Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1892-11-04

Delphine made her way through the
crowd. She was going upsatirs when
she was brought to q stand by man
dressed in a acarmagnole, self-appointed
sentinel. "Where are you going, citi-
zen?"
~ am going, citizen, to attend the
trial of Joseph Lefebvre; am wit
ness"
He made no objection, and she was
moving on when hideous woman, with
baby in her arms, protested, declaring
thai aristocrats ought to be kept away
from the tribunals, where they only went
to corrupt the judges. She, for instance,
that woman, would go and show her
face, and weep and faint away and turn
the heads Of all those men inside. Such
creatures know perfectly well what they
were about, and that was the way justice
was cheated and traitors escaped who let
people die of starvation. But Delphine
hurried on to the room where she heard
the clerk of court reading the summons
of Joseph Lefebvre.
Protected by his dress, Despies fol.
lowed her unmolested. But the woman's
railing had enfiamed vindictive hatred,
and on all sides cries arose of, "Marat
has gone. We have lost our best friend.
Since he was killed the aristocrats are
raising their heads. Down with the
aristocrats Death to the conspirators!
To the guillotine wish the enemies of the
people! Death to false witnesses! Down
with the sorceresses, the fine ladies!"
The indictment against Joseph Lefe-
bvre was read, the interrogatory was over
the witnesses we're to be heard. Every
moment some one coming cut cf the
courtroom gave to the crowd outside a
distorted account of some incident con-
nected with the trial. Among other
things it was asserted that it was proved
beyond doubt that the infamous Doctor
Lefebvre had constantly administered
poison, instead of medicine, to his poor
patients. And when it was reported that
q woman had testified in favor of the ac-
cused, the tumult reached its climax and
there were shouts of: "She is his accom-.
plice! Send her to the guillotine with
him." Then there were interminable
disputes, shameful exhibitions of brutal
ignorance and tiendish cruelty.
The hours wore away and the popular
lmpatience grew more uncomfortable,
kept at fever height by occasional ru-
mors of possible acquittal. The cries,
"Dcath to all false witnessesw grew
louder and louder. The September
butchers, massed on the stairs. were
talking of breaking down the door, when
it opened and Delphine appeared. At
the sight of the furious, threatening
mob, she paused for moment, proudly
erect, but. very pale. Maurice, who had
followed her closely, pressed to her side
as she stood there encircled by the bare,
brawny arms, the clenched fists, and up
lifted ssbres of these bloodthirsty men,
but she restrained him by an almost upper.
ceptible motion of her head. The
threats redoubled. The women's shrll
cries rose tercely above the drunken
yells of some OF the men. The most
frighful of all these women, the same
creature, with child in her arms, who
had kept the crowd in state of contin-
ual excitement for hours, now pressed
forward, and shaking her fist in Del.
phine's face, shrieked: " Yes, my fine
lady, you have got to bleed for tl''
Tlen halt t-naked, hairy-breasted
giant pushed the woman aside and
seemed about to strike. Madame
d'Athis bit her hps to bring back the
ebbing blood, and conscious that her
lofty aspect of vii, ,sinal purity and calm
ness was her only protection-that the
terrified shrinking of a predestined
victim would be instantly fatal-she cast
her eyes about her and remarked the
hideous mother who stood there still in
threatening attitude. Advancing to.
ward her, she simply said:
"You have beautiful Child"
At these words, the kindest perhaps
she had ever heard, the mothers heart
was touched. Tears came to her eyes.
"Take him. she said, and she held
the baby out to Delphinc, who took him
in her arms and walked down the stairs
unharmed, smiling in the child's face,
while the crowd, hesitating, subdue1,
taken by surprise, made way for her to
pass. She walked thus across the court
with her innocent protector and was
safe. Outside the gate she gave the baby
to its mother. Neither uttered word,
but tear fell on the child as she handed
him back.
Maurice had gone before, and they
both took shelter in the carriage waiting
for them at the clock-tower. Turning
away, the wheels of their hack came in
contact with the rough cart driving up
to take Joseph Lefebvre to the scaffold'
From the French.