Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1892-04-01

alists were hurried across the hall.
Henri de Kergouetv' called the clerk,
and a young man about eighteen years of
age left his companions and advanced to-
ward the tribunal He bowed to the judge
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 representa-
tive" said Carrier; you took part in a
plot against my life"
The youth turned frank, fearless pair
of eyes toward the speaker and answered
slowly:
81 owe my fathers death to you. l al
ways pay my debts"
"Henri" cried woman's voice entreat-
ingly.
Carrier cast furious glance around him
and then Henri 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"
81 am" she answered, land this girl is
his sister"
"Your name?"
"Yolande de Clairville, Marquse de Ker
gouet''
The judge looked fixedly at the speaker
for minute, then declared the investiga-
ton at an end and added briefly:
CONDEMNED to death, all three"
The doomed were now led back to their
dungeons and at o'clock at night the ex-
ecutions began. Tied together two by two,
! the unfortunates were thrown into boats,
taken out on the river and dispatched by
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
out to a neighboring quarry and shot
The Marquse de kergouet and her two
+ children were awaiting their doom in
silence when the jailor entered their cell
and ordered the daughter to follow him.
"Why must we be separately" cried the
mother
Citizen Carriers ORDERS" replied the
man. "Be quickr'
After long and fearful embrace the
young girl left her mother and brother
and followed the jailor into the presence of
the dreaded consul, who looked at her ear
nestly and when they were left alone
asked slowly:
"What is your name?"
"Yvonne de Kergouet."
do you love your mother?"
trembling with terror.
"And your brother; what would you do
to save his life?"
81 would gladly give my own lifel' cried
Yvonne eagerly
81 do not want your life, child, but your
silence How old are your"
sixteen years, monsieur"
"Then you have not yet learned to Lee
Listen to me. Here is IA letter which
contide to you on condition of your prom
Using me that it shall not be opened until
midnight Moreover, you are not to speak
of it to any one Have | your promise"
Very we'll Cor
The frightened girl took the letter, put
it into her bosom and was taken back TO
the cell, but. before she had time to reply
to the anxious questioning with which her
mother and brother greeted her, a man APP
peared, carrying a pistol, signed to them
all to follow him and led them out of the
prison. Then imposing the strictest silence
upon them he gave his arm to Yvonne,
while Henry de Kergouet supported his
mothers trembling form. In few min
utes the little party reached the river bank,
after hurrying through the dark streets of
the city, and the Royalists realized at a
glance that they were not far from the
spot where the executions of that day had
taken place. Their guide gave a signal
and man in boat instantly made his APP
pearance from out of the gloom.
Get in, said the boatman in low tone,
and rs soon as they were seated he rowed
out into the middle of the stream.
BE brave, little sister," whispered
Henri, clasping Yvonne to his heart, and
then they all waited calmly for their last
hour to come. In "A few brief moments
they seemed to live their whole life over,
to feel again the joys and sorrows of their
early childhood, as well as their recent
trials and alarms
suddenly they saw in the distance the
outline of ship dimly defined against the
dark sky; they approached it rapidly, and
before they had recovered from their
amazement found themselves on board,
while their late conductor rowed back to
shore.
What does this meanS" asked Henri,
after an astonished pause
THAT you are saved" replied the cap
tain of the ship
Saved? How? BY whom?"
THAT is more than can tell you, mad
am All that know of the matter is that
a few hours ago | received a large sum OF
money and an order to wait here for three
passengers who wished to go to England
The order was accompanied by safe con
duct signed by the proconsul, Carrier. In
few days we shall, with a good wind be
in sight of the English coast"
The little family, hardly able to believe
their ears, looked at each other in wondering
delight, and Nine Kergouet murmured
with IA prayer of thanksgiving
"Who can our unknown friend be?"
Then Yvonne suddenly asked the captain
what the hour was.
1T is just half past IL, mademoiselle, ,
he answered, and the girl hastily drew out
the letter she had received, tore it oper
and read the first line:
'To Mile. Yolande de Clairville."
at is for you, mamma" she said, giving
it to her mother; but the marquise signed
to her son to read it aloud. 1t ran as fol
lows:
; Twenty years ago, on your wedding day, you
laid flower from your bridal bouquet on my
sisters coffin. She was just sixteen years old
] wish to pay my debt, and in return for your
flower give you three lives. CARRIER
! Translated from he French of Arthur