Washington telegraph., 1849-04-25

but when, recovering the mere shock
his bastard nerves, he perceived it wa
not the gripe of some hireling of the Law
but fathers hand that had clutched hi
arm, the vile audacity which knows fea
only from bodily cause--none from tn
awe of shame--returned to him
"Tush, sir" he said. "waste not tim
in reproaches, for fear the gens-d arme
are on my track. 1t is well that you ar,
the night at home. Unhand me, ole
mani have these witnesses still to Sc
crete, and he pointed to the garments
wet and dabbled with the mud of the
roads. He had scarcely spoken, when the
walls shook-there was the heavy clat-
ter OF hoots on the ringing pavement
! without.
They come" cried the son. "OE,
dotard save your son from the galleys." 4"
The galleys; the galleysn' said the
father, staggering back "It is true" he
said" the galleysn'
There was loud knocking at the gate.
The gens-d 'armes surrounded the house.
Open, IN the name of the law No
answer came-no door was opened
Some of the gens-d 'armes rode TO the
rear OF the house, in which was placed
the stable yard. From the window of
the son S room, the father saw the sudden
blaze OF torches, the shadowy forms of
men hunters. He heard the clatter of
arms as they swung themselves from their
horses. He heard voice cry-"Yes,
tins is the robbers gray horse. See, it
stlll reeks with sweat" And behind,
and in front, and at either door, again
came the knocking, and again the shout
-" Open in the name of the law ~
Ihen 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 astir, and the crowd came
round to know what shame had entered
the old soldiers home
Suddenly, within, there was heard the
report of iire-arm, and minute or so
aiterward the front door opened, and the
soldier appeared.
ENTER" he said to the gens-d' armes.
What would you?'
We seek a robber who is within your
walls"
Il know it--mount and find him: I
will lead the way
He ascended the stairs; he threw open
his sons room the officers of Justice
poured in, and on the floor lay the rob-
ber's corpse.
They looked at each other in amaze
ment. 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 man 5 blood
l was present at my friends trial.
The facts had become know 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 on his breast; and when he had
told his tale, he ended with these words
II have saved the son whom l reared
for France from a doom that spared the
life to brand with disgrace. Is this a
crime? give you life i'll exchange for
my sons disgrace. Does my country
need a victim? / have lived for my
country's glory. and | can die contented
to satisfy its laws--sure that if you blame
me, you will not despise sure that the
hands that give me to the headsman will
scatter bowers over my grave. Thus 1
confess all. |, soldier, look around
among nation of soldiers and in the
name of the star that glitters on my
breast, dare the "a theirs OF France to con-
denim me,
They acquitted the soldier-at least
they gave verdict answering to what
in our courts is called "justi6abe hon.
icide." a 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 repelled such
To his house he returned IN
deed, and the day afterwards they found
him dead, beside the cradle in which his
first prayer had been breathed over his
sinless child.