The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1899-04-28
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CHATTER vII.-tCoN41xurD.,

CHATTER VII.-(CoNT1NuED.,
Citizens, IL am to be your orator,
now is your time to listen to me- You
all know who am; the trusted mes
senger from Rebespierre cannot be ac-
cused of loyalty to cause he has so
long secretly and openly fought
against, or Of treachery to the cause
OF the people. Do not misjudge me.
then, when l bid you forego your In
tention to yonder trembling group.
Why, friends, what poor revenge is
that! look you-how soon the terrors
have fled from the fiery youth, who
sent young Christophe to his last &C
count. He who has helped pile up life
time of misery for hundreds of us!
Shall he only suffer few seconds
strangling, and then be safe where our
revenge cannot reach him? I ask keen
Or pangs for those that are left, the
bitter, agonizing hours of suspense, the
gnawing of remorse, the nameless hor-
rors of slowly but surely approach
ing doom.
Friends, citizens, let me tell you
nounce the sentence in this case," con-
tinued he, his voice swelling full and
deep. I'm the group yonder, stands
Count German, as he was known in
the days gone by, as he will never be
known again. AS some of you know,
was once a peasant on his estate. He
hears me-do you see him cover? All,
ha! l shall bring more painful chok
ing to his throat than your halter did
for his son. 1t is right you should
hear this story tonight. had a sister
we were thriving family in spite
OF his oppressive taxes, and she was
tenderly reared. She was known then
Is the Rose of Chestnut Hollow, and
no rose was ever half so sweet or
beautiful as Valerie. So fair a flower
might be plucked even by a nobleman,
and Count Germain sought to win her
by his wiles. He won her love, but
she was pure as the mountain dew,
and this man whose blood is so much
nobier and better than ours, was forced
to stratagem to win his ends. He per-
suaded her with his smooth words that
he 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
moekery of the sacred rite, confessed
to me what was about to happen. That
was my first move against this man.
when l found a veritable priest, and
managed that that which his lordship
believed to be sham ceremony to
appease the scruples of virtuous girl,
became legal marriage. I kept the
papers myself, and revealed the secret
to no one, and the priest died two
months afterward. My sister was too
confiding and happy to demur because
she was kept immured at the chateau.
but she was not long to remain So Six
months, and my lord, the count, was
tired of his peasant plaything. One
day he gave her a 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 a lady
high born and wealthy, suitable for
countess. She was a woman. and you
all do know what tender stuff their
hearts are made of. She dropped wan
and white in silence even after her
babe was born, and cold, plain faced
countess reigned at the chateau l soon
cd who
the papers in my hand, sought the
count. Ask him, some OF you, if he
has forgotten that meeting. Did
1 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,
and submit passively-did I think the
government would listen to the word
'sf peasant against a nobeman, and
In such cause as this? I saw my
case was hopeless through the tyranny
that bound France and made slaves of
two-thirds of her people. I crushed
back the rage that filled my heart, and
demanded that the child should be bet
ter educated than his mother had been
but while spoke 1 was registering an
oath within me, that if it took a life
time devoted to but one hidden end,
hour should be avenged I have toiled.
have boarded, have strained every
nerve of mind and body, five and TWEEN
ty years, and tonight my end is con-
summated. Will you give him but an
hour of wretchedness for my long
years of grief my sisters life of mis-
cry, her sons blasted hopes? Answer
me, citizensv'
Like the roar of a tempest amid
forest, or the deafening dash of surf
against the rocks, came one great crv
I "Away with him to prison. Let the
f1ends take him by piecemeal. Let him
die by inches. Long life and honor to
citizen JEAN" and amid shouts and
1eers the prisoners were seized and
borne away to prison by the soldiers.
I Count German cast one questioning
look at his wife, as rude hands bore
him past where, still unable to rise,
she was lying on the grass. She I'M