The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1882-09-03
THE FISHERWOmAN OF HONFLEOR
A TALE oFTmE FRENou COMMUNE.

|
young lady's encouraging words.
Nov, Madame, tell papa everything"
said Pauline. I" Do not he afraid. Papa is
kind and good, though he is sometimes
severe with wicked people," Thus EN-
couraged, Madeleine told everything and
the prGiet was convinced that her husband
| was no Communist, but was an innocent
victim Of a vile, unprincipled person seeking
to crafty his desire for vengeance. Still,
he knew not how he could interfere with
any good result in behalf of the unfortunate
young fisherman. The court.martial was to
open at o'clock that morning.
"1n all probability" he thought, "the poor
man Is already condemned and sentenced.
A few minutes would suffice for ALL"
Ilc had ordered police sergeant to bring
him report of the results Of the court mar
tial the moment IL was closed.
1t was now past s o'clock, aud Madeleine
was Just finishing her story when n servant
announced tho arrival of the sergeant.
The prtfet quilted the room, and went
to the sergeant who presented him with
the report. In one hour sixteen prisoners
had been found guilty and sentenced to
death One had been acquitted; but
third in the list appeard the name of An
tome Duroc, fisherman, of IIonilcur n rabid
Communist guilty of melting and leading n
mob TO attack u military guard, and of res.
cuiug n prisoner under arrest The con
demned were all sentenced to he shot, at
MONDAY, in a tosSo in the rear of La Ro-
uuctte, prison near the Place Voltaire.
Antoine's generous impulse, which had
led him to release from arrest youth whom
he believed to bc innocent, had brought his
doom upon him. He did not attempt TO
deny the fact, and all he could say i'll OK
tenuaton of his guilt was that he believed
this poor lad was innocent. The young
fshcrman's bold, manly appearances, in
marked contrast with the aspect of the
miserable, ragged, dirty, and generally ill
looking prisoners who were tried at the same
time, interested one or two of the younger
officers of the court-martal in his favor.
One of these young officers severely cross.
questioned the witness, Lucien Picrrot.
"Who and what are you f' he asked.
Can you deny the fact that you are n miser-
able spy, gaining your livelihood by de-
nouncing and swearing away the lives OF
your fellow men ~
g | am in the pay of the government re-
piled Lucien. 81 have done my employers
good service.'
"Silence !" said the president of the
cuurt-martial to the officer. "The man
speaks the truth. Such wretches, however
we may despise Them" he added soto roce
ara necessary evils in such times as these"
The favorable notice of the younger Off
GERS availed Antoine nothing. AS we have
already stated he was condemned and sen
fenced to death, and the report of the result
of the court martial was already in the hand,
of the sous -prGfet, whose daughter had fol
lowed him from the apartment, and now Incl
him reascending the stairs.
"Papa, you have heard bad news" sh,
said, looking into her fathers troubled
face.
; "It has happened as told you it would
Pauline" replied the prGfet. "A few
hours hence he will be shot ~
"No, papa, moi" exclaimed the younl
girl, arresting her fathers further pro
. gress. How can you tell that TO hi
, poor young wifes Papa, it must not-shal
not be 4! There is yet time. You are &c
quainted with Monsieur 10 General Beau
mont, the president of the court-martial
, Hasten to him, papa. Take the poor
= woman with you. Show Monsieur le G6n
i 6ral the Mayors letter; let tho young wifi
tell her own story. Meanwhile, dear papa
/, | will pray earnestly for your success. But
go at once; lose not Il moment of time
al will go, Pauline" replied the prdfct
!, after few moments thought. 81 will d.
- my best, but have faint hope of SUCCESS
Monsieur le General is, as you say, a frien,
a of mine, and Just man. But he is stcri
and uncompromising in the performance o
what he believes TO be his duty, and he i
Justly and terribly severe in his dealing
with the Communists -
"But the poor man is not Communist
:. papa !" interposed Pauline.
"Perhaps not, but the General believe
him TO be one of those guilty, blood -stane
wreches. If the General were to learn tn
! nature of my Grand | do not believe h
= would see me. Nevertheless, will go, an
" will do my utmost to save the poor man."
!, The prGfet and his daughter reGntered tn
. room in which Madeleine, in dreadful
U state of suspense, was awaiting their return
She had feared that some ill-news had ar
rived, and glance at the faces of the prefe
and his daughter convinced her that lie
fears were not groundless.
e "Monsieur, you have heard bad news,
she family gasped. "My husband-m
u beloved Antoine is -" She could nc
give utterance to the dread word that wa
= on her lips.
1t was necessary to acquaint her wit
what had occurred.
y "Is convicted, and sentenced to death
y but he may yet be saved" said the pr6fe
BE calm, madame. Do not give way [
y despair. Bear up bravely. Much now d
- ponds upon yourself. Have you strengt
y and courage to accompany mo immediatel
to Monsieur 10 General Beaumont, the pres
dent Of the court. martial that sat this morl
/ ingr"
IA Monsieur, have strength and courag
TO go anywhore-to do anything TO save III
- poor innocent husband
a "Then come with me-cOme at once, jul
At as You are. You shall plead your hu
h bands cause with the General. Donot hoy
is too much, but do not despair Of obtainin
l your husbands pardon"
M The sympathies of the prGfet were no
y fully aroused. He ordered his horses 10 |
"a put to his carriage, and babe Madeleine 70
"a low him into the courtyard. As she WI
M leaving the room she threw her arms aroul
10 Pauline's neck and embraced her. :" Mad
10 moiselle, thou art an angel Of goodness
re- she murmured. "IfI suoceed-and my hea
ar tells me that the good God will grant II
No success-it will be to thee, under HEAVIER
ID that my Antoine will owe his life. Tho
an wilt restore an innocent man to his wife Al
he babe, and will save his judges from imbr
ad ing their hands in innocent Blood The
ad she FASTENED after the prGiet, and enterl
lie the carriage, which was already waiting
n the courtyard, with him.
- At the moment of the pr6let's arrival wi
Iy Madeleine the General was seated at a tab
~, in his bureau which was strewn with doc
monts.
al hope, Monsieur le GGnGrale, do II
intrude in visiting you at so early
as hour 7" said the prefet.
in "Intrude! My good friend you are W,
me come at all hours p replied the Generi
u.s. Pray, be seated. | was Just saying to J.
ro- grange, when you were announced, that h
ew government is determined to keep us bus
~ Seventeen fresh arrests this morning in II
TO department, and sixteen scoundrels, who
me we tried this morning, will be sent on Tho
1IaoI long last journey to-day at noon. We ma
his quick work of II The emissares of L
isa government-call them spies, traitors, VIII
raj you will--are active. They are pack
my mean, contemplate rascals no doubt. b
Is at such times as the present they are
necessary evil. ono Lucien Pierrot-t
II best bloodhound of the pack, and as base
m, villain, ! believe, MS ever drew breath--h
Of alone denounced sixty Communists 'Twou