man. Toll me, oh, tell me, do you think they will condemn her ?" " I do not think," said Maurice ; I am sure of it." "What, a woman?" said the chevalier, with a deep groan. " No, a queen," said Maurice ; " you have yourself said so." The chevalier, iu his turn, seized Maurice by the wrist, ami with a force of which he appeared to be incapable, compelled him to bend his ear. It was halfpast three iu the mornigu. Many vacuums were visible among the spectators, and a few lights burning here and there served only to render darkness visible. In one of the most obscure parts of the hall were the chevalier and Maurice, listening to what the former was telling him.

"Why are you here? what brings you here ?"' demanded the chevalier; "you, monsieur, who have not a tiger's heart ?" " Alas !" saiil Maurice, "to discover what has become of an unfortunate woman.'' "Yes, yes," said Maison Rouge ; "she whom her husband forced i*»to the queen's cell, the female it surprised mo so to see." " Genevieve ?" " Yes, Genevieve." " Then, Genevieve is a prisoner, sacrificed by her husband, killed by Dixiner. Oh! I comprehend all, 1 understand all now. Chevalier, tell me all that has occurred, tell me where she is, tell me where 1 can find her. Chevalier, this woman constitutes my life ; do you hear me ?" " I witnessed all. I was there when she was arrested. I was there also to effect the escape of the queen, but our different projects not having been communicated to each other, injured stead of assisting our mutual cause." " Why did you not save her, at least —your sister, Genevieve '!" "How coujd 1 when an iron bar divided uk ? Oh! if you had only been there, if you had united your efforts with mine, tin- bar must have yielded, and both might have been saved." "Genevieve! Genevieve!" murmured

Maurice. . Thi'ii, regarding Maisou Rouge with an indefinable expression of hatred and rage : , "And Dixmer, where is he?" demanded lie. _ " 1 know not ; he saved himself, as 1 did also." . . "Uh!" said Maurice, grinding Ins teeth, " if ever I meet hiin—" " Yes, I understand. But there is nothing yet to despair about concerning Genevieve," said Maisou I.ouge ; her case is not yet desperate; but the queen. Oil, stop, Maurice, you are a sensitive man, an influential man. You have friends. Ok! I pray to you. a« 1 would pray to my God. Maurice, help me to save the queeu, Maurice, Genevieve supplieates you through me. 1 « Pronounce uot that name, monsieur. Who knows but that, like Dixmer, you may have sacrificed this unhappy ™ "Monsieur," replied the chevalier hauKhtily, '• when I attach myself to a SJ! I know better than to sacrifice Maurice wasXut to reply, whm the door of the chamber of debate opened. "Silence monsieur, silence," said the chevalier, "the judges are returning. And Maurice felt the hand tremble which Maison Rouge had placed ujjoii Ul " Ah"" murmured the chevalier, " my heart fails me now." . "Haw courage and constrain your:sftSf, or you are lost," said Maurice. The tribunal re-eutered and ihe news

of its return spread rapidly through the corridors and galleries. The crowd again congregated in the hall, awl cum the dim lights appeared to burn brighter at this solemn and decisive moment, "the queen rose, and stood erect, haughty, and immovable ; her eyes fixed, her lips closed. The decree was then read which doomed the queen to death. She heard her sentence without even turning pale or uttering a sigh ; her countenance evinced not the slightest emotion. Then, turning toward the chevalier, she regarded him with a long and eloquent look, as if to indicate her gratitude to this man whom she had ever seen a living statue of devotion, and supported on the arm of the officer of the.gendarmes who commanded the forces, with a calm and dignified demeanor, she quitted the court. Maurice drew a deep sigh. " Thank God !" said he, " nothing in this declaration can compromise Genevieve; there is yet hope." " Thank God !" murmured the chevalier on his side. "It is all finished, and the struggle at length terminated. I have not strength to go further." "Courage, monsieur," said Maurice, in a low voice. " I will take courage, monsieur." replied the chevalier, and. having shaken hands, they disappeared by different outlets. The' queen was reconducted to the conciergerie. the large clock struck four as she entered. At the end of Pout N'eui. Maurice was stopped by Louis. "Halt:" said he; "you do not pass here !"

" Why ?" . " First, where are you going ( "I am going home. I can return there now, since I know what has become of her."

"So much the better; but you must not enter there." " For what reason ?" " The reason is, that two hours ago the gendarmes went there to arrest you." "Ah !" cried Maurice. " Well, there is the greater reason." " Are you mad ? And Genevieve ?"

" You are right. Rut where are we to go?" "To my house. Pardieu !

" But I shall ruin you." „ " The more reason," said Louis, dragging iUaurice away with him.

