The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1897-05-20

'dliiHs WHO NOu-d nave sofa man
ife for few pieces Of silverr' 1
Tho wretchod PEASANTS knees trem-
Dled, and the perspiration stood upon
his brow. He heard the voice as the
voice Of a judge. He looked in the stern
eyes of the Girondins and read only an
ger and vengeance. Then he caught in
the silence tie sound Of his wife weep
ing, for at Pierre's appearance she had
broken into wild sobbing, and no 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 il was before
her old father sold her to this Judas.
For what he would have you believe
now, my friends it is false. l. too, |
swear it,
A murmur of execration broke from
the group of Girondins. Barbaroux re-
pressed it by a gesture. What do you
say of this MANI he asked, turning to
them, his voice deep and solemn.
He is not fit to liver' they answered
in chorus.
The poor coward screamed as he heard
the words, and tlinging himself on the
ground he embraced Barbaroux's knees
! in paroxysm of terror. But the judge
did not look at him. Barbaroux turned
instead 20 Pierre Bounat. What do
you say Of him." he asked.
''He is not fit to live, said the young
man solemnly, his breath coming quick
and fast.
"And you?" 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
ued in tones which Michel never for
: got, III q whisper escape you as to ou
presence here, or our names, or if yol
wrong your wife by word or deed, tn
I life she has saved shall pay for it.
y "Rememberr' he added, shaking Mi
oLol 30 o,l FRO xx,i RI n fnuar 1GTha arr,
. of Barbaroux is long, and though b
/ 100 leagues away shall know, and
shall punish. So beware! Now, rise an
live''
u The miserable man covered back t
the wall, frightened to the core of hi
10 heart. The Girondins conferred awhil
Al in whispers, two of their number al
u sisting Pierre to cross the barrier. Sue
81 denly there came-and Michel tremble
III anew as he heard it-a loud knockin
+ at the door, All started and stood Ii
" tening and waiting. A voice outsit
u cried "Open, open i'll the name Of Il
~ lawr
re 1--WE have fingered too long, - Barb
az roux muttered. 81 should have thougl
nc of this. 1t is the mayor of Carbaix con
II to apprehend our friend. "
, Again the Girondins conferred toget
he er. At last, seeming to arrive at co
clusion, they ranged themselves on
ne number opened it. A short stout ma
TN girt with q tricolor sash and wearing
~ hugo sword, entered with an air of a
iu' thority. Being blinded by the light,
MS saw nothing out Of the common and "
IN followed by four men armed with mi
0u> kets.
:, Their appearance produced an extra
i binary effect on Michel Teller. As tn
one 10y one crossed the threshold
es- peasant leaned forward, his face flus
IAN ed, his eyes cleaning, and counted the
na' They We're only five. And the 9th
were IL. He fell back, and from Il
ing moment his belief in the Girondi
ere power was clinched.
arp I'm the name of the law!" painted
eel mayor. why did you not Then
IN stopped abruptly, his mouth remaini
aK- open. He found himself surrounded
'oi' group of grim, silent mutes, W
ielr arms in their hands, and in twink
led
,ese it flashed into his mind that these "
vol the IL chiefs Of the Girondins WI
who he had been warned to keep watch
,der He had come 20 catch pigeon and
aces caught crow. He turned pale, and
heir eyes dropped. "Who are-who are Il
.hev gentlemen?' he stammered in |,
as crously altered tone
and "Some volunteers of Quumpen,
lurk turning home, replied Barbaroux,
his ironical smoothness.
HIGH "You have your papers, either
chel the mayor asked mechanically, and
emf: took step back toward the door
rons looked over his shoulder.
the Here they are!" said Potion rue
hich TRUSTING a packet into his ha
esses They are in order "
The mayor took them, and Ion
ding only to see the outside of the door
tended to look through them, his
But heart going pita-pat within
him They seem to be i'll order, he as
, the ed feebly. Il need not trouble you
Their, citizens. came here under
,ence apprehension, find, and Iwish y
tran good journey"
some He knew, as he backed out, tina
was cutting poor figure He W
have fain have nlade more dignified ret
salts. But before these men, fugitives anc
laws as they were, he felt, thoue
III an was mayor of Carbaix, almost as (
ow y a man as did Michel Teller.
q arc were the men of the revolution.
had bearded mobiles and pulled
kings. There was Barbaroux, WIFI
swer- grappled with Marat, and Petior
there nlayor Vi 'Ie D''''ilio, ino - !.