The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1898-03-09

II wish 10 see the president Of the
tribunal" she demanded, In low tone.
If the clerk who sat writing at q
desk.
Citizen Barras has this moment left
;neiribunal. lie will not be back until
tomorrow" replied the clerk.
'He Is even now on the staircase"
remarked a man who had Just entered,
aud who overheard the question.
Without waiting to thank her inform
ant, Adele FASTENED from the room and
down the stairway. In the passage on
the landing below two men stood talk
ing. AS she set foot upon the stairs
they separated, one coming up and the
other proceeding along the hallway to
pass out into the street.
M. Barras, q world" cried Adele, in
terrible anxiety lest he should not hear
her.
81 am Citizen Barrss," said the man,
turning and looking up at he-.
Citizen Barras, here is a paper for
you. Read it, / pray you, and then
grant me leave to speak 10 you" She
leaned over the rail and held out the
k,ter for him to take.
Mechanically he reached up his hand
aud took it.
II have seen you before" he said,
abruptly.
II do not know; / do not remember"
she said, trembling. II am Nile. de Ire
noble. All, monsieur mean citizen
If you will only read that letter"
Barras continued to look at her fix
eddy.
That gesture, as you reached me this
paper, was strangely familiar" he said.
rs my memory playing tricks with
me? All, have it," he cried out. Il
remember now. l see a rose-covered
terrace and a little girl leaning over
wall on which are dog and doll.
In the street below is boy, ragged and
dirty. All, | know him well, that boy.
She piucks a rose and gives it to him.
You were that little child"
at was only rose that | gave YOU"
said the countess, hardly daring TO
breathe, land | have come to ask of
you for my fathers life. Marquis de
1'remoille is to be tried as a suspect.
He who was always so good and gen.
erous and kind"
"He is an aristocrat," remarked Bar
ras, with the corner of his mouth hard
ering.
Born of the nobility" said Coun-
less Adele, my father was one of the
first to raise up his voice for the peo-
pie; and now that he is old, broken in
health and stripped of fortune, they
seek his life. Is that justice? oh, sir,
if you will only read what have writ
ten. l have set it all forth SO clearly
il writing that you cannot fail being
| convinced"
'He spoke to save the king" replied
Barras.
"For the king and the constitution he
had sworn to uphold. Yes. You are a
young man, Citizen Barras, with long
life before you. Will you at the end of
| that life be willing to look back and re-
member that you had been the instru-
ment of bringing to the scaffold an old
nan who was only guilty of being loyal
to his oath? l plead with you, Citizen
Barras, as a daughter who will be
| broken-hearted at her fathers death. |
Plead with you for your own soufs
sake not to condemn my father to the
| guillotine. You are tearing my letter!
You will not read it? All, have pity!
| 1t contains the cry of daughter
heart. 1t is still wet with her tears"
Barras looked up al the figure Of the
| young woman, who held out her hand
to him beseechingly. His fingers ner-
yously tore in fragments the letter
he had been holding.
| "Mademoiselle," he said, with an eff
fort to speak calmly, II have seen you;
| | have heard you. / have no need to
read your suppiicatioD. l believe your
father to be guiltless of all crime
against the republic. The tribunal"
| here he hesitated "The tribunal will
doubtless acquit him. | can say no
more at present" And without wait
ing for her reply be hurried out into
| the street.
Adele stood for moment bewildered.
Then with bounding heart she left
| the building and flew homeward.
As her old goyerness folded her to her
breast the countess shed tears OF JOY.
"He will be acquitted" dear Nine.
Guardin; 1 have seen the dreaded Bar
res. My father will not die."-N \.
| Ledger.