A NIGHT OF A THOUSAND FEARS.

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19899, 30 May 1936, Page 18 (Supplement)

A NIGHT OF A THOUSAND FEARS.

BY BARBARA ROSS McINTOSH.

The dull autumn day was drawing to a close. and Paris hung out its oil lamps and trimmed its candles to meet the approaching night. There was little slumber and less quiet for the seething oity; only a new phase of that bloody revolution which made life within its walls a ceaseless nightmare. in an little in the poorest quarter of the capital three children sat huddled together, awaiting the return of their mother. who had gone forth on a dangerous errand of great import—ance. It was strange to think that these desolate waits belonged to the‘ family of Du Marne. one of the oldest‘ and most honoured in France. Wealth and lands had been theirs, and a large measure or court favour; but the greedy grip of the revolution had fastened on all their privileges, and left them living with their mother in this here little room. constantly fighting a herd battle with poverty, and daily dreading the worst menace of discovery and death by the guil‘iotine. That morning a secret message had come to Madame Du Marne that her brother. on English squire. had come to Paris. and was anxious to arrange (or the escape of herself and her childrest. It was this good news that had Milled her to risk all. and so forth to interview her brother at his hotel. She bed gone away after the frugal midday meal. and there was no sign or her return. Therese. a slender “quiet-eyed girl of fourteen. was left in claim of her iour~yesr-old brother Oupud and her baby sister Juliet. A ‘olook outside clansed harshly, and There“ rose and mended the tire from the rapidly diminishing store of fuel. " It grows late, my children, and you must have your supper." she said. as ehe set a small pen of milk on the hob. Juliet crowed oontentedly at the prospect of food; but Gaspard had many questions to ask. “ Why hes Mamma not come, Sister. and where do you think she will be? Will our English uncle want us to come away on a big ship very soon?" “I do not know, Gaspard. but you must eat your bread«and-miik to be strong for the Journey.“ Therese said. with a sigh. ller mother‘s continued absence troubled her deeply, and her active mind was busy with all sorts of unpleasant possibilities. As it grew' darker ehe prepared Gaspard and Juliet for bed. it was better that they should get what sleep they could; as for her—self. a great restlessness poasessed her. When her brother and slstrr were asleep, she took a worn shawl from a peg. and. wrapping it round her shoulders. she slipped noiselessly out on to the landing and stood looking down the stair. There were many tenants in the house. and a constant coming and going from one flat to an—other. Therese crouched by the ban—isters, and the darkness 0n the landing hid her from the view oi’ people on the stair. Presently the conversa—tion of two women captured her attention. They had paused in their ascent. “Do you remember the citizeness who stayed with her three children in the attic above. there?" one asked. Then, before the other could answer the question, she went on with her information. "She is dead." There was no softening of tho voice as she made this nnnnunroim-nt. " Dead!" tln- utili‘i' woman echoed with dull indifference. "\\’us it .\ludome tliiillotliio‘l” "No," said tho ilret speaker. “5110 got. wedged in u crowd, and she fainted. A physirinn went to her. but he said there was nothing he could (in. Her heart must haw born weak (or months, hr explained. and the little excitement had killed her.“ . " Did you see her?" the second womnn inquired. I " Yes: 1 was coming home from my work and stopped to have a look. The pulice made it txrrut tiles and asked it' anyone knew her, luit i did not 1:0 l’nrwarxl. “no mnnul lm ten rarrt‘ul. ”Inst! tl.l).~. lit‘sirll‘~, the) susprrlwl lliilt .\lm \\‘ns nu .trMo ill disguise, mull I think ihv‘y \\t‘l‘i‘ riulit ‘ l “ “‘lth about ihv ruihirrn: \\ili )uu‘ toll than?" 'l‘ho ilrst spenltr‘r :uM‘ .i .\llil"i laugh.) “ \\‘liut's thr Mimtl‘.’ 'l‘hr)'ll unit out smin rn-nuizh. l'\'r .n-t .i liltio pl.ul nil m} u\\n :Itmli' ilh'su t'lllllll't‘ll. It tho} ill‘i‘ .\i‘liiils. tum» \\til luv it t'nwgirtt gin-n for influx ilifill'lildlttlll lliliilll\t thrui. 'l‘imvs .un l‘lt'll. 'nul iii-”Mp n|u~l ii\w. ll .\nu lulu», _\uu mu rum._ in with lilt‘ :ind .\lhli't' tho spoil. 'l‘llt‘i'l"~l iltt‘vr 01' ill-int. l‘hv-roau, tias]:,rnl, :«inli lillle .lllliil tin) \\iil t'otrli ;| guild price." ’l'lit‘ pour thinner Hit Elii- lizullli: illil not \\.ut in li- tr murr. int: ~tliluiilx‘xi tun-it to hrr :‘mlui. .4 Intel n 1 lr'.l~ 11l l'l"l‘ mus .tini .i :‘l‘lt‘tilll‘ lutll'l‘llxNx :u ltv‘l‘ limit I \\ .s .t t t:- mullni' lirlll 14... much \mud, wml '-.'mnlv<l pro-l illli‘i~' nt‘ 'ln» new Mogul“: Hill lnwvil tlm-u-slnu, t‘li.-i.~.~ lint in: tin-lily! “1| lli.tl..iitil i‘wlm‘\;uw"mll|..tmn ..r ylwl it.“ p-i“ .wr Minion-i .iutt glint”

