The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-11-03

and went to my sons ROOM The door was locked.
knocked once, twice, thrice-no answer. dared
not call aloud, lest should rouse tile servants.
went down the stairs--I opened the back door,
passed to the stable. My horse was there not nv
sons. My horse Weighed; it was old like myself
my old charger at Mount ST. Jean stole hack. /
crept into the shadow of the wall by my sons door
and extinguished my light. felt as if l were a
thief myself"
Brother" interrupted my mother under her
breath speak in your own words, not in this
wretched fathers. know not why, but it would
shock me less
The Captain nodded.
Before daybreak my friend heard the back door
open gently; a foot assembled the stairs-a key
grated in the door of the room close at hand-the
father glided through the dark into that chamber,
behind his unseen son.
He heard the clink of the tinder-box light was
struck It spread over the room but he had time to
place himself behind the window curtain which
was close at hand. The figure before him stood
moment so motionless, and seemed to listen, for it
turned to the right, to the left its visage covered
with the black hideOus mask which is worn at car
nivals. Slowly the mask was removed could that
be his sons the son of brave man it was pale
and CHASTITY with scoundrel fears the base drops
stood on the brow; the eye was haggard and blood
shot. lie looked as a coward looks when death
stands before him.
The youth walked, or rather skuked, to the sec
reta1re, unlocked it, opened drawer; placed with
in 1t the contents of his pockets, and his frghfu
mask the father approached softly, looked over his
shoulders, and saw in the drawer the pocket-book
embroidered with his friends Meanwhile,
the son took out his pistols knocked them cautious
ly, and was about to secrete them, when his father
arrested his arm. Robber, the use Of these is
yet to come"
The sons knees knocked together, an exclama-
ton for mercy burst from his lips but when, re-
covering the mere shock of his bastard nerves, he
perceived It was not the grippe of some hirelng of
the law, but fathers hand that had clutehed his
arm, the vile audacity which knows fear only from
bodily cause, none from the awe of shame,
turned TO him.
''Tush, sir,'' he said, waste not time in re-
proaches, for fear the gens-d'armes are on my
track. 1t is well that you here; you can swear
that have spent the night at home. finland me,
old mani have these witnesses still to secrete ;;
and he pointed to the garments wet and dabbled I
with the mud of the road. He had scarcely spoken
when the walls shook, there was the heavy clatter
of hOofs on the ringing pavement without.
They come" cried the son; off, dotard save
your son from the gaeys.''
The galeys, the galeysp % cried the father
staggering back: " 'tis true he said the galevs
There was q loud knocking at the gate. The
gensd 'armes surrounded the house. "Open in the
name of the law" No answer eame-no door
was opened. Some of the gensd' armes rode 10
the rear of the house, in which placed
the stabe-yard. From the window of the sons
room, the father saw the sudden blaze of torch
es the shadowy forms of the men-hunters He
heard the clatter of arms as they swung them
selves from their horses. He heard voice cry
Yes, this is the robbers grey horse-see it still
reeks with sweat" And behind and in front, at
either door, again came the knocking, and again
the shout "Open, in the name Of the law"
Then lights began to CLEAN from the easements
Of the neighboring houses then the space filled
rapidly with curious wonderers startled from their
sleep; the world was astr, and the crowd came
around to know what crime or shame had entered
the old soldiers home.
Suddenly, within, there was heard the report of
pistol, and minute so afterwards the front
door was opened, and the soldier appeared.
Enter" ne said to the gensd 'armes-' what
would you!"
We seek a robber, who is within your walls"
" know it-mount and find hm-I viii lead
the way.'
He assembled the stairs, and threw open his sons
room; the officers of justice poured into the room,
and on the floor lay the robbers corpse They
looked at each other in amaZement.
Take what is left you," said the father.
" Take the dead man rescued from the galleys,
take the living man on whose hands rests the dead
mans blood ~
1 was present at the trial. The facts had become
known beforehand. He stood there with his gray
hair and his mutilated limbs, and the deep scar on
his visage and the cross of the legion of honor
his breast and when he had told his tale, he ended
with these words" have saved the son whom
reared for France from doom that spared the life
to brand it with disgrace Is this a crime! give
you my life in exchange for my sons disgrace.
Does my country need victim have lived for
my country's glory, and die contented to sat,
isfy its law, sure that if you did blame, you will
not despise-sure that the hands that give to the
headsman will scatter flowers over my grave.
Thus | confess ALL l. soldier, look round amongst
a nation of soldiers, and in the name of the star
which glitters on my breast, dare the fathers of
France to condemn me y
They acquitted the soldier at least they gave q
verdict answering to what in our courts is called
" iustifable homicide" shout rose in the court,
which no ceremonial voice could still the crowd
would have borne him in triumph to his house, but
his look repeed such vanities. To his house he
returned, indeed, and the day afterwards they
found him dead, beside the cradle in which his
first prayer had been breathed over his sinless
child Now, father and son, ask you, doyou con-
denim that man IN. Y. Mercury