The record-union., 1891-08-22
Z THE SHADOWS"
Written for the REooRD-UNIoNb by Gale Braitn

I'LL N1ADU W NI
Written for the RECoRD-UNIoN by Gale Braith
The Court of Assizes is crowded with
spectators listening, in breathless inter-
est, to the speech which is flowing from
Fleury-Armand's lips, a speech which,
from that day forth, shall make his name
famous throughout the length and
breadth of Europe; brilliant, powerful
speech, fraught with such strength and
eloquence it could scarcely be sur
passed.
Amidst this throng there is a goodly
sprinkling of the beau monde, to which
class the accused evidently belongs, and,
strange to say, in this vast Partisan
crowd, there is not one single dry eye.
Women are weeping freely-some pite-
ously. All, and occasionally as the law
yer pours forth his torrent of eIoquence,
pleading so earnestly and passionately
for his clients life, there arises loud,
hoarse noise, a mans sob stifled though
as if ashamed to be heard.
The Judges hand is passing quickly
across his eyes. What is that you say
tears? Mon DjeU, Doubtless the light
| from yonder opposite window annoys
him.
The speech is finished, and wearily
! tleury-Armand sinks into chair.
| The jury arise, and the gray-haired
Judge addresses them, dwelling minutely
upon the details of the crime committed,
and, in the name of Justice, commands
! them to do their duty, concluding with
| 'DleU defend Ie d5'0it.''
| Quietly the twelve men file out Of the
tsOTYr Yrast ,Nyl
! spectators are fastened upon the prisoner,
/ whose life, twenty minutes before the
! commencement of Fleury- Armand's
! speech, seemed scarcely the value Of
one franc piece.
She is-yes, it is, i woman, or girl
rather, for this lovely dark-eyed creature,
! on trial for herlife, is young, very young.
Only once has she raised those won
! drous eyes, and that was at the conclusion
| OF Fleury Armand's mighty speech
/ Then she lifted them with look Of
! dumb, unutterable gratitude to his hand-'
! some face, whilst her lips seemed to
| frame the words, My friend" 4 nerv-
! Gus Shiyer now seems to shake her, and
once or twice she raises slender hand
to press it against her full, white throat.
| The vision of the guillOtine is before her,
no doubt. Oh, horriblel
| Ten minutes have scarcely elapsed
when the jury solemnly and slowly re-
| GNCILGllGDG S
! trightful. One woman has swOoned,
! second and third follow her example, and
fourth has fallen into violent Mysteries.
| Truly, at this critical moment, the pris-
oner is by far the most composed.
| As the Judge deliberately clears his
throat, prior to asking the verdict arrived
! at, the suspense is maddening. and. at
last, when the foremost juror replies:
I'VE find the prisoner not guilty,'' the
| crowd raises en- nlGSSG with deafening. Joy
Gus cheer. Women fall into each others
arms amid tears and kisses; men clasp
and shake one another by the hand heart
/ lily. The cheer is echoed by the outside
| camille, and as the excited people surge
! towards the doors it requires the united
! efforts of the gendarmes to keep any
/ kind of order whatever. Outside the rab-
! bic are crying, with iuSty voices " ViUdt
Armando' . ViUe ie Marchandn' This
/ tickle mob who, brief half hour previ-
Gus were, with fierce impatience, scream
! ing, Away with her to the guillOtine;"
and it is all owing to Fleury-Armand's
| speech. Wonderful!
II.
| a beautiful moonlight night in Venice.
Millions of tiny sparkling stars are mir
/ rored upon the crumbling water. Con
dOlas pass and repass in quick success
/ sion. Through the pale distance q chorus
! OF SonOrOuS male voices are singing
1 praises to their beloved fatherland A fair,
! peaceful night with cool breeze gently
| ripping the clear star-sprinkled water.
| Overhead there is naught to mar the pIO-
| rlous bright heavens-nothing but the
| banner af1Oat over St. Marks, around
| which a beiated dove is flying in wide
| circles, at times turning dizzy Sommer-
saults, then shooting far, far upwards,
anon becoming tangled and entolded in
| the gloomy banner.
hot
| girl addressed starts, but does not with
draw her gaze from the restless bird until
her companion repeats the question
She sighs sadly. 'Nita wishes to go."s
''Nita, Nita; always Nita," the young
man speaks impatiently and leans for
ward in the gondOla.
Pardon me. | am cross. l am a
brute. 1 shall go also.'
No, no hastily. Wemust go alone"
He still leans forward yearningly, eagerly
towards her. ''Sing," he says suddenly.
Sing, L long to hear your voice"
At his request her lips part in low,
sweet strains to raise higher, higher,
soaring far, far upwards until they seem to
reach the banner floating so gracefully
over St. Marks, the dove meanwhile
posing on motionIeSs wings as if to listen
Strong and pure the rich tones ring out.
1t IS that beautiful Old German song
which she sings:
Inc iOllS, long weary DAY
Has passed i'll tears away,
And now I'm weeping,
My lone watch keeping.
And as the echoes of the magnificent
voice dying pass away they seem to linger
upon the threshold of her mouth as if 10th
to leave the lovely lips.
bravo! bravou' shout the boat full of
German students now drawn near and
resting on idle oars to listen.
"BTGOG. StRgeN So ilOch EN- lied, Frau
tea8d;" and loosely-tied bunch of GRIM
son roses are thrown into the fair singers
lap, who receives them with startled
cry.
81 fear them,'' she whispers. ''They
remind me of blOOd-lookp' and as she
raises them in her hands some few petals.
which have fallen and lie scattered upon
her white gown, do strangely resemble
drops of blood
Ho quickly snatches the flowers from
her hands and deliberately casts them
into the shivering waters.
An angry shout comes from the stu
dents boat as they watch their offering