stricken. After alittie time the significance of the women's concluding words reached her. If she carried out her intention and informed against them. their rate was a dread certainty. Therese shivered at the thought of their utter helplessness and loneliness ——three homeless orphans, under the very shadow of the guillotine. Feverishly she urged herself to instant action. They must leave their present quarters at once, ere the police got knowledge of their whereabouts. “Gaspard, you must rise and dress,“ she said, as she shook her sleeping brother. “We are going out to Search for Uncle." Gasbard blinked sleepily. but; rose from his straw pallet readily enough. It was a pleasant excitement for him to go into the streets so late, and as Therese told him nothing of what she had overheard he was serenely happy, in the adventure. Baby Juliet was not so easy to manage and Therese had much dimcul-ty in hushing her i‘retiul cries before they set off downstairs. “You must go quietly," she caution—t ed Gaspard. ”Carry your shoes in your hand. You can put them on when we reach the street." They crept down the narrow uneven stair, and every creak made Therese catch her breath ‘ and wait in sick fear for someone to intercept them. Out in the street the night-life of the city entolded them like some lurid dream. Shrieks of women, curses of men, unbridled mirth and horrible exultatton. mingled together in a strident babel. Once a drunk man lurched on to Therese, but she shook him off and hurried away, clasping Juliet in her arms, and keeping watch over Gas~ pard‘s steps. At a street corner a man blocked their progress and spoke to Therese. ”Whither away. little mademoiseile?" “I ask for aims in the name of the Rebuplic," Therese answered in the sing—song voice employed by beggars. and he shrugged his shoulders and turned away. Her first idea had been to try to get near the Hotel de la Rose, whence her uncle had sent his message. She had hoped to linger by the doorway and choose a quiet moment to ask the porter for speech with him: but it ivas not easy to find the way in the badly lighted streets. As they moved along an added discomfort descended on them. Rain full in a dreary. drenching torrent. and Gaspard and Juliet were soon wet to the Skin through their thin Ulniilillk. They must have shelter at any rost, Therese resolved, and she stepped into an nrrhed doorway and drew Gaspard beside her. There they crouched for a few moments in peace till a woman came out, and looked at them sombrely. A man's voice called harshly to _her from inside the house. “Speak to them and ask them what they do there,” he said. The woman obeyed slowly and grudgingly. “What do you want?" she said in a dull. toneless voice. “Only shelter from the rain," Therese replied timidly. “Bring lhcm’ in." the man ordered from the inner lobby. and" the woman threw wide the door and drew the Shrinking Therese inside. {Continued next week.)