La Junta tribune., 1898-01-08
CHAPTER vn.-tCoxrrxurp.,
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cused os loyalty to cause he has so
long secretly and openly fought
against, or Of treachery to the cause
Of the people, Do mot mistudge me-
then. when ) I'd you foreso your In.
tention to yonder trembling group
Why. friends. what poor revenge Is
that! look you--how soon the terrors
have ned from the fiery youth. who
sent young Christophe to his last ac-
count. He who has helped pile up . lie
time Of misery for hundreds OF us!
Shall he only suffer few seconds
strangling. and then be safe where our
revenge cannot reach him? l ask keen
er pangs for those that are left. the
bitter. agonixing hours of suspense, the
gnawing OF remorse, the nameless hor-
rors of slowly but surely approach
ing doom.
Friends, citizens, let me tell you
why / think I have a right to pro-
nounce the sentence in this case" con-
tinued he, his voice swelling full and
deep. ''In the group yonder. stands
6dunt GERMAN. as he was known In
the days gone by, as he will never be
known again. As some OF you know.
was once peasant ON his estate. He
hears me-do you see him cover? Ah.
ha! shall bring q more painful chok-
ing to his throat than your halter did
for his son. 1t is right you should
hear this sto-- tonight. had sister
we were irving family In spite
of his oppressive taxes. and she was
tenderly reared. She was known then
as the Rose Of Chestnut Hollow. and
no rose was ever half SO sweet or
beautiful as Valerie. So fair flower
might be plucked even by nobleman,
and Count Germain sought to win her
she was pure as the mountain dew.
and this man whose blood Is SO much
nobler and better than ours. vas forced
to stratagem to win his ends. He per-
syaded her with his smooth words that
be was ready to lift her to his own
estate: that his love overlooked their
different stations. and he would give
her legal marriage. The innocent
girl trusted him! But bark you!
The poor tool who was to per-
senate the priest. and make
mockery OF the sacred rite. confessed
to me what was about to happen. That
was my first move against this man.
when found a veritable priest. and
managed that that which his lordship
believed to, be sham ceremony to
appease the scruples of \ vlrtuous girl,
1ecsme aslegal marriage. kept the
papers myself. and revealed the secret
to NO one, and the priest died two
months afterward. My sister was too
connding and happy to demur because
she was kept immured at the chateau.
hut she was not long to remain 30. Six
months. and my lord. the count, was
tired OF his peasant plaything. One
day he gave her 4 roll Of gold. told
her the trick he had played upon her,
and sent her from the chateau to a
neighboring cottage. promising to see
her often. until his marriage to q. lady
high born and wealthy. suitable for
countess She was woman. and you
all do know what tender stun their
hearts are made Of She drooped wan
and white in silence even after her
babe was born. and cold. plain faced
countess reigned at the chateau. soon
learned what had happened. and with
the papers in my. hand, sought the
count. Ask him, some OF you. II he
has forgotten that meeting. Did
/ think, he asked. that the govern
ment-and that meant the king and
nobility: the people, mind you. had
nothing to do with the government.
nothing but to be ground into the dust.
think N
government would listen to the word
Of peasant against nobleman. and
In such cause AZ this! saw my
case was hopeless through the tyranny.
that bound France and made slaves OF
two-thirds Of her people. crushed
hack the rage that filled my heart, and
demanded that the child should be bet
ter edueafsd than his mother had been.
hut while spoke was registering an
oath within me, that II It took q life
time devoted to but one hidden end,
hour should be avenged. have toiled.
have boarded, have strained every
nerve Of mind and body, nve and twen-
ty years. and tonight my end 10 con-
summated. Will you give him but an
hour Of wretchedness for my long
years Of grief. my sisters life Of mis-
err. her sons blasted hopes? Answer
me. citisensr'
Like the roar of tempest amid a
forest, or the deafening dash of surf
against the rocks, came one great cry.
~Away with him to prison. Let the
iiends take him by pieccmeal. Let him
die by inches. Long life and honor to
citizen lean" and amid shouts and
3eers the prisoners were seized and
borne away to prison BY the soldiers.
Count Germain cast one questioning
look It his wife, sas rude hands bore
him past where. still unahIe to rise.
ne was Tying on the grass. She un-
dsrstopd his meaning, and answered