The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1895-05-29
In The Name Of the Law
By STANLEY ]. wEYMAN.



II was to have 5 crowns for him, :"
Michel mnttered obviously.
'0h, Pction," continued the spokos.
man to one of his companions, "can
you kindle lightY 1t strikes me that
we have hit upon dark place"
The man addressed took something
from his pouch For moment there
was silence, broken only by the sharp
/ sound of the flint striking tho steel
Then sudden glare lit up the dark in
terror and disclosed the group Of cloak
ed strangers standing about the door,
the light cleaning back from their
muskets and cutlasses Michel trembled.
He had never seen such men as these
before. True, they were wet and travel
stained and had the air Of those who
/ spend their nights in bitches and under
haystacks, But their pale, stern faces
were set in indomitable resolve Their
eyes glowed with steady fire, and they
trod as kings tread Their leader was n
man Of majestic height and beauty, and
in his eyes alone there seemed to Turk
a spark of some lighter fire, as If his
spirit still rose above the task which
had sobered his companions. Michel
noted all this in fear and bewilderment;
noted the white head and yet vigorous
bearing Of the man who had struck the
light; noted even the manner in which
the light died away in the dim recesses
of the barn.
"And this Girondin-is he in hiding
/ nere?" said the tall man.
THAT is so. " Michel answered but
! had nothing to do with hiding him,
straw there. -
And you gave notice Of his presence
to the authorities?" continued the stran-
ger, raising his hand to repress some
movement among his followers.
Certainly, or you would not have
been here, )" replied Michel, better salts.
fed with himself.
The answer struck him down with an
awful terror. "That does not follow"
said the tall man coolly, "fcr we are
Girondinsp'
"You are?''
without doubt" the other answer.
cd, with majestic simplicity, 'or there
are no such persons This is Potion and
this Citizen Buzot. Have you heard of
Louvet? There he stands. For me, am
Barbaroux"
Michels tongue seemed glued to the
roof Of his mouth. He could not utter a
word. But another could. On the far
side Of the barrier a sudden rustling was
heard, and while all turned to look
but with what different feelingsl-the
pale face of the youth over whom Mi.
chel had bent in the afternoon appeared
above the partition. A smile of joyful
recognition effaced for the time the lines
OF exhaustion. The young man, cling
ing for support to the planks, uttered a
cry Of thankfulness. 1T is youl 1t is
really you'll You are safel" he exclaim.
ed.
1--WE are safe, all Of us, Pierre" Bar.
baroux answered. "And, now'-and he
turned to Michel Teller with sudden
thunder in his voice-"this man whom
you would have betrayed is our guide.
let me tell you, whom we lost last night.
Speak. man, in your defense, if you can.
Say what you have to say why justice
shall not lie done upon you, miserable
~
life for few pieces of silver!"
The wretched PEASANTS knees trem-
bled, and the perspiration stood upon
his brow. He heard the voice as the
voice of judge. He looked in the stern
eyes of the Girondins and read only an
ger and vengeance Then he caught in
the silence the sound of his wife weep
ing, for at Pierre's appearance she had
broken into wild sobbing, and he spoke
out of the base instincts of his heart.
HE was her lover" he muttered 81
swear it, citizens. ~
He lies' cried the man at the bar
rier, his face TRANSPORTED with rage. IL
loved her, it is true, but it was before
her old father sold her to this Judas.
For what he would have you believe
now, my friends. it is false /, too,
swear it,
A murmur of execration broke from
the group of Girondins. Barbaroux re.
pressed it by gesture. "What do you
say of this MANI" he asked, turning to
them, his voice deep and solemn.
He is not fit to livel" they answered
in chorus.
The poor coward screamed as he heard
the words. and finRing himself ON the
ground he embraced Barbaroux's knees
in paroxysm of terror. But the Judge
did not look at him. Barbaroux turned
instead to Pierre Bounat What do
you say of him?" he asked.
lie is not fit to live, said the young
man solemnly. his breath coming quick
and fast.
"And your" Barbaroux continued,
turning and looking with his eyes of
fire at the wife, his voice gentle and yet
more solemn.
A moment before she had ceased to
weep and had stood up listening and
gazing, awe and wonder in her face.
Barbaroux had to repeat his question
before she answered. Then she said,
He is not fit to die
There was silence for moment, bro
ken only by the entreaties of the wretch
on the floor. At last Barbaroux spoke.
"She has said rightly" he pronounced.
He shall live. They have put us out of
the law and set price on our heads,
but we will keep the law. He shall live.
But, bark you, the great orator contin-
ned in tones which Michel never for