Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1877-12-01

. The genera! raised her kindly and re-
! !'peetfnlly demanding at the same mo.
! ment an explanation o. the scene before
nm. There was put little need for
words; the objects upon which he gazed
bore to his mind the accusation OF his
subordinate; that disfgured corpse
that female upon whose lineaments were
stamped horror and despair--that feeble
child, with his pallid cheeks and bis
eyes streaming with tears, calling upon
his father, who answered not.
The general perceived at once that
there was no fact TO be ascertained, no
excuse to be admitted. His eyes flashed
tre, and, striking his glove forcibly upon
the palm of his left hand, he turned
abruptIyand with lowering brow to the
assassin who stood before him speechle $
and trembling, and exclaimed:
Sir, YOU are coward and a savage
What murder in cold blood an unarmed
man an-defenseless-- a veteran-before the
eyes Of his wife, imploring mercy! 1t is
the act of a fiend!"
But, general" muttered the Grim
inaI with hesitating voice, the voice Of
one who feels he is lost
g Be silent, sir" interrupted the gem
eral " | listen to no excuses, admit of
no defense. You are unworthy to serve
the republic. Give me your sword,
your epauettes. From this moment you
are dismissed from the brigade you have
dlsgraced, from the army upon which
you are stain"
The major raised his head with fierce,
proud look.
General" he said, but with a voice
that betrayed his emotion, 81 surrender
my sword, but demand a trial by my
comrades"
You shall have it, sir, and within the
hour"
Then turning to the officers who had
accompanied him to the spot, and rev.
erentially barring his head before the
body of the victim, he said to them
" Unite with me, gentlemen, in rem
dering tribute of respect to unfortunate
oourage-to brave and fallen enemy"
The remainder of that dreadful day
was passed by Madame II. in the bitter
ness of grief. After witnessing the
interment of her husband with military
honors, this unhappy woman, who had
lost in a single moment, and under cir
cumslances of such peculiar horrors, all
that made life dear to her. except her
boy, sank into lethargy of sorrow-an
abandonment to wretchedness. While
she had murdered husband to avenge,
helpless child to protect and save, she
had preserved her energies Of mind and
body but now, when the assassin had
Undergone the shame Of public dcgre-
datlon, and the plompt and terrible JUS.
tice OF military commission impended
over his head, the hapless widow could
think of nothing but her loss. For her
there seemed to be no longer cause of
hope or fear. She was, therefore, more
ast0nished than alarmed when early the
next morning, a French abide camp
waited upon her with request from the
commander-in-chief that she would repair
Immediately to his quarters at the Hotel
de Vile. Without word Of inquiry or
remonStrance, she arose, took her child in
her arms, and followed the messenger to
the general.
Led to the council chamber at the mo-
ment of her arrival, Madame H. found
herself surrounded by all the glories of
the republican army; by those celebrated
men for whom such wOndrous destinies
were reserved; by whom crowns were to
be won and lost, and of whom in after
years, so many were to lose on battle
fields, amid the intrgues Of cabinets, or
the corruptions of court, the honor for
which they were painting, or the lives
they were now so ready to peril in its
winning, They were Murat, Duroc,
Lannes, Dessaix, Massena, Hocbe and
.Bernadotte; and in the midst of them
the general, who, with arms folded on
his breast and eyes fixed on tho floor,
walked slowly to and fro; as if in deep
end painful meditation.
On the entrance of Madame IL. he
stopped abruptly-motioned her tS be
seated, and then after gazing Tor a mos
ment upon the face of her child with
gentle smile of interest and affection, re-
sumed his walk, Madame II. began to
feel alarm.
This unexpected summons, thisstrange
reception, the silence that prevailed
around her, all combined first to sur
prise and then to terriiy her. A vague
sensation of anxiety and fear oppressed
her heat, and she coald not command
her nerves for the utterance of single
word that might call forth solution of
her doubts.
All at once the roll of a drum, at
little distance, startled her from her rev.
cries. 1t was quickly followed by vol
ley of musketry, and the General, pans-
ing in his walk, placed his hand upon her
arm and led her 70 Il window, from which
she beheld in the square below the fear
fIl spectacle of a military execution Just
accomplished.
Took, madam" he said, in a calm yet
impressive tone, "the man whom you see
lying dead upon the ground was French
officer, whom his comrades in arms have
condemned to death for the assassination
of an Austrian, in a city taken by
assault"
He paused for q mement; then gTanc-
ing round upon tho officers who stood
near them, he continued:
"You are at liberty to quit Ivree this
morning, Gen. Dassaix, whom l have
requested to he your escort, will answer
to the republic for your safety. Ferewell,
madam report to the Prince Charles
what you have seen of the Justice
maintained in the armies of the French"
This general, at that time first consul,
was afterward the Emperor Napoleon.