CHAPTER XLVII. THE PRIEST AND THE EXEOUTIONRR. On 'leaving the court the queen had been conducted back to the coneiergerie. On reaching her chamber she had taken a pair of scissors and cut off her long and beautifu'l curls, rendered still more so from the absence of powder, which had been totallly abolished two years since; these she indlosed in a packet, and on the paper was inscribed, " For niv son and daughter." She then seated* herseilf, or, rather, sunk into a chair,, and, worn out with fatigue, the triall having ilasted eighteen hours, she fell ttfctleep. At seven o'clock the noise of the opening screen roused her from her troublled sleep, and turning round, she bieheild a man perfectly unknown to her. " What do you want ?" demanded she. He approached and salluted her as respectfutlly as if she had not been the queen. " 1 am caflled Sanson," said he. The name was sufficient. The queen sllightly shuddered. " You are here in good time, monsieur; eov.il d you not have made it rather Hater." " No, madame," replied Sanson ; I received orders to contc." As he uttered these words, he advanced stid 1 nearer to the queen. At this moment everything about the man was expressive and terribile. " I understand," said the prisoner, you wish to cut off my hair." "It is necessary, madame, repilied the executioner. " I know it, monsieur, and I wished to spare you the. trouble. My hair is on the table." Sanson followed the direction of the queen's hand. " On'ly," said .she, "I wish these curls scut to my children to-night." " Madame," said Sanson, " this docs not concern in,'}." " However, I thought—notwithstand-

"Oh ! I get nothing," rejAied the executioner ; " the cilothes, the jewels, uniless formally made over to me, all go to La Sailpetriere, and are allotted to the jioor of the Los pi tall. The Committee of Pubilic Safety arrange these tilings-" „ . . , ~ . " But, monsieur," persisted Marie Antoinette, " may I, at (least, depend upon this packet being forwarded to my children. ?" Sanson remained sWent. " 1 will endeavor to do so," said Giilbert. The prisoner cast upon him a Book of deep gratitude. " I came," said Sanson, "to cut off your hair, but since you have done so, I can, if you wish it, (leave you for a short period a-'loue." " I entreat you to do so, monsieur. I wish to coillect my scattered thoughts and offer up a prayer." Sanson bowed and retired, when the queen once more found herself in solitude. WhWe the condemned threw hersellf upon her knees before a low chair which served her aw a prie-dieu, a scene no (less terrible was passing in the parsonage of the smaill church of St. Landry, iu the city. The curt waa dressing, the oild house-keeper lu/.d prepared the humbile morning meal, when a iloud summons at the gate was heard. Even in our day, an unexpected visit is iu geueraii the precursor of some event, cither a baptism, a marriage, in extremis, or a confession, but at this epoch the visit of a stranger wouild announce, some matter of far greater import. Indeed, at this period the priest was no longer the mandatory of God, but rendered his account to man. However, the Abbe Giraud was of the number of those who had (least cause for fear, as he had taken an oath to the constitution—in him conscience and probity had spoken Bonder than amour propre or relligious spirit. No doubt the Abbe Giraud admitted the possibility of a proficiency in the government, and much regretted the abuses committed under the name of the Divine Willi, and had, wh'ule retaining his God, accepted the fraternity of the Republican regime. " Go and see, Dame .laeinthe," said he, " who disturbs us at this earlly hour, and if the business is of no very pressing nature, say that this morning, I have been sent for to the couciergerie, and must go there direct'ly." Dame Jacinthe, otherwise called MadeBine, had accepted this flowery appellation in .'lieu of her own, as the Cure Giraud had taken the title of citizen instead of that of abbe. At the suggestion of her master, Jacinthe hastened down the steps to the 'little garden Heading to the entrance gate. She drew back the bolts, when a thin, pale young man, much agitated, but with a frank and sweet expression presented himself before her. " Monsieur d'Abbe Giraud ! said he. Jacinthe, not slow to remark the disordered dress, the neglected beard, and the nervous tremor of the newcomer, augured unfavorably of him. "Citizen," said he, "there is hero neither monsieur, no abbe." " Pardon me, niadume," replied the young man, "1 meant to say the Cure of St. Laudry." Jacinthe, notwithstanding her patriotism, was struck by the word "ruadame," with which they only have addressed an empress. She, however, replied : " You can not see him now;; he ia repeating his breviary."

"In that caFie, I will wait," replied the young man. , . " But," said Jacinthe, in whom this obstinate persistence revived the first unfavorable impression, "you will wan in vain, for he is summoned to the conciergerie, and must tfo there immediately." , .. ~ TOe young man turned frightfully pale, or. rather, from pa.le to livid.

