Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-06-13
count SIX"

A group of friends sat slipping Their
muddy yellow bitters outside a cafe
in the Boulevard Michel, and their
conversation ran upon recently ex-
ecuted anarchists and the imperterba-
bility with which they met theil
doom at the final hour.
Henri Caillot grew excited
1T is courage"' he exclaimed ct is
mettle, fortitude-made of strong
stomach and nerves of iron"
''Allons done" rejoined Roussell the
sculptor. Its nothing of the kind
It's fear, terror, cowardice, more
likely"
You call III terror, mOnSieur|'
Il do, and l believe | name it right
~"
'Then you are a coward yourself
You have no stomach. no pluck. nc
nerve"
Several strangers crowded round the
tables, and passers-by formed an at
tractive group upon the pavement. A
pretty scene was expected. But they
were mistaken.
No; Jean ROuSsell looked very TN
like an inSulted man thirsting for re-
venge. Had not his fellow students
at the EcOle DIES BeauX Arts been in
timately assured Of his pluck they
would have denounced him all round
as a veritable poule mouillee. and
what so vivid picture of shame and
pitiable incompetence as ''wet hem
Perhaps" replied ROuSsell quietly
you are unable to imagine yourself
in the unique position of a man doomed
to the guillotine, but you may not
always be so unfortunate
Il should know how to die" said
Caillot spitefully.
certainly. You would die as you
were told. There would be no option
When the prOcureur came to your cell
and said, Your hour has come, be
courageous if you were able to walk
to M. Diebler without physical assist
ance or the friendly drink it would
be the result of terror, not fortitude.'
Our opinions Of my courage are at
variance M. ROusSell. | am willing
to put it to the test
The crowd grew eXpectant again.
"a show of bombast is not my idea
of courage" replied Roussell. 'Cour-
age is exhibited, if at all, under I'M
favorable conditions. Good evening
meSSieurS."
And Roussell, to everybody's intense
establishment and disappointment
arose from his table and walked away
Henri Caillot kept a bookstaQ at
one of the galleries outside the Odeon
theater, and it was his custom each
evening to take a constitutional in the
Luxembourg garden opposite before
adjOurning to a cafe in the Boulevard
Michel.
The rain one night prematurely
drove the band out of the garden, and
the idlerS with it, but Caillot was moi
to be deferred from his exercise.
He had a regular course-in at the
northeast gate, around the fountain
and across the garden to where the
gay parterreS that night looked
swamped and sorry
He usually sat on a bench near the
WcSIoIu OuI LnC ldlu " as
too heavy, and darkness was falling
rapidly so he took a return path
strolling leisurely, with his umbrella
we'll down over his shoulders.
Of a sudden be stopped, lifted his
umbrella to aid his vision and listened
.sThat surely wasn't thunder he
said aloud.
He was answered by an unearthly
shrek.
The unexpected reply made hin
start and look behind him. But nc
human thing was visible. He peerei
right and left into the semi-darkness
and assumed his original position
Neither man nor beast could he see
His impulse was to walk quickly
away. and he was about to obey it
but was arrested by a repetition of the
noise, Enthusiastically close at hand.
He felt creepy.
That sound emanated from no hui
man throat The strongest lungs were
incapable to yielding so eerie a blast
no vocal chords produced it. A tran
car horn with satan believing at the
end might achieve it.
BY accident his eyes fe$ upon the
bronze statuary near the ratings no
twenty feet distant, representing {
Faun playing with a Panther.
''Holy Virginr' he exclaimed involun
tarilv.
And when they had opened they
beloved again, more terribly than be
fore.
A cold shudder shook Caillot. HI
would have fed, but he was powerless
The jaws of the panther were NOV
ing,
And when they had opened the!
beloved again, more terribly thar
before.
A cold shudder shook Caillot. HI
f, would have fed, but he was power
less The slowly moving jaws, open
ing and shutting with strange regu
larity. fascinated him. He knew tn,
animal well. He had scanned it will