The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1892-01-20


bier passed under the gay floral decora-
tions of the door.
"Who is that young ladyl" asked the
mourner of by-stander.
"The bride2 That is Mademoiselle
Yolande de Clairville," was the reply,
and the stranger murmered softly:
"May she always be happyl"
Then he went into the church.
Twenty years passed and the Reign Of
Terror began. In La Vendee the war
was at its height when the convention
sent one of its members to Nantes with
instructions to take swift and violent
measures against the royalists.
Accordingly, this man, Carrier by
name, caused number of suspects" to
be confined in Entrepot, building near
the cathedral of st. Pierre; men, women
and children were hustled pell-mell into
this ante-chamber of the River Loire,
and in spite Of the daily drownings, the
prison was ever thronged with victims.
In large low hall the terrible pro-
consul presided at the mock trials. The
prisoners were divided into two parties,
the accused and the condemned |;
the former group diminished
rapidly, as the latter increased, and at
last Carrier resolved to hurry the pro-
ceedings by dispensing with all formality
in disposing of the victims.
Then the fatal words, CONDEMNED to
deathl" were heard repeatedly as the
royalists were hurried across the hall.
"Henri de Kergouetl" called the clerk,
and young man about eighteen years of
age left his companions and advanced to-
wards the tribunal. He bowed to the
judges with as much ease and grace as if
he were at the court of Versailles, and
seemed to be unconscious of the fact that
cruel death awaited him.
"You are accused of conspiring against
the republic in the person of its repre-
sentative" said Carrier, "you took part
in plot against my life."
The youth turned frank, fearless pair
of eyes toward the speaker, and answered
slowly:
~ owe my fathers death to you.
always pay my debts"
"Henril" cried woman's voice en-
treatingly. Carrier cast furious glance
round him, and then Henri de Kergouet
was hurried away. Two women now
stood before the judge, Who asked of
the elder one:
"Are you the mother of that young
mani"
"Your name9"
"Yolande dc Clairville, Maquise de
Kergouet."
The Judge looked fixedly at the
speaker for minute, then declared the
the investigation at an end and added
briefly, "Condemned to death, all
three"
The,doomed were now led back to their
dungeons, and at nine o'clock at night
the executions began. Tied together,
two by two, the untortunates
were thrown into boats, taken out on the
river and dispatched with sword or
| bayonet and their bodies cast into the
water. This method, however, soon
proved too slow to satisfy Carrier, and
he caused hundreds of his victims to be
driven to n neighboring quarry and shot.
The Marquise de Kergouet and her two
children were awaiting their doom in
silence when the jailer entered their cell
and ordered the daughter to follow him.
"Why must we be separated9" cried
the mother.
"Citizen Carriers ORDERS" replied the
man. "Be quickl"
After long and fearful embrace the
young girl left her mother aud brother,
and followed the jailer into the presence
of the dreaded pro-consul, who looked
at her earnestly and when they were left
alone asked slowly;
"What is your narhe9"
"Yvonne de Kergouet."
HDo you love your mother2n