" It is then true," murmured he ; then raising his voice: "This, madame, i« the subject which brings me to the Auue Giraud." , . , And in spite of the old woman, he had, while speaking, effeated an entrance, then coolly but firmly drawing the bolts, and notwithstanding the expostulations and even menaces of Dame Jaciuthe, lie not only entered the house, but also the chamber of the cure, who. on perceiving him, uttered an exclamation of surprise. "Forgive me, Monsieur 8e Cure," immediately said the young man, " I wish to speak to you on a very serious subject: permit us to be alone." The aged priest had experienced deep sorrow and knew what it was to endure. He discerned deep and devouring passion in the contusion of the youug mail, and intense eintion in his fevered tones. " Leave us, Dame Jaciuthe," said he. The visitor impatiently followed with his eyes the receding steps of the housekeeper, who, from being accustomed to the confidence of her master, hesitated to comply; theu, when the door was closed :

" Monsieur .le Cure." said the unknown, " vou will first wish to know who I am. I will tell you. lam a proscribed mau, doomed to death. who only at this moment lives from the power of audacity. I am the Chevalier de Maison Rouge."' The abbe started in horror from his arm-chair. " Fear nothing," said the chevalier; "no one has seen me enter here, and

I WISH TO SPEAK TO YOU. those who even might see me would never know me. I have altered much these Just twc months." "But what do you wish, citizen ?" asked the cure. "You lire going this morning to the couciergerie, is it not so?" " Yes, the concierge has sent for me. "Do you know why ?" " To an invalid, or some dying perhaps even to one condemned." The old priest regarded the chevalier with astonishment. " But do you know who this person is ?" demanded Maison Rouge. " No; I do not know." " This person is the queen." The abbe uttered an exclamation of grief. " The queen ? Oh, my God i" " Yes, monsieur, the queen. I made inquiry as to the priest who would attend lier, and 1 learned it was you. _I, therefore, came directly to seek an interview." " But what do you require of me / asked the cure, alarmed at the wild accents of the chevn.lier.

" I wish—l wish nothing, monsieur. I imiilorc, I entreat, I supplicate you." " For what, then ?" " To allow me to enter with; you into the presence of her majesty." " You are mad!" said the cure; you would not only ruin me, but would sacrifice yourself." " Fear nothing." " The poor woman Is condemned, and that is tho end of her." " I know it, and it is not to make any attempt to save her that I wish to see her, it is— But listen my father, you are not listening." "I do not listen to you, since what you ask is impossible ; I do not listen to you, since you act like, a man bereft of his senses," said the aged man. I do not listen to you, because you terrify me." "My father, reassure yourself, saw the young man, endeavoring to calm himself; "believe me, my father, I urn in my senses. The queen, I know, is lost, buti if I could only for an instant prostrate myself at her feet, it would save my life. If Ido not see her. I will kill myself, laud you wil have caused my despair, you will, at the same moment, destroy both body and soul." " My son ! my son !" replied the priest, " you aek me to sacrifice my life for you. Old as I am, my existence is still necessary to the unfortunate; old as I am, to precipitate my own death is to commit as act of suicide." "Do not refuse me, my father, replied the chevalier; " you must have a curate, an achoiotbist; take me, let me go with you." The priest tried to maintain his firmness, which was gradually giving way. " No, no," said he ; " this would be a defalcation from duty ; I have sworn to the constitution, and I aan bound heart, soui and conscience. The uphappy woman condemned to death is a guilty queen ; I would accept death if by so doing I could benefit a fellowcreature, but I will not depart from the path of duty." " But," cried tho chevalier, " when I have told you and again repeat, even swear to you, I do not want to save the queen; here by the Evangelist, by the crucifix, I swear I do not go to the couciergerie to prevent her death!' "What is your motive then?" said the old man affected by his undisguished accents of despair.

" Hearken," said the ehevaflier, whose soul seemed to speak from his lips; "she was my benefactress, she is attached to me, to see me for the .last time will afford her happinesß, and will, I am certain, prove a consolation to her. " And this ia ail that, you desire U demanded the cure, yielding to these irresistible accents. " Absolutely all." " And you have woven no plot to attempt to rescue the condemned ?" " None. lam a Christian, my father, and if there rests in my heart a shadow of deceit, if, as 1 hopte to live, Ideal falsely in this, may God visit me with eternal damnation !" "No no," said the cure; I can promise nothing" as the innumerable dangers attendant on an act so imprudent returned to his mind. "Now listen to me, father, said the chevalier, in a voice hoarse with emotion- " I have spoken like a submissive child I have not uttered one bitter word' or uncharitablo sentiment, no menace has escaped my lips; yet now mv head -whirls, fever burns in my veins, now despair rushes into my heart; now I n.fri armed; behold! here is my dagger." And the youug man drew from his bosom a polished blade which threw a livid reflection on his trembling hand. The cure drew back quickly. " Fear nothing," said the chevalier, with u mournful smile; " others knowing you to be so strict an observer of your word, would havo terrified you into an oath. But, no, I have supplicated, and I still continue to with hands clasped, my forehead in the dust, that I may see her for a single moment. Look ! here is your guarantee."

Aud he drew from his pocket a billet, which lie presented to Giraud, who opened it, and read as followß : " I, Roue Chevalier de Malison Rouge, dee la red by God and my honor, that I have by threats of death compelled the worthy cure of St. Landry to carry me to the couciergerie, notwithstanding his To BB CONTIXUKD.