The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-07-05
CHAP. XVII.
TIL Mission ofMe Black Ball.

The Mission Of the Black Ball.
pors.;non is seated in his solitary chamber,
,'l,nrr over the events Of the last few months,
orr especiaIly those of the last few days
,Lr;ce tweuty-four hours he has not been
y Scarcely has be cared, during that time,
gs,isfv the cravings of hunger with re"
~. of stale bread. washed down by deel
Its of water. His bed-a mere pallet
4 ., trestles, and covered with couple OF
i.,tets and rug-is undisturhed. Since the
of death fell to him, sleep has fled from his
aa,ed eyes. which are all blood-shotten, anG
ynken in their deep orbits. In that large chalr
which he sits now half buried, he has snatch
few moments of forgetfuness of the past.
m cheated his conscience out OF thought Of
!. rresent. and Of what is to come. That
| nall black ball weighs down his shoulders
= the World does those of Atlas. His arms
:. flded over his breast, and his head droops
-rsr1 His brow is knitted, and his lips are
a,.,resseJ. There il an inward struggle go
IN Of no ordinary kind, the same that has
r., ,nawipg at his heart for the last three
|ors and the victory remains yet undecided
: fierce combat between his better nature,
"A The second self that ambition and political
-r,;.ansbip have made him. He starts up
l~3J.rIr out of disturbed doze, and goes to
10 uip5ow TO look out on the glorious sunlight
which /, streaming in, reflected back from the
.aoE hat has fallen during the night, and now
eoye-s the busy life Of the city as with shroud.
10 himself might be almost taken for corpse,
!, yba.ilr pale is he. Something moves him.
Re uulatcLes the easement, and gently throws
ha hao
tanned to come and feed out of his hand. Ii
fu,,ers IFS wings and chirps out its little note
If erecting, and presently hops on to his ex-
tended hand. How tenderly he caresses the
pet,
II had .0rgo;ten thee" he murmurs. "And
no wonder. for | have even forgotten myself.
PRETTY bird. Thou lowest me; yes, but thou
h.ie,t Inv fellows In thy way, and amongst
them. thou art tyrant, despot, and thy
chrp is law in thy tiny world Yet, there should
h. repubcanism in nature, if anywhere. What
n,h, hast thou to ilutter thy wings over thy
brethren? Ionder courtyard is as much theirs
as thine yet thou art very monster of tyran-
Nv. and will let none eat till thou art satisfied.
think thou must die! All tyrants deserve
death, and my mission is to kill
IT, kept caressing the bird as he spoke, then
took its little head between his fingers, and
made as though he would wiring it off. But he
lid not The tiny black eve, sparkling in
he sun0eams, seemed to defy him to commit
hat act Of wanton cruelty. and to make mute
appeals to his generosity. He moistened with
ga'er q crust of hread-out of the remnants OF
lis last meal-led his pet, and having swept of
the snow from the window-sill, placed there
| he remainder Of the crumbs for his other pen.
sioners. Go, now, tyrant," he added, taking
the BIRDS beak between his lips" 90, now
Liberty is thine, and life. Go, enjoy both"
Tie was closing the easement, when a noise
as Of the CHATTER of troopers horse, suddenly
checked at hard trot, fell on his ear. He saw
te porter run out from his lodge, and present
7 return with large, square letter, Of which
be was examining the superscription as h,
crossed the court in the direction of the part o
the building the artist occupied.
lie Is coming here, do believe" muttere,
Eoassllloa. AN estafette to me! What cal
be he meaning of this?"
de fastened the easement, and stood listening
y doubt Of 1t, the porter was coming up stair;
IL stopped presently on the landing, and ran,
The bell
Who is there?" asked the artist.
It's !, Citizen! Jean Marie Lefrere. Her
despatch for thee. 1t was brought by
BouSsillon opened the door and confrontet
the porter who started back on seeing him.
Tn, Mercy, Citizen Roussillon! What all
aee? he calculated.
"Gye me the letter, and attend to thine owl
,lsiness Citizen" retorted the artist, almos
matching the sealed missive out of his hands
A2d abruptly closing the door in his face.
Mad mad, or going" muttered the porter
he Is usually SO polite. All, these revolu
10 the Citizen ROussillon, Artist. Model
= SAID {ouslon, reading the superscription
y mas the seal of the Prince President" h.
laaled' atte- pause, during which he turn
Tie letter over. "Allonsl Let us see.''
Ne removed the envelope, took out the letter
rapidly perused it. The contents brough
eCior into his cheeks at first, but it present
-yl' aud lett them paler than before.
II needed but this, it needed but this" b
SPED and crumpling the missive up in hi
-'r'' All Is over, and my race is run"
ne allowed himself to sink into his larg
-l"' ana burying his face in his hands, r,
-..ue' mus for full hour. He then rose, an
-. u The window, opened it, and called tn
Never mind about coming up he said t
T.-. aver put on thy hat and coat first.
m .Lee 10 go an Grand"
.A'e the porter was preparing himself, tn
-. 80 sa' down and wrote a short note, which h
'.l WIN black wax. He had lust fnishe
e,Nlg IT. when his messenger raped at tn
|
ON1en Letrere," said the artist, speakin
gentle voice, Il wish this note delivere
'e hands of the citizen to whom it is az
without any delay. Thou will prob;
a aI0 out where he is at work, should he nj
az his lodgings"
the Citizen who was taken from her
:. .M three nights ago." remarked the DO
II, monsieur Paul. He was ILL.,"
r;.1 .1e same, answered Roussillon, in a husk
a~e.1 Ihou must see him; must see hin
nm rlloer' wherever he is"
p,,..-}g] u may ST reckon on it as done, Citize
q, ra'cctnI responded the porter. "But, pa
g.b;-. +" l ask Il thou art Ill. We have see
lI1lg Of thee =
.,rrr ave oeen busy" answered the artist, i
tyba3 him. 3" | did not want to be di
Co. nou am not quite well, but am not i
Tba ~-N make speed"
II. boLP Porter departed on his errand at one
o-.!y. s"I without shaking his head omi
Iu ba 1-u mluttering, in allusion to the arts
And was was terribly altered"
iss1in'S e Ii, might he be, for had he not bee
bison WIN death for three days? Death |
Alj IA uealh by the knife, death by the bullt
1,F ~, -au not the shadow of the DESTROYER eve
ap,ess;n upon him, freezing his very life.bloo
.ara III already upon him the image of Il
\ sl3 sbn @Ll making even strong men to shrir
Lar j Is s before him? Verify, living de,
4. fearful spectacle to look upon.
% IA 'te.ufned to his seat in the chair. drew
\ . vrita I a. took paper and pen, aud beg,
. AZ NOV. y matters not whom he addresse
I l. had saihced him. He sealed the lette
? H. PHI "'i n, put them-including that
EssIe5 ao5 fTesideut's-up into one envelot
a. 70 n ono addressed it to Paul. TWAS sing
\ saer, ''s he pains he took in directing tho
!: J. end, a8a now said he, rising, 4mv work is
J. hal CO. Out the deed has vet to be done. th