When a Cobbler Ruled a King

little scheme of his own. The friend was Citizen Barelle, one of the many and ever-changing commissaries of the Tower. Barelle often came into the little tavern after hi

nd quickly aroused sympathies, but that he would also be easily disposed to render th

lf one afternoon, and he had Barelle to himself in the

ittle fellow over yonder! So am I!" Barelle showe

him how the queen had once rendered them help in their distress, and how they had grieved at the misfortune of thei

you could have her appointed. And then, would it not be possible, when she and little Yvonne come with the clothes, to have Yvonne taken up to play with the

found one so soon. I will use what influence I have. But about the little Yvonne,-we must see later!" The next week it was all settled. Mère Cl

ink the night before she went for the first time, so excited was she over the prospect! Jean gave her a long list o

he and her mother packed the clothes in a great basket, hired a carriage for a franc, and were driven to the Temple. At the outer courtyard the carriage was stopped by a sentry on duty, and they were obliged to carry the

cle of clothes must be taken from the basket and minutely examined to see that they contained no hidden writing or messages

e little fellow upstairs awhil

were drawn, the door opened, and they stood in the presence of Louis XVII of France! Yvonne could scarcely believe her eyes! Had she not known whom she was going to see, she would never have recognised him. Rememberin

ill-treatment, was clad in a startling red suit. On his shorn, jagged hair rested a liberty-cap. His che

Wolf,' you wretched little cub, or

d beat me to death!" answered the child, quietly but firmly.

tle youngster to play with the boy, and give you some freedom! You don't have much leisure time now." Simon, exceedingly flattered by what he deemed

e of the day, and I'm just as much a prisoner as he is. I tell you I can't stand it very long! It's bad for my health! It's driving me crazy! Why

head and looked at Yvonne. He gave a great start of recognition and delight, and would have uttered a glad cry, had not Yvonne laid her finger on her lips, glanced at the two men, and shaken her head. The boy u

ang away from him, and he jumped from his chair with a new and unaccustomed lightness, to chase her round and round the

o tell you! Do you

ead!" Yvonne noticed that the cob

Charles obediently broke into a run, she following,

leries the night you left it." Question after question crowded t

isy talk, Yvonne, in short scraps of sentences told the boy the story of how Jean rescued Moufflet from the Tuileries, how La Souris had wrongfully taken him away, and how he had since returned. She assured the child that they were keeping the little animal with the hope of som

time he asked many questions about his mother, sister and aunt. These Yvonne answered by smiling and pointing to the room above to indicate that

t be going!"

mplored Louis Charles. The good-natured commissary agr

her. Tell them so for me, and that I thank them!" Yvonne signi

hair. I thought you would like to have it, perhaps."

d I do thank you for it. Good-by

e led her away, she called back: "Good-bye, Little Capet!" But the child heard only her last whi

son,-weeks of fear, uncertainty, and foreboding, terrible in their dragging length. Each day she eagerly

s wife. Madame Tison fell suddenly very ill, and in her sickness begged the Queen's pardon for all her former meanness and spite. Marie Antoinette forgave her freely, but

e Queen's aid in her hour of need. Making himself acquainted with all that he could gather about her son's welfare, he gave her daily accounts of all that he thought would interest her. More t

ied when she saw his appearance through her loophole, clad in the red suit of the Commune. But onc

ild, and ceas

hild! my he

hts were still with her, and he

nths and a half in a small, damp cell. After that she was obliged to undergo a trial that was even more of a flimsy mockery than the one accorded to Louis XVI. "Anything, anything to be rid of her!" was the one idea of this terrible tribunal. The end,

of the Queen's fate. And on the floor below, also waited the persecuted child, who did not even kno

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