The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-01-07
ANN BEDE'S DEBT.

| IN Ile HAIL lISelI the All Was tnlCh anu
sitting. 1t smelled ofsheep skins, peas
ants, eau de vie, and the leaden ventila-
ors in the upper glasses of the skylight
turned slowly and slothfully.
The jurors, too. leaned YEARLY against
the backs of their chairs One of them
had closed his eyes and let his hand fall
inert, lulled TO somnolence by the monot-
onous scratching of the clerks pen.
Another tapped and softly beat the rat
a-plan with his pencil on the table.
The president pushed his spectacles to
the tip of his nose and mopped his damp
brow, his stern gray eyes, with glacial
stare, bent fxedly upon the door whence
would issue the culprits in course of
trial, and on whom they waited to pro-
nounce the sentence.
I is there not still another one?" de-
manded he, presently, of the sleepy look
| ing tipstaff at his elbow in hard, re-
sonant voice.
Zone" responded the other; ga girl"
"Eh bien! bring her in then" said the
president.
The crier called, the door opened, the
| girl entered.
A current of fresh air glided in with
her and softly famed the faces and
tickled the lashes of the curious assist
ants. At the same moment ray of
sunlight pierced the shrouding fog and
danced between the frosty etchings of
the panes across the dusty walls and
furniture of the hall Of audience
"A girl" had said the tipstaff-a child,
rather. scarcely more than on the verge
of maidenhood, and so pretty in her little
furred jacket, embroidered with wreaths
and blossoms and fitting like the skin the
rounded waist, straight and slender as
the stem of young palm. Her black
eyes were lowered to the floor, but her
white brow was clear and unclouded.
what is it that you have done, my
child?" questioned the president indiffer-
emily.
The girl nervously rearranged her
handkerchief that covered her head,
caught her breath heavily then answered,
signing;
my affair is sad, NJ. lie President,
very, very sad"
Her voice, soft and dolorous, went to
the heart like good music, that, even
when one hears it no longer, seems still
to vibrate in the air and change every
thing by its mysterious influence.
The faces of the jurors were no longer
so morose. The portrait of the king, and
farther away still of the Judex Curie,
appeared to make to her from the silent
wall benignant signs, encouraging her
to bravely recount the affair 80 very,
very sad"
But see you, said she, 'this writing;
cit will tell you better than can"
Only she had first to seek it, to unclasp
the buttons of her corsage and draw it
from her bosom-a piece of cracking
parchment, stamped and closed with the
ponderous official seal.
"A judgment" murmured the presi-
dent, running his eye over the paper, "a
judgment against Anne Bede, assigned
to begin today punishment of six
months imprisonment"
The girl nodded sorrowfully; the hand
kerchief, loosened by the movement, fell
from her head, and heavy tress of her
long black hair, all unbound, yelled her
features. 1t sought, perhaps, to shield
them from the gaze of the people, for if
she was white as lily while ago, she
was purple with shame at this moment.
1T is a week since we received it."
stammered she in a broken voice. The
court officer brought it himself and ex-
planned what it wished to tell us, and
my poor mother said to me: Thou must
go, my child. the law is the law. and
one should not take it as pleasantly
have come, therefore, TOTO begin the
six months
The president wiped his glasses, then
wiped them again, his cold. stern gaze
seeking the faces of his colleagues, the
windows. the floor, the great iron stove,
through whose grated door fiery eyes
seemed to sparkle and threateningly re-
gard him.
The law murmured he, 1.-The law is
the lawi"
And he read anew the summary before
him, the black, sprawling scratches across
the white page, declaring Anne Bede
condemned to six months Imprisonment
for receiving stolen goods"
Meanwhile the leaden ventilator had
quickened its pace and spun furiously.
Outside the wind had risen. and now il
shook the windows, whistled through
the crevices and seemed 10 hiss remorse-
leSSly about the ears of tie gaping
crowd:
The law. YES the Law i 10 'a-,-''
1na mead of the president bent affirm.
aHveiy before this importunate voice;
he dropped his eyes and touched the bell
for the tipStaff.
Accompany Anne Bede. said he. 80
the house of the inspector of prisons"
The man bowed, the child turned ODE
diently, but her little rose red lips
opened and shook TREMENDOUSLY. as if
words were on them that she could not
speak.
perhaps, my child" said the presi-
dent. noticing her distress, perhaps you
have still something TO say TO us
"Only-thst l am Lizette, Lizette
Bede. VI. lie President; Anne Bede was
my sister, and we buried her. poor girl,
a week ago
Twas not you, then. that was con-
demned and sentenced cried the presi-
dent. surprised.
All. bon Dieu. no, Why should
have been condemned who have never
done harm TO a fly:'
Then why are you here. mad child
thst YOU sre?'
Because, = You please. it is because
Anne died while this business was be
fore The rovsl rabls~ trbs l,,ray g,o,,r+ Of