The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-10-27

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cd far into the night. In the pocket Of the
prisoners gown were found a silver thin
BILE, some implements Of needlework, two
hundred francs, gold watch and her pass.
port. The weapon which Lux had seen her
purchase in tho cutters shop was shown 10
| her.
"Do you recognize this knifel' the exam
| liners asked.
"Yes," she answered, turning from II with
| o shudder OF disgust.
"What led you TO the crime2"
II killed one man to save thousands"
II was eight o'clock of July morning,
when up tho dark, steep stair in the base
ment-wall Of the Palais Of Justice the gend.
| armes conducted Charlotte Cortlay to her
trial before the Revolutionary Tribunal.
AS she took her place on the bench OF the
prisoners, the maledictions of the people
died away In murmurs of admiration. Never
before had Murder worn such an aspect
Her beauty was marvellous; her frmness
and intrepidity amazed even her judges.
"Details are needless" she said, calmly.
ut was who killed Marat."
"What did you think to effect by it,"
'Restorc peace to my country. took
his life to save the land"
"Why did you hate him!"
"For his crimes" A-
"Do you, then, think that you have assSs-
sinated all the Maratst"
''Since he is dead, the others will trem-
ble!'
Adam Lux was seated near the prisoner.
His eyes never left her face. When the
President of the Tribunal passed sentence
Of death, the Mayence Deputy lcnped from
his chair, and extended his arms in passion
ate protest
"Nol mol" he cried, wildly. "For tho
love of God, no!'
1t was the only voice raised against her
fate, and she recognized the man who had
conceived for her such a strange and mystic
passion; he was faithful in this terrible
hour-he dared to speak in the face of her
judges. She turned and thanked him with
an eloquent look. AS though sword had
pierced his heart, Adam Lux reeled, and
went down in swoon to the floor OF the
Tribunal.
The gendarmes conducted Charlotte Cor
day back to prison. With perfect compo-
sure she made ready for the scaffold. As
Samson, the executioner, entered to prepare
her for death, she took from his hand the
scissors, cut long curl of her chestnut
hair, and gave it to madame Richard, the
wife of the iailer.
"Send this, with my fervent thanks" she
said, "to the Deputy from Mayence."
The liberatrix of France could not die
without message and token to the last
friend left to her. Samson arrayed her in the
red robe of murderess, cut her magnif-
cent hair, and then bound her slender
wrists.
"This," she said, els the toilet of death,
arranged by rude hands, but it leads to i'm
mortality"
AS the death-cart left the prison ter
rife storm burst over Paris, but the count
less swarms of people In the squares and
streets remained undiminished. The furi-
Gus fishwives shrieked around the tumbril.
Charlotte Corday did not seem to hear them
much less to resent their insults. Her
face wore an unearthly beauty and serenity;
there was no shadow Of fear upon it. San
son, the executioner, who rode in the same
cart was deeply impressed.
II often turned round to look at her." he
says, "and tho more saw, the more
wished to see. 1t was not on account of her
beauty, great as that was, but thought it
impossible that she could remain 30 calm
and courageous"
At the entrance OF the Rue st. Honore
man stood awaiting the death-cart. He car
ried his hat in his hand-the rain pelted
on his fair hair. 1t was Adam Lux, haggard,
pale as ashes. He bowed deeply to the
prisoner. She started slightly, and a smile
of pensive sweetness appeared for an in'
slant on her lips. He stepped behind the
tumbril, and, with uncovered head, followed
it to the foot Of the scaffold.
HE engraved in his heart" as he wrote
''her unutterable sweetness
amid the barbarous outcries of the crowd.
Her eyes," he declares, ''should have melted
a stone" In them he saw soul as tender
as it was intrepid.
Attended by this mysterious love, Char
lotte Corday went to the guillotine. As
the cart reached the Place Revolution. the
executioner, whose heart had been softened
by the beauty and courage of his young
victim, put himself before her to hide the
but she begged him to
step aside.
81 have right to be- curious" she said.
'This is the first time see it."
AS she mounted the scaffold. her eyes fell
upon Adam Lux, who stood ut its foot.
summer sky, where tho clouds were now
breaking. 1t was farewell, and also
promise Of future meeting. The next mo-
ment she had placed herself under the
knife. Legros, one of the varlets of the
guillotine, raised the beautiful, severed
head, and struck it on the cheek. A deep
crimson instantly suffused the face, as
though dignity and modesty had outlasted
life.
The next day man entered the Conven-
ton, so haggard, so changed, that he was
hardly recognized as the handsome young
Deputy from Mayenoe. With the reckless
ness of one who had no more to fear or to
hope, he assembled the tribune and began to
impeach and attack the Montague. In vain
his friends warned him to desist. Hotly,
fercely he vindicated the young Norman
lady who had sacrificed her own life to rid
France of wholesale assassin. He pub
lished the "Apology OF Charlotte Corday."
aud was Immediately arrested and sent TO
the Abbaye Prison. As he entered its sinis-
ter door, he flung up his hat, and cried JOY
fully: II shall die, then, for her!"
He was brought before the Revolutionary
Tribunal. When the act Of accusation was
read to him, he said, with scornful, curl
ing lip:
~ am stranger to your laws as we'll rs
to your crimes. II have deserved punish
ment, it is not among Frenchmen that
should suffer-"
From his prison he wrote farewell letter |
to poor little Margarethe, far away in the
secluded house at Mayence.
~ die for the woman love-" he said. "On |
The scaffold her spirit awaits mine. Death |
will unite us. go with glad heart for
no longer desire life"
He dressed himself for the scafYold like q |
bridegroom for the presence Of his bride. |
His lilac coat was embroidered with gold |
throad. His powdered hair. his breechns,
and waistcOat OF white satin and frills OF |
- III. n, f.