The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1899-04-20
CHAPTER vH.-tCoxTrSuEpJ

all know who | am the trusted mes
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 a poor revenge is
that. look you-how soon the terro-
have fed from the fiery youth, who
sent young Christophe 10 his last ac-
count. He who has helped pile up a life
time OF misery for hundreds of us!
Shall he only suffer a 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, agonizing hours of suspense, the
gnawing OF remorse the nameless hor-
rors OF a slowly but surely approach
ing doom.
Friends, citizens, let me tell you
why | think / have right to pro-
nounce the sentence in this case" con-
tinued he. his voice swelling full and
deep. In 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,
hal ! shall bring q more painful chob~
ing TO his throat than your halter did
for his son. 1t is right you should
hear his story tonight | had sister
we We're a thriving 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 a flower
might be plucked even by a nobleman,
and Count German 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
nobler 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 veritable priest, and
managed that that which his lordship
believed to be a sham ceremony to
appease the scruples of virtuous girl,
became a legal marriage. / kept the
papers myself, and revealed the secret
to no one, and the priest died two
months afterward. My sister was too
contiding 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 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 a
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 a cold, plain faced
countess reigned at the chateau. soon
learned what had happened, and with
the papers in my hand, l sought the
count. Ask him, some of you, if 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 10 do with the government,
nothing but to be ground into the dust,
ana submit passively-did l think the
government would listen to the word
of peasant against a nobleman, and
in such a cause as this? | saw my
case was hopeless through the tyranny
that bound France and made slaves of
two-thirds of her people. | 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 | was registering an
oath within me. that if it took a life
time devoted TO but one hidden end
hour should be avenged | have toiled
] have boarded. | have strained every
nerve of mind and body, five and TWEEN
" 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 citizensw
! Like the roar of tempest amid
forest, or the deafening dash of surf
against the rocks, came one great cry.
; Away with him TO prison. Let the
fends take him by piecemeal Let him