The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1882-09-03

death, passed among them, inquired her
way Of one and then of another, but the di-
reotions she received only served further to
bewilder her, and she wandered further and
further astray. A church clock near Ivy
chimed the quarters. Madeleine listened
breathlessly. "Three quarters ~ she cried
ina paroxysm of fear, "only q quarter Of an
hour to spare. shall he too late I"
She had turned into by.street, which
was almost deserted. Two workingmen,
carrying the tools necessary to their trade,
we're approaching her. They were the only
individuals in the narrow street. As they
drew near she cntreated them to guide her
to the toSsc where the prisoners were to be
executed.
"I am a isherwoman of Hon1eur, mes.
sours," said Madeleine. "My husband
has been falsely accused and unjustly con-
condemned to die. bear his pardon and
have lost my way. / fear that | shall ar
rive to late As you may some day crave
for mercy, messipurs, take pity upon me,
| and guide me TO the spot. See, here is my
husbands PARDON" and sho drew forth the
precious document from her bosom and held
| IL before the two men.
Poor woman Thou art coming away
| from the Place Voltaire, where the tosSc is
situated" said the man who had spoken
| spare. But come with us; we will guide
| thee thither." The men turned and
| quickened their steps, and Madeleine breath
| lossly followed them.
Meanwhile the commissionaire, on leav-
| ing the shop, could see nothing of the young
woman whom he had told to wait his return.
lie hurried TO and fro, and inquired for a
young woman dressed in flsherwoman's cos
tune, but all in vain. Perhaps" thought
he, "the young woman has gone on to the
losse by herself, being too impatient to wait
kfor me-"
At all events, he thought his wisest plan
would he to hasten on, and, If the young
woman had not arrived when he reached
| the spot, to inform the officer in command of
the troops that the prisoner, Antoine Duroc,
was pardoned. II wanted but three minutes
to 10 when he reached the tossc, around
which great crowd had assembled, and in
which-their backs placed against a low
monnd--the doomed prisoners were already
| drawn MP. Approaching young licuten-
ant, who was coolly smoking cigar as he
paced leisurely to and fro, the commissions
airc informed the young officer that pardon
had been granted to Antoine Duroc, one Of
the condemned prisoners, and begged him to
stay the mans execution.
"Whcre is the pardon you speak of 20
i asked tine OlllCer. ~ IfOluCe IL.
| al do not have it with me, =" replied the COM
missionare and then he told how he had
missed the young woman who was the wife
of the pardoncd man, aud who carried the
pardon in her bosom.
| "You missed the young woman after you
and she alighted from the carriage of Mon
sieur 10 Sous-pr6fet lie Police ?" said the Off
Ger. "a likely story, is IL not Are you
crazed, man, that you imagine the execution
will he stayed at the bidding of the sous
prcfet Or is this some trick to gain time
| Do you see yonder clock The minutehand
points at two minutes TO twelve. AT twelve
o'clock | shall give the order to fire.
There was much jealousy existing at
this period between the civil and military
| authorities, in consequence of the supreme
authority being for the time in the hands of
the latter: and when the commissionaire
spoke of the Sous-pr6fet de Police, the young
officer seized the opportunity to snub the po-
lice authorities.
You will repentit, Monsieur Lieutenant,
if you do not delay" replied the commission
aire. "The pardon is signed by Monsieur lie
General Beaumont, by whom | was directed
to guide the young woman to this spot, that
she might deliver to you her husband s par
don with her own hands.
"Signed by whom?' asked the lieuten-
ant.
The commissionaire repeated the name of
til 9 General.
Monsieurle Capitainc ~ called the Lieu.
tenant to another officer who was standing a
short distance off.
The Captain approached, and the two Off
GERS conferred together They decided tina,
they would at all events delay the execution
for five minutes.
/ "Thcn shall give the order to fire" said
, the Captain. " transgress my duty even in
delaying five minutes, unless the pardon be
) produced"
The church clock struck the hour of noon
| Tho prisoners, when the first stroke sounded
were seen to shudder, and u low murmur was
Q audible among the spectators, but Antoine
: Duroc, though his face was pale, stood firm
and erect awaiting his doom, while til,
greater number of the other prisoners ap
: peared to be completely cowcd. The hand
some, manly appearance of the young fisher
man, contrasting so remarkably with tn,
miserable creatures who were doomed to di,
+ with him, had attracted the notice of many
. of the spectators, especially among til,
females. But they were not generally moved
pity. 1t appeared rather AZ they regarded
| il as n novclty--a fresh attraction-tO see
handsome young man doomed to share tn,
t fate of the other prisoners, and yet so differ
ent from the generality of the wretchcd
Communists who almost every day wer,
/ doomed to death.
When, however, the last stroke of lively,
a had sounded and the order to fire was with
2 held, the low murmur among the spectator
increased tn n cry of anger and complaint
"Why do not the soldiers fire ?" they asked
. of one another. What is the cause of tn,
q delay? Am we to wait all day long 2" AnC
I ,I,.,,, Il,
pardon had arrived for one of the doome,
men--and il was suspected that the favore,
! individual was the handsome young fisher
: man Duroc they betrayed manifest sign
that they considered themselves defraudet
Il of portion of the spectacle they had assem-
: bled TO witness. AT length the five minute
of delay expired. The order was given I
u the soldiers 10 fall into rank and prepare I
: fire.
:, The pardon mH arrive, assure you
y Mcsseurs Officers, said the commissionaire
y I" You had better yet further delay the exc
i cution."
= 81 will wait two minutes longer, and IL
= more" replied the Captain. 81 have alread
u transgresscd my orders. must domy duty
pardon or no pardon. have no business +
know anything of it until have seen tn
document"
The prisoners had learned that one of thei
" number was to receive his pardon, but the
knew not whom, though they somehow aus
pected that il was the Young fisherman win
A was to be piedoned, and they bitterly resent
ed the favor shown to him by the govern
4 ment.
The two additional motives of delay ha
n expired, The soldiers drew up. The rattl
:, of their arms was audible,
Il "AttentioR Presentarms ~ shouted tn
e officer in command, throwing away his halt
IL smoked cigar. Such events were now every
>, day affairs to him and his brother mludirsS
e Still he hesitated TO give the final drea
order.
- Tir, the word Tres-draw, or iire-wa
e upon his lips, butt was not yet pronounced
II when young woman in state of wild dis
/. traction appeared upon the scene. 1t wa
Madeleine.
$ You are yet in time, madame" said on
L. of the two mon who had guided her 10 th