The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1856-03-29
Bp .1uIid Ndwtborue.
CHAPTEls VIII.


had dawned on Paris The sun rose As fresh
and beautiful to light up the scenes of crime.
and the bland air stirred as gently 10 cool the
brows OF men whose hands drippri with hu-
man blood. as if Nature had but to do her
Masters will. and take no note of men. A,
group of pale, weary, haggard men were AS
sembed in one Of the outer halls of the .D
bnye u. Grrm0in. They were but a rein
nant cf the multitude which. the morning be-
fore, had crowded the great prison house
but the past day, and all the night, they had
seen their companions called out, snulv and
in companies, and knew that they were call
Ell out to die for the groans OF the victims,
and the shouts of the hleous crowd of spec.
tators came, mingled in terrible discord, to
their ears
Bat now, for a little space, all sound had
ceased. The Judges snored upon their bench
es. the tired executioners slept on the same
straw where the bodies of the slain had fall
en-, and the lOokers.o had gone 70 their
wretched abOdes for a little rest and food
But the prisoners slept not. Some walked
together, ard talked with each other in low
tones: some stood with folded arm. and COM
muned silently with themselves: some Law
on the tiled floor, awaiting their death in sui
len despair.
A'phOnSe Darourt stood apart from all.
leaning his head on his crossed arms. which
he rested against the wall So sudden and
terrible had been his fail. that at firt he was
stunned and stupefed by it; but he .radu-
ally awOke to the reality OF bis situation He
was not afraid to meet death; but the bitter
ness of death is not in diving 1t is in snap
ping aUuder, one by one. the delrate ten
drills with which the fond heart clncs to its
treasures: and this bitterness he had drained
to the drecs And now. with his fee. as it
were on the thrcshol,. of eternity. he paused
to take one look backward His life, like a
panorama, seemed to pass before bis vision.
\ sunny spot, in the far distance, was his
bovhood. ard the light became more intense
as youth advanced. o, what glorious thing
it seemed to Ire, in those Joyous days Then
his early manhood, all spanncd with the
beautiful rainbow of hope and lovf then
dark figure crossed his path, and suddenly
all his way is wrapped in sloom-a darkness
which could be icit-throush which he seem
ed TO CrOpe YEARLY for long years ill his
;, own brautifu Loni>e. like an angel of light.
had di>peiicd the shadow, and bid him hope
and love again. But now. that dark figure
comes between him and life again. and he
must hope no longer. But oh to leave her
thus. without one word more of farewell or
advice. far from her native home, in the
midst OF violence and crime-it uas bitter
ness unmixed.
Just then, a bird alighted upon the bars of
the window above his head, and poured forth
such a joyous burst of melody as to startIe
even those most lost in their reflections, and
call forth sad smile from many Of the prs
oners. The Able Srnay. the grey-haire,l
ronttssor OF ST. Marie. who had been kne-l
ing alone in one corner, now rose and came
forward, saving:
"My children. let us accept the omen, and
y prepare ourselves to take wing Tor heaven
; when these prison bars are passed"
They gathered round the reverend man
and knrlt solemnly while he offered tn,
prayers for the diving They were still upou
u their knees, when the doors were thrown o
pen, and the name Of Dacourt was called
The priest spread his hands over the kneel
" ing group. and gave them his blessing The
= taking the hand Of Dacourt as he rose, h
~ said.
p " BE Of good cheer, my son; the way
l. Short
), An appalling spectacle was that in tn
prison court. At one end of it sat the me
appointed to perform, in the character O
Judges, the mummery Of Justice. Thei
pipes and bottles, their swords, pistols an
papers. covered the table before them. Th
executioners. ranged on either side, with tn
implements of their horrid trade in thei
{ hands, awaited the signal to begin their worI
. Their bloody aprons. and sleeves rolled u,
gave them the appearance Of common butci
8 ers; and they laughed and joked as careless
ly as if their victims had been but beasts O
the stall. The bodies of the last nights slai
l. had been carried away TO the great charne
- !" house Of St. Jacques, and the pavemer
~ strewn with fresh straw, to absorb the bloo
'e Rough benches had been placed along tt
" walls for spect ators, and these, even at III
u early hour, we're nearly filled with men an
v. women, who hailed the appearance of ID
court, as if impatient for the play to con
y, mence.
u Dacourt saw all this, as with a firm ste
10 he approached the table. The presidiu
It, Judge rose to pronounce the sentence, an
the quick preparatory movement o. the 81
u, u, bres threw the gIancns light in the face o
- the prisoner. But-did he hear Alright
be was that word acquined' A film gathere
before bis eyes, and bis hands trembled-t
g felt slender hands clasp bis own,and be yieI,
e. :. ed to the gentle force that drew him towar,
,d the great portal which opened on the stree