Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 August 1901 — UNKNOWN UNTOLD. [ARTICLE]

UNKNOWN UNTOLD.

HT HAD been a horrible year that 1795, perhaps even worse than Its predecessor. 1794. Thousands of suspected and acknowledged nobles thronged the prisons, to be led forth In carts, batch by batch, as an offering to the murderous guillotine. Men, women, children—none wero spared. Amongst those now expecting death at the Conclergerie prison were the old Marquis de Vaudmont and his young daughter llelene; by some, perhaps fortunate, mistake the poor girl had not been Incarcerated with the ordlnary. crowd of aristocrats which tilled the dungeons, but had been allotted a separate cell, where old Malhieu, the Jailer, came once a day with the meager meal of bread and soup and water. Mathleu's daughter, Klisc, occasionally was allowed to visit the female prisoners, and by a word, an encouragement, sought to console the often brokenhearted captives. Elise had long resided'near Lille with her aunt aud uncle, and her dearest bosom friend was Itoslue Pichou, tlielr only daughter. It was a great shock to Elise when she saw poor Helene de Vaudmont brought In one night by the terrible soldiers of the revolution, for Helene was the “young lady” of the castle which had for many generations ruled the little village where the Plchous had lived. Often had Elise and Itoslue experienced the kindness of the Vaudmonts, who, though aristocrats, associated freely with the simple village folk. Then the fearful revolution had burst forth, spreading terror In every corner of the land. Young de Vaudmont hud Joined the Itoyallst troops of Conde and the “emigres,” aud added laurels to the old family name; yet he had longed Jo revisit the place of his birth, and had ventured, under a disguise, to re-enter France; a friend followed him, aud one dark aud stormy night the old gentleman and Helene clasped the young man to their bosoms.

Hector de Vlelleroche, young De Yaudmont’s friend, soon won the hearts of all—of all, yes, for poor Roslne loved him, though he never saw it, blinded, as he was, by his own passion for Helene; the months passed, each day bringing news of fresh atrocities all over the country; then came the summons for the young men to gather once •gain round the banner of the fleur-de-lis, and both obeyed. It was a sad parting, Helene and Hector vowing eternal love, and poor Roslne following with her heart the unsuspecting loved one. How the authorities learned that the young royalists had been for months secreted at the castle none could tell; but suddenly the plnce was invested with soldiers, aud old M. de Vaudmont and hts daughter wore carried off to Paris to be cast In the dungeons of the Terror. “You will try and help me, Roslne,” pleaded Hector de Vlelleroche, who had braved a thousand dangers to re-enter France aud to try to save his bride. “But how 7” “Could you not persuade Elise to allow mademoiselle to escape?” “Elise!” cried the young girl; “Elise! I havo a plan, yes,” she said. “I will help you; I will try to save her,” and she turned awuy to hide the tears that crept up Into her eyes. He wondered, but did not understand. “What nre you going to do?” "Go to Paris!" “We had better start at once,” said the young man. “I will start at once," she answered; “you stay here concealed.” The busy guillotine had spread sorrow in many a family; all over the country a bloody stream flowed freely; on the Place de la Revolution Fou-quler-Tlnvllle's victims increased In an alarming manner; umongst the doomed batch that was to amuse the Parisians on the next day was Helen de Vaudmont; her father had preceded her In the next world some time before. “1 must see her, Elise,” said ltoslse

engerly. “But 1 cannot get the keys!” “O yes, you can—you must; surely you would not let the poor mademoiselle die without a word of comfort?” “No, no," answered Klim*, sobbing; “what are we coming to!" Trust to woman's wit to obtain what •he desires; Hllsc managed to get possession of old Muthicu's keys for an hour or so. and Itoslue was admitted to the cell, where on a straw pullet lay Uelene de Yaudmout. , "Dear mistress," she cried,, kneeling beside the young captive, “cheer up; I bring you good news." "Good news to me, Uosine; what good news can I expect? The best news would l>c that of my npproaeblug deliverance by the " "O, say not that! say not that!” “You are right; It is wicked to grumble against fate," she added listlessly. . “But what about your good aews, deur ' Itoslue!” “I can set you free!" “Thank you, kind, good Itoslne, thank you! But what is liberty to uie-no home, no family, IK*-—" "M. de Vlellerooho waits for you,” said Uosine quietly, and it hurt her poor loving heart to say these words to her rival. “Hector,O Hector!"and Helen sprang up. animation In her countenance, her eyes sparkling. "But " “But-'no but,” said Itoslna firmly; “change clothes with me and si ids out while I talk to Ellse- she Is sure not to

notice your clothes immediately." “But you?” “O, that’s all right! They have probably forgetten you, and consequently will forget me,” she added, though she knew Helen’s nuwe was to be called on the morrow! Helene escaped unnoticed, even Elise in the dark passages falling to detect the fraud, for Elise respected what she thought was Itoslne’s grief and did not speak to her. And when, that same night, Roslne was bundled off to the Conclergerie dungeons none knew' of the substitution In the hurry for more victims. It was only some months afterwards that Helene and her husband, who had reached Switzerland In safety, knew of the sacrllice of the loving Roslne; a paper came to Hector through an emissary—a line only—one line: “Hector, I am glad to give my life to see you happy. Roslne.” • * • • • • • Many, many years have gone by; Louis XVIII. was on the throne, a throne on which he was to sit but a short while—yet he was there long enough to restore to Helene do Vaudmont her fortune and. property, and when France once more changed its ruler the new government, In ltd policy of reconciliation, did not disallow the grant. Hector and his wife often talk of Roslne to their many children, and when the wiiole family gather to pray Roslne’s name fs always mentioned with feelings of live, aud reverence, and gratitude.—The I.udgate.