own peculiar afflictions to think of, or feel the sorrows of, their neighbours. A revolutionary agent had arrived, who spared neither sex nor age; the young men of all ranks were compelled to work at the canals and fortifications, or ascend the scaffold for decapitation-no one felt himself

secure.

Laisson had gained accurate information of the attachment of Berghaume to the Royalists; and he was highly exasperated when he was informed that his victim had escaped-in the outburst of his rage he hastened himself to the house, and traversed the apartments, directing everything to be destroyed; but when the disconsolate mother, and her weeping child knelt before him, and he beheld the extreme beauty of the latter, he checked his impetuosity, and his demonaic ingenuity resolved to inflict the deepest possible wound on the hearts of the parents by the debasement of the daughter.

Thus determined, his manner became changed-he countermanded his orders, complimented the ladies, and sought, by assumed kindness, to gain their confidence, for, with a vanity inherent as a national characteristic, he believed he might win Jeanette to his wishes by compliments and flattery. At first, Madame Berghaume's mind was much relieved by this sudden alteration; but when, after two or three visits, maternal solicitude and watchfulness detected the object, her fears grew stronger, and she sunk with dismay from the consequences, especially as they had been denounced to the Revolutionary Commissioner, who was only restrained from taking their lives by the persuasions and inducements of Laisson. Still the latter knew that this could not last long, and impatience getting the better of him, he came to the determination of putting the matter to the test. Accordingly he repaired to the house, saw Madame Berghaume alone, stated the peril in which they were placed, professed the most ardent attachment for Jeanette, and then proposed the conditions under which he would afford them every protection. The agonised mother listened with impatience and disgust, and yet she judged it expedient to temporize: the announcement had not come upon her unawares—she had expected something of the kind, and therefore was the better prepared with a reply. But Laisson was not the man to be easily deceived, he saw bitter repugnance in the mother's looks, and he imperatively demanded to see Jeanette. She was called-similar statements were made to her, but she had been forewarned; he addressed her in softened accents of tenderness, but her quick intellect instantly penetrated its design; she was firm in her refusal, even beyond her mother's expectations. Thus foiled, the brigadier at once threw off the mask, and declared that he would resign them to the fearful tribunal, and their crimes against the Republic could alone be expiated by a public execu

tion, the horrors of which he described in terms sufficient to appal the soul; but Jeanette continued firm, and he therefore quitted them, resolved to carry her off secretly to his own quarters and compel submission. Amongst the most devoted admirers of Jeanette was a young Frenchman, a native of Bordeaux, whose father owned and commanded a brig that traded along the coast, and frequently received and brought freights on account of Berghaume. Pierre Durand had repeatedly accompanied his father to Bruges, and sometimes remained for days at the residence of Jeanette. He was a plain unsophisticated young sailor, manly and handsome in appearance, noble and generous in conduct, and his attachment to the fair girl was so unbounded, that he would willingly, at all times, have perilled his existence to secure her welfare and happiness; yet his love was unavowed-his adoration was firm, but it was secret and silent. Jeanette esteemed him as she would a brother; and a stronger regard was creeping upon her feelings, so that at the departure of her father, she expressed a wish that Pierre was with them to afford his aid in the time of trouble.

And Pierre came-came too at a most critical juncture. As part of his newly formed scheme, Laisson pretended regret for his violence and not only sent apologies, but in the evening some of his satellites took presents for the mother and the daughter. Madame Berghaume and Jeanette were sitting clasped in each other's embrace, when these things arrived; to avoid insult and rudeness she sanctioned their being admitted, and Jeanette having taken a seat apart from her parent, the messenger was allowed to enter. This was the very point the scoundrels had in view-four or five men rushed in, and proceeded to perpetrate the premeditated outrage. The beautiful girl was torn from the arms of her mother, whither she had fled for shelter, her limbs were bound, her mouth muffled, all resistance was at an end. In vain the mother entreated, implored, and threatened; fruitless were her struggles to release her child-her cries, her tears were alike disregarded; There was no succour for them-her lovely daughter was borne away, and the wretched parent was locked in her apartment, where, overpowered by intense anguish, she sank upon the floor in a state of insensibility.

The marauders, congratulating themselves upon their success, had opened the door of the dwelling, to depart with their victim, when several armed men opposed them, a desperate struggle ensued-Jeanette was forced from their hold, and immediately released by one of the assailants who assured her of his protection; with eager delight she clung to his embrace, for the voice had told her that it was Pierre Durand.

Hasten, Jeanette" said he, "not a moment must be lost, you must away instantly with me."

"I cannot leave my mother," replied the terrified Jeanette; "take me back to her, Pierre-take me back."

"And then both of you will perish," uttered the young man in agony, "I have rescued you once Jeanette.-I care not for my own life, if I lose you-Those wretches are overpowered but others are at hand, this will be the only minute allowed you for escape, my comrades must seek their safety, and if you will it, I cannot but die for, or with you, Jeanette." "Oh ! do not talk so, Pierre" said the affrighted maiden, "I will follow your counsel, indeed I will.”

Wrap this cloak around you, dearest," directed Pierre in a tone of unusual tenderness, as he assisted in the arrangement. "Pull this cap closely over your head, conceal your female dress as much as possible. And now, comrades, are we safe?" A brief affirmative was the response, for the villains, finding themselves overpowered, had resigned the contest and suffered themselves to be bound by cords. The assailants then gradually dispersed, Pierre and his fair companion taking the lead, and after traversing several streets they reached the abode of the mother of a confederate, and apprehensions of an immediate pursuit were at an end.

"I fear I have done wrong, Pierre, in quitting my mother," said Jeanette, whilst her eyes overflowed with tears. "Oh! what will become of her now."

"One of you is thus far saved," replied Durand with emotion," and my best efforts shall be employed in endeavouring to rescue your mother. I arrived but this afternoon, and through one of those strange chances by which innocence is sometimes delivered from its enemies, I became acquainted with Laisson's design. My shipmates and a few friends were promptly assembled, and Jeanette, dearest Jeanette, this is indeed the happiest moment I ever experienced. Oh! if you did but know how proud my heart feels”—and he pressed her to his side-“ if you could but be assured how much my very soul loves you! but I will not take advantage of your tremor or distress." He opened a chest and, taking out the habiliments of a mariner, "there Jeanette," continued he "

you must dress yourself in these-Nay flinch not, dearest; we are still surrounded by peril, and disguise will be absolutely necessary; my father's vessel is at Ostend— once on board of her as part of the brig's crew, and all will then be well." "But my hair Pierre, my complexion!" urged Jeanette. "Oh! too much I fear there is no help for me."

"Your hair must be cropped and stained as well as your skin," said Pierre with some embarrassment, as he felt he was touching on delicate ground. "Indeed, indeed dearest, I would not counsel you unadvisedly, but I have that stirring in my breast that tells me if you will but comply with my requests, we shall soon be beyond the reach of persecution. I

C

must leave you now, Jeanette, to do my best to preserve your mother. Summon the old woman when you wish it, she will tell you what to do. One parting embrace, dearest,-it will be the first in our lives, Oh!" he checked himself, and straining the fair girl in his arms, he pressed a kiss on her cheek, her forehead, and her lips, and the next moment she was alone.

Pierre Durand returned with cautious steps towards the residence of Madame Berghaume; all was still and solitary in the street, though the sounds of drunken revelry and the shrieks of hapless victims at times rose fearfully from the distance; Pierre lingered and watched before he ventured to approach the door, but at length he did so, and was instantly seized by some of Laisson's gang, who, having heard the shouts of their comrades, had broken in and liberated them, and taken posession of the house. Without a moment's delay he was hurried into the presence of Jeanette's mother, who not being aware of what had occurred instantly recognised him, and in frantic language called upon him to rescue her child. Pierre at once saw that to deny all knowledge of the lady would be useless, he therefore availed himself of the advantage offered, and in mournful accents demanded what had become of Jeanette.

They have torn her from me" exclaimed the agonized woman. "They have deprived the mother of her offspring! Oh! Pierre why were you not here to save her ?"

"Would to heaven I had been," uttered Durand as he wrung his clenched hands together;" but whither has she gone, who has perpetrated this outrage?" he turned to the gang " Countrymen, I am a Frenchman like yourselves."

No, no,” shouted one of the party "France disowns you, you are a traitor-Come, come, comrades bring him along before the brigadier; I've heard quite enough to satisfy me; bring him along."

Why am I thus grappled with, of what do you accuse me?" demanded Pierre. "I am no traitor, and will go fearlessly to your General. Surely he cannot, will not, sanction such uncalled for violence. Allow me one word with this lady, and I am at your service."

"Sacre! bring him along, I say" ordered the other, as he stamped his foot in anger. "A few turns of the thumb screws, and he will be glad to make confession."

"Oh! that I could resist even to the death," exclaimed Pierre, in bitterness," you should not find me tamely yielding to your force, but I am overwhelmed by numbers”

if

"As we were some two or three hours since," responded the leader of the gang, "I like your spirit, young fellow: you may make one of us, you will, but tell the brigadier all about it."

Pierre was silent, and he rightly judged that a public intimation of Jeanette's safety to her mother would but tend to increase the danger, so bidding her farewell, he was guarded off by the soldiers, to the quarters of the General, who, when he heard of the escape of the maiden, and was assured that the young man before him was a party concerned in it, burst out into uncontrollable rage. Laisson was generally a cool calculating man, seldom indulging in outbreaks of temper; but he had been stimulating his evil passions with wine, and the loss of both father and daughter maddened him to the extreme.

"Traitor! villain!" vociferated he, as, springing up, he drew his heavy sabre from its steel scabbard, and then raising his sinewy arm, was about to become himself the executioner of the defenceless being who stood unshrinkingly in his presence. But the blow was arrested by the still stronger hand of the leader of his marauders, who exclaimed

"Citizen General, he is a seaman, such as the nation is in want of; and, pardonnez moi, you know there are positive orders that every sailor, who can be procured, is to be sent to Brest, to man the fleet against the ship of England."

"You have stayed my just vengeance," answered Laisson, returning his sabre to the scabbard, “but, my friend, you are right-let the traitor live to do service to the state."

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I am no traitor, General," responded Pierre with cool firmness. "I am a citizen of France, a native of the vine-clad hills of the Garonne" "How came you here, to interfere in my concerns?" demanded the brigadier. "Who and what are you?”

"A seaman, who at various times has received favours from the hands of the citizen Berghaume," replied Pierre. "I arrived at Bruges but this day from Ostend, and cherishing sentiments of gratitude, I went to visit my generous benefactor.”

“You went at an unlucky moment my friend," said the man who had seized him. "Prevarication is useless, I should know you from a thousand."

"What proofs have you," demanded Pierre. "I presume, CitizenGeneral, you will not inflict punishment without evidence of crime."

"I was certainly very near doing so," observed the brigadier more calmly ;" and if I find that you are deceiving me you shall-but proceed, Dubout-proceed to your proofs."

The man, thus commanded, entered into a detail of the occurrences by which his plans had been defeated, and stated his positive conviction that Pierre was the individual who had rescued the girl; he had clearly and distinctly seen him as he emerged into the street, and immediately recollected his person; he had heard him speaking to Jeanette, and the