The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1900-08-16
A MERClLESS ENEMY


down Their arms IN the streets ana sur
rendered The night advanced; still they
dragged the prisoners into our lowrafted
room. NJ. Henri cried with victorious
clemency: "Lower your arms and you shall
not be hurt" The republicans were dis
armed, and let go free. | pointed out to
the young chief the danger of letting hun
dreds of rebels wander about the outskirts,
just when his men were thinking of moth
ing but victory and of going each his own
way.
"You have some merciess enemies"
said. "a Marseilais Lieutenant named Ri
pard has sworn that he would kill you in
the combat or murder you afterwards on
the first opportunity"
On the young chiefs handsome face there
was a look of childlike astonishment at
Ripard's hatred. His brow clouded at my
words; but he dismissed the thought with
a shake of the shoulders, and gave the
order to release the rest Of the prisoners.
, 1--WE must show them that we have more
humanity than they" he said.
He had scarce finished speaking when
there was a tumult outside, and three Ven
deem soldiers dragged rough-haired man
into the room. He had cruel, bloodshot
eyes; his face was convulsed with rage and
hatred.
This rebel has been arrested, pistol in
hand, said one of the Nendeens His life
and liberty were given him. lie made off,
then turned and fired on his liberators. We
dragged his pistol from him; here it is"
And the man placed the weapon upon the
table.
"To the prison." ordered NJ Henri; and
! turning to the man, he said "l our namel"
The prisoner grinned savagely: Take
care; my name will alarm you. l am
Ripard."
/ | trembled. NJ. Henri looked at the Mar
seillas and said, quietly: We'll, Ripard,
you are free. Col"
"Where do you expect me to 60? The
houses are full; there is no straw. The
country is unsafe. If you are afraid to keep
me, kill me, for l am worn-out. l cannot
drag another step
"Soit!" said NJ. Henri. 1--WE are no
longer fighting; there is a capitulation. If
you do not know where to go, you may
stop here
l trenbled at the thought Of harboring
so dangerous guest, and raised hundred
objections; we have not even chair TO
spare.
AT least said NJ. Henri, che shall share
my ROOM the bed is big enough for two"
WAS NuIlD NllH uOTTOT. mere was u
painful silence, broken by NJ Henri begging
me to take the torch and show Ripard to
his room. The man watched us narrowly;
drop of blood, hanging from the corner of
his eyelid, rolled down his cheek, leaving
ghasty stain upon it. / walked first,
showing the way up the steps; but my
heart beat fast and the torch trembled in
my hand, throwing weird shadows, as we
went. Inside the corridor I opened the
aeepingroom door, and placed the light
upon the chimney. The grin on the Marseil-
las' face froze my blood with horror. l
fingered, hoping to find chance of whis-
pering to M. Henri to disarm Ripard, or
at any rate to let one Of the men sleep in
his room; but he had forgotten about
the pistol, or was obstinate in his idea, for
he cut me short, saying:
"Good-night-a demain. l am wom-out
| with fatigue"
And to hasten my departure, he com
menced to unfasten his coat.
l went away in despair leaving the door
| ajar behind me; but / heard NJ. Henri bid
Ripard close it, saying that they would sleep
more quietly. / trembled at the haste with
which the man obeyed, double-locking the
door behind him. In the anguish that pos
sessed me i had a mind to cross the corri-
dor upon which their room gave, to get
| ladder, and climbing up, to watch them
| through the narrow oeil de boeuf window
| placed high in the WALL but my courage
failed, Still, could not abandon our guest
| to the mercy of his enemy. NJ. Henri's Ven
deem soldiers shared my fears, but they
| