The Red Cloud chief., 1879-07-10

sively sick and worn, poor man, viii
precisely eleven pence half penny O
ready money in paper, with slipper
bath, strong three-ioo,ed stool for writ
ing on the while, and q squalid washer
woman, one may call her-that 10 hi
civic establishment in Medical Schoo
Street; thither and not elsewhere ha'
his road led him. Not to the reign o
brotherhood and perfect felicity; ye
surely On the way toward that? Hark
a rap sgain. A musical woman's voic,
refusing 10 be rejected; it is the Cito
yeHne who would do France q service
Marat, recognizing from within, cries
"Admit her." Charlotte Corday Is Ad
mitted.
"Citoyen Marat, l am from Caen, tbs
seat Of the revolution, and wish TO speai
with you"
"Be seated, mon enfant. Now wha'
are the traitors doing at Caen? What
Deputies are at Caen ?" Charlotte name,
some Deputies.
"Their heads shall fall within a fort
night" croaks the Peoples Friend,
clutching his tablets TO write. Barba'
roux, Petiou, writes he with bare, shrunk
arm, turning aside in the bath; PetiOu,
and Louvet. and -. Charlotte has
drawn her knife from the sheath, plunges
it, with one sure stroke, into the writer's
heart. "Moi. cher ami! Help, dear!'
No more could the Death-chOked say or
shrek. The helpful washerwoman run
ming in there sees no Friend of the PEG.
pie or friend Of the washerwoman left
but his life with agroan gushes out, in.
dignant, to the shade sbelOw.
And SO Marat's People's-Friend is end
ed; the lone Stylites has got whirled
down suddenly from his Pillar
wbitherward, He that made him knows.
AS for Charlotte Corday, her work is
accomplished; the recompense of it is
rear and sure. The chere ami and
neighbors of the house, flying at her,
she overturns some movables, intrenches
herself till the gendarmes arrives; she
quietly s%urrenders; goes quietly to the
Abbaye Prison; she alone quiet, all
Paris sounding in wonder, in rage or
admiration, round her. On Wednes-
day morning the thronged Palais
de Justice and Revolutionary
Tribunal can see her face, beautiful and
calm. She dates it, "fourth day of the
preparation of peace" A strange muir
muir ran through the hall at sight of her;
you could not say of what character.
Tinvilie has his indictments and tape
papers; the cutler of the Palais Royal
will testify that he sold her the sheath.
knife. "All these details are needless"
interrupted Charlotte; it is l that kill
ed Marat." "By whose instigation?"
"By no ones" "What tempted you
then?" His crimes. / killed one
man." added she, raising her voice ex-
tremely as they ven on with their
questions, " l killed one man to I've an
hundred thousand; a villain, to saw in
~nocents; a savage wild beast, to give
repose to my country. l was a Repub-
lican before the revolution; l never
wanted energy" There is, therefore,
nothing to be said. The public gaze
astonished; the hasty limners sketch
her features. Charlotte not disapprov-
ing. The men of law proceed with their
fOrmalities. The doom is death as a
murderess. To her advocate she gives
thanks in gentle praise; in high-fOwD,
classical spirit. To the priest they send
her she gives thanks, but needs not any
striving, any ghestly or other aid from
him.
On the same evening, therefore, about
half-past Z O'Clock, from the gate of the
Conciergerie, to a city all on tiptoe, the
fatal cart issues; seated on it a fair
young creature, sheeted in tie red
smock of the %murderess; so beautiful,
serene, SO full of life, journeying to-
wards death-alone amid the world.
Many take off their hats, saluting rever-
emily, for what heart but must be touch
edP Others gr6wl and howl. Adam
Lux of Menty declare that she is great
er than Brutus; that it were beautiful
to die with her; the head of this young
seemed turned. At the Place de Ia
Revolution the countenance of Charlotte
wears the same still smile. The execu.
TONERS proceed to bind her feet, she re-
sists, thinking it meant a an insult; on
a word of explanation she submits with
cheerful apology. As the last acts, all
being now ready, they take the necker-
chief from her neck. A blush of maid
emily shame overspreads that fair face
and neck. The cheeks were still tinged
with it when the executioner lifted the
severed head to show it to the people.
This was the history of Charlotte |
Corday; most definite, most complete
angel-demonee, like q star! Adam Lux
goes home half delirious to pour forth
his apotheosis of her, in paper or print,
TO propose that she have a statue with
this inscription: "Greater than Brutus.'
Friends represent his danger, but Lux
IS reckless and thinks it were beautiful
20 die with her.