Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1872-01-13
THE List HOURS or MARIA
.i.FTOIAEI7Z.

/
/ BUT the end of all was at hand
her trial and death. No one could
be found bold enough to defend her,
and the tribunal was obliged itself to
appoint counsel. 1t was on dull Oc-
tober morning that she was conducted
from the Conciergerle through the
dark winding passages of the ancient
monastrv in which the trials were held.
The hall of convention is large,
gloomy apartment, with sparse and
narrow windows, through the dusty
panes of which the dull yellow light
without creeps sluggishly. A few
dimlv-lit lanterns are scattered here
and there, but the atmosphere is heavy
and foggv, and half the hall is indis-
tinct and full of shadows. On the low
er benches sit the butchers with their
blood stained aprons, and long, sharp
knives cleaning in their belts. Above
them sit the hacoteuseS-terrible as the
weaving the weft Of fate; some
have cards in their hands, upon which,
by the prick of a pin, they count the
votes for and against as they are de-
clared from the Tribune. Every
where are scattered scowling faces ca
ger for the blood Of the unhappy wo-
man. From without come the mur-
murs of the savage crowd, threatening
death to those deputies who dare to
vote against the condemnation of "(
.4utrichtrnne y and as the doors open
and shut, their stir and fierce cries
surge heavily into the Court. The
trial lasts three days. On the last day
the proceedings begin at noon and last
until four the next morning. All
these hours the Queen of France stands
in the hot polluted atmosphere. with
out aught passing her lips. Burning
with thirst, she bcgs fora drink Of wa
ter; no one larcs to stir, least he
should be marked rs a suspect. Faint
and exhausted. she asks second time,
and an officer of wm(WmcS, in whose
hearta spark Of humanity yet fingers,
puts emp Of water in her eager trem-
bling hands. \ howl Of lisarprvba-
ton follows the act. He will y" dis.
missed, but history will immort4lizr
him. 1h" indictmcntS against her ar"
numerous, some absurd : for in
stance. on" charge is th" number Of
shoes She has WON out The money
She has distributed in charity is "harg
ed against her aS brides to buy over
the people. To all, her answer are
calm, simple, and concise. At full
length II bert accuses her of having
corrupted her own child. At that
horrible charge Shuddcr runs
through the whole Court. She is 81
lent, but the muscles Of her face quv-
er. The question is pressed, and then,
with Il heaving breast, she turns upon
her acru,er with sublime indignation,
CRYING. If | have not answered, il
is because nature rcvolts against such
an arcu alton brought against q moth
or appeal to all mothers who are
here--iS it possible ~ a murmer
runs through the Court - even the
turies of the gullotinc are Softened by
that pathetic appeal. Calmly she lis
tens to the sentence Of death, and
leaves the Court without Il murmur.
1t strikes four as she is conducted
back to her cell a few hours more,
and the tumhril takes her TO the Place
de Ia Revolution. There, facing the
gardens of the Tuillerirs, the guillo-
tine raises its griSly head and there
facing that palace wither she hal been
conducted by a king amid the accla-
nations of Il nation. surrounded by
adoring mobiles, who would have risk
ed their lives IL thonsanl times to win
a smile from her lips, consort to the
heir of the most splendid throne in
ChriStendom, young, dazzlingly beau
ttul, splendid in jewels, buoyant with
knowing sorrow on Y As "A
name, prelnat'rcly aged woman
with white hair, a pallld, worn face,
furrowed by tears, attlred in filthy
tatterS, lays her weary head beneath
the knife, amid the obscene songs, the
execration, etc. of the vilest of the
human race and the body of her who
thirty years mad reposed upon velvet,
and satin is thrown into ditch. and
there consumed with quick lime.
Temple Bar,