The weekly Butte record., 1862-11-22
THE SHADOW OF a HAND.
BY 4 MEDICAL STUDENT N PARIS.
\ THRILLING STORY.

an incident that came to my knowledge some
years since, proving. l think, incontestably
that some of the fairer portion of creation art
endowed in an eminent degree with this virtue
In the autumn of l645 circumstances called
me to Dieppe. To tell the truth, was by nc
means sorry to visit this fashionable watering
place. The change is very agreeable one
after long sojourn in Paris. 1t was late in
+ the evening of l4th of August that arrived
at the end of my journey, and proceeded at
once to the Hotel des Bains, (which, blythe by
| can recommend TO those of my readers who
happen to visit Dieppe) and after light sup
per, retired to rest.
have always been an early riser. II makes
no difference what time go TO bed at night, l
am sure TO get up early in the morning sup
pose this is habit, more than anything else
However that may be, the morning after my
arrival at Dieppe l was up by cock crow. l
/ looked at my watch, and found it wanted o
and explore the town.
When l arrived in the street ! was very
much surprised to find it full of people l gave
the inhabitants of Dieppe credit for being very
industrious, beating their Partisan brethren to
nothing in the exercise of the virtue of early
rising, and expected to discover upon inquiry
a practical illustration of the truth of the
adage, by finding the citizens of that pretty
but slow town noted for their health, renown-
ed for their wealth, and courted for their
wisdom.
l was disturbed from these reflections by
observing that the people were all going in
one direction, and they hurried forward as if
stimulated by some extraordinary curiosity l
addressed inquiries to some of them, but they
were too breathless and in too great hurry
TO make any reply to me. All they did was
to point before them and nod their heads.
Not being able to obtain any satisfaction
from them, l determined to follow their foot
steps, as | was convinced there must be some
thing to be seen.
We advanced at very quick pace down a
handsome street, which | afterwards learned
was the chief street in the town, called the
Grand Rue; the crowd all the time getting
denser, so as to render it more difficult to pro
ceed We might have gone mile, perhaps
when the street suddenly opened into a large
square; this square was densely packed with
great mob. The most distracted noise and
confusion prevailed, but l saw something there
raised on a platform at the farther end of the
square, that engaged my whole attention, and
made my blood feel as if it were turned into
ice
1t was & gullotine
Yes, there was the hideous framework,
painted black, that l had seen once before at
the Place du Trome in Paris At the moment
| turned my eyes on this instrument of death.
a man was engaged oillng the grooves, and to
enable him to do it more conveniently, the
knife was lowered half way down between the
two posts, and the morning sun made the blade
glitter, rendering it easily to be distinguished
by the whole multitude.
Although l had before seen an execution.
and was well aware of the painful effect it had
upon my mind for months afterwards, morbid
curiosity impelled me to remain and see the
conclusion of the tragedy. l had not to wait
long neighboring bell began to toll, and a
cart made its appearance bearing the criminal.
He appeared to take matters very easy, and
when first saw him, he was conversing gaily
with the two gendarmes who accompanied
him. He was smoking a cigar, and glanced
around at the multitude with the most perfect
nOnchalance. The populace, when they saw
him, gave yell of execraton a palpable
sneer was the only reply he deigned to make.
He ascended the steps leading to the scaffold
with an easy gait, and turning sharply around
to the mob, stood minute or two with arms
folded and foot advanced as if defying them
He glanced at them a look of unutterable
scorn and muttered between his teeth the word
" Canaie.'
1t was during this minute or two that had
time to make note Of his appearance. He
seemed to be about thirty-ive years of age
He was tall and powerfully built, but his fea-
lures we're the very epitomo of villainy His
eyes were dark and large, surmounted by bushy
eyebrows He wore long moustache which
extended far beyond his cheeks. Every bad
passion seemed to be expressed in his face in
fact his countenauce might be called perfectly
devilisb. An involuntary shudder ran through
me as l gazed upon it.
He resigned himself into the hands of the
executioner, and in few minutes all was over
When the time came for the knife to descend,
l had not the courage to look, but turned my
head away. and it was only by shout of the
mob that knew the tragedy was finished
inquired Of spectator near me the name
of the criminal and the crime for which he had
suffered
The man stared at me with astonishment,