Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-04-01
A DAUGHTERS DEV0TIGN.

Ii was in 1893. at Avignon, in France
An immense CROWD had assembled to wit
less the execution Of two persons, whom
tie revolutionary tribunal had condemned
among crowd ot Others. IN the middle
of tue square rose The guil!otine; in front
Of this sirutted, with horrible glec the
minister OF this festival, the exccutioner.
This man was hideous to behold. Even
his fearful trade inspired still less disgust
than his bruiiShly cruel exterior and mis-
liendIikc Joy. lie smiled as he regarded
tie preparations for the punishment. By
his manner he seemed to say TO the spec
tators: | am happy TO see you, and to
display my dextcrity."
Never had there been any scene more
revolving and more ignoble than this, even
amongst the many that had sullied that
period
No one knew this mans origin; the
most sinister reports were cIrrent about
him. Those functions, which hitherto no
one had exercised but by constraint, he
had solicited rs q favor. There had even
been some hesitation about granting his
request, 50 strong was the disgust and
aversion inspired by his vicious and afro
cious countcaancc. You may Judge by
this what sort of a man he vast was
considered doing him an honor to appoint
him public cXeculioner.
However, he is on his scaffold, toying
with his instruments of death.
Meanwhile, the victims were approach
ing. Their route was lined by double
file of citizen soldiers, and behind them
were the peoplc-the sovereign people
Floating above the crowd a roaring
sound rose on the air. There were i'm
precautions, cries of rage, shouts, and,
mingled with ali, the horrid revolutionary
soag, ca ira" yelled in chorus by
thousands of harsh voices.
The fierce din rolled through the air
like whirlwind, freezing some hearts
with fear, and redoubling in others the
ardor of political fury.
But singular to relate! by degrees, as
the two victims approached, the uproar
grew less and still less as they appeared
in sight, and when they reached the fatal
spot it ceased entirely.
They had no sooner, indeed, arrived at
tn place of execution than the crowd.
who were just swayed and agitated by
passions turbulent and violent, seemed
panic-strickcn, so profound was the silence
that rcigned in the streets, the squares.
and at the open windows. More ominous
than ...e tumult that had preceded it, this
silence struck chill through the heart.
1t rose from the circumstance that the
two new victims were singularly interest
ing and beautiful.
They were Emma and her mother.
The mother was still in the. zenith Of
her beauty, beauty that borrowed
fresh charm from her grief, for, occupied
solely with her daughter, bewailing the
fate of Emma, and thinking nothing of
her own, she seemed unconscious that
these terrible preparations could be also
for herself.
This mother, SO interesting 10 the eyes
of humanity, might, perhaps, be guilty in
political eyes. Even while commisera-
ting her. it was possible to comprehend
her condemnation. But Emma! before
what tribunal could she be pronouced
Criminal What fault could she have
committed against her country, .at5an age
at which we can only offend our God and
our parents, and when to both God and
her parents she had as yet been only an
object of blessing and love "a girl of
sixteen, endowed with exquisite beauty
and angelic sweetness of character.
It was easy to discern in one of the two
victims the maternal character, dignitied
end adorned with all that is most noble
in human nature, butmingled, at the same
time, with something naughty and scorn-
ful The mother had not effaced the feu-
dial dame, the friend Of emigration, the
proud and eontcmptuous enemy which
the Republic had dreaded and prescribed
In the other, the lilial sentiment alone
was visible; it shene pure and unmixed
and at this fatal moment it looked so
lovely and attractive, that the most aban.
doned oftheir own sex, at sight of that
interesting girl. stared with admiration
and pity combined
Emma, usually so timid, found energy
enough at this crisis to console her mother: