The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1856-03-22

winch ne was addressed, OUT proceeded slow |
ly to do as he was bidden. When he read
the name OF a prisoner whom Danton wished
to save. the latter repeated it aloud, and no.
ted it down on the paper he held, and Marat,
with stroke of bis pen, blotted it from the
list.
They we're approaching the end of their
work. Marat scowled as the number swelIed
on the list of saved which Danton held. He
loved blood, ard be thought the minister
quite too sparing OF human life but thus
far he had said nothing. Aiphonse Da-
COURT" read Marat "Alphonse Dacourt,"
repeated Danton, and rapidly wrote out the
name. Marat threw down his pen with an
oath but recollecf:ng himself, he took it up
again, and turned towards the other with a
smile Of mingled maIignity and irony.
Faith, Danton. one would suppose that
the National Assembly had elected thee min
ister of mercy. instead Of Justice"
For moment the two men confronted each
other silently, each apparently measuring his
own power of will with that of the other.
What is Dacour. to thee ?" asked Dan.
ton at length.
IL do not say that he is aught to me, but
say that Danton spares the blood which
France demands"
! France demands no nrocent blood She
will have hecatombs Of traitors to offer up at
the shrine of Liberty-will not that suffice?
The friends OF Dacourt have petitioned for
his life; his innocence is July proved: he
has a Young wife who is distracted whv
should be die ~
"Hc shall die, beause jemand it, Is Ma
rat patriot? Then his enemies are trail
tors and he struck the desk with his
clenchcd hand.
Peace, peace. Mara,," said Danton, in a
welding tone d" SEE how it is; thou hast
some personal srudge to satisfy. We will
not quarrel over this man 5 fate be it as thou
wilt"
lie dashed bis pen acros, the name he had
written. and Marat began to read as before,
though his voice trembled with excitement
and passion. They went on to the end of
the list ; and after giving some final instruc-
tions to Marat, Danton took his departure
How many precious lives hung upon the will
Of those two nen
Christine had been sitting all this time in
her dark corne~ an earnest spectator OF the
scene, though she understood it only in part
1t was plain to her that great manv men
were to die, but she knew not why nor when.
When the name OF Alphonse Dacourt was
spoken. her little heart tluttcrcd wildly. 4
whole troop Of beautiful associations came
hur,viny back. and she seemed to sit once
more on CrSuic's lap, with her arms round
her neck, while she told her about her dear
brother Alphonsc.' She trcmhled during
the discussion Of the two men, aud when she
, comprehcnded the result, she laid her head
on her knees. and cried bitterly.
The next morning she was in the cour,
, very early, waiting for Antoine and II
seemed to her he was never SO long in com
ing. "Oh Antoine" she cried, as soon a.
he appeared, -" have something dreadful to
tell thee"
He saw that she bad been CRYING. and ask
ed anxiouslv what had happened to her.
Then she told him all she had heard ths
previous evening that Dacourt was to die
because Marat hated him; and that he wa
dear Ursule's brother. and Crsulc loved hin
so much.
"Oh, what will she do if they kill him
wish he could be saved" And she burs
into tears.
II wish he could. he answered very tho't
fully. I" / do not like to see my little Chris
tine grieved."
"If thou wilt stow me the way. | will e
and ask good king Louis to save him. hav,
heard that he is very kind, and would no
!, be afraid"
Antoine, though he felt very sorry, coul'
not help smiling at this simplicity.
, why child, didst thou not know that th'
king and queen are in prison? They coul'
not help thee if they would They canno
j. even he'll themselves"
"What shall do then am 20 rery sor
ry for sister Crsule J" sobbed Christine.
Antoine, who was reared in the tide Of e
vents which preceded the revolution, an,
;. which rose ever higher and higher, till al
. things old and established we're submerged
4, added to the natural vivacity Of his race th
, qulckness of perception and the precocity Of
I, reason which a continual contact with dan
= gerous elements begets. Ills employment
!. too, made him familiar with the thought. an
acts Of the principal actors in these scenes
lie had no parents, and few relatives wi,
took any interest in bis we'll being, and
: till he found Christine at the house If Mara
!, he had never known what it was to be loveC
d But she was 50 frank and afectionate, sh
J. depended 90 much upon bis daily visits, ba
'f such perfect confidence in bis trutbfulnes
> and superior knowledge, and looked to biz
. for protection and help in all her difficultiet
that it made him teel that he was almost
e man; and he felt manly pride in assistin
t her, that was truly elsvating to his character
The boy of fifteen was az wise to plan, an,