When a Cobbler Ruled a King

his hands clasped behind him. The two friends were taking an evening stroll in the Jardin des Plantes, and discussi

ty is going to the dogs, and I think I'll

"Oh, Citizen Bonapart

des, my sister Elisa has been a student at the royal school of St. Cyr. I have just received word that this school was closed and supp

d Jean. "You are my best friend! I have

never thought of becoming a soldier? I have received news of my

leave Mère Clouet and Yvonne? The good mother has cared for me ever since she took me, a homeless waif from the Foundling Hospital, and it would be wrong to leave her and the little Yvonne unprotected in this mad city. It is t

han the desire to pay a debt, whether of money or gratitude. But should the opportunity ever come, I'll

f suspected royalists. Whereas, look you! France is really menaced from without by the foreign powers Austria and Prussia, whose armies are threatening our borders everywhere. These powers think that the conquest of this nation wil

us battles! He has raised the perishing land of France and set her on the highest pinnacle of power in the world! He is the emperor of his country and the king of Italy! He has made his impoverished brothers and sisters kings and queens. He is at once feared, obeyed and ado

ne was hurrying in that direction, realising that it was a signal of importance. Jean and Bonaparte lost no time

who had belonged to the late Court or were in any way connected with it, and all who were suspected of royalistic sympathies. This was to be effected by a series of domiciliary visits. At the roll of the drums, all citizens were to re

delivered this message. "By ten o'clock not a soul mu

as the two separated, for it lacked but half an hour of the required time. "But go cautiousl

the vain protection of his own roof, which was soon to prove no protection at all, and waited in fearful expectation for the threatened visit. No one, were he never so innocent, could be certain of immunity. Valuable prop

ghtest sound, or the faintest cry in the streets. For they had in their midst, as Bonaparte had said, "something m

comes?" whispered Yvonne, who with all the others, instinctively low

ded what I shall do and say, only be sure you

rely betray both himself and us by some bark or whine!" So the hours wore away. The two days of suspense drew to an end, and the C

growled a voice, and J

led cheerfully. "You are

committee of surveillance,-the owner of the nasal voice. He was a singularly unprepossessing specimen of humanity, thin, wiry, short of stature, evil-faced, with little, claw-like hands. He

ors, tearing up clothing and destroying china on the pretence of a more thorough search, Citizen Coudert proceeded to put the inmates upon a rack of torturing questions. He had just to

year, with the little Wolf-Cub! I know dogs well, and am never mistaken in

ike satisfaction in his beady eyes. "Answer me in regard to this dog, if you please, y

citizen. I went with the throng to the palace on June twentieth, to see the sights. There I found this little dog, and I said to myself,-'Won't it be a

nd barked once. "Now for Equality!" Moufflet barked twice. "Now for Fraternity!" The dog gave three short, sharp barks, then sat up and lifted its paws to beg. An

trick for a royalist dog! You've done well, my

roperty that belongs to the people at large? This dog should have been delivered to the Assembly. He is valuable, and might have been sold and the money turned to helping our starving poor. Hand him over to m

t and Yvonne helped him to hold his tongue. The committee of surveillance left the house, accompanied by yelps of protest from Mouf

give it to the Assembly, that I know! He wants it for himself, or else he just took it for the sake o

dog's trick, which you were clever enough to teach him, I doubt not but we would have all been in La Conciergerie within an ho

ith victims (sad to say, for the most part absolutely innocent of the crimes imputed to them!) that a still more horrible plan was determined upon by those two arch fiends of the Revolution, Marat and Danton,-one which should at once clear the prisons for

ere scenes of unspeakable and indescribable carnage till at last they were empty. Never was there in history so revolting

tz in the Rue du Mail. Bonaparte introduced the boy to his sister, a slender, rather pretty girl of fifteen in the tight-fitting black taffeta cap of the St. Cyr school. As she had little to say for herself, Bonaparte suggested that she

dare not leave yet! I feel that I have a sacred trust to fulfil! Yet all has gone wrong! Moufflet is stolen and I shall never see him again. We are constantly in danger from that spying Coudert; it was only yeste

hich I admire nothing more heartily. I like you, and I will surely come back some day,-and who knows what we may yet do together! Au revoir now! Be true to your trust, and don't forget the friend you once made by butting him flat on his back!" Jean could not even answer. He seized the young man's hands, kis

COBBLER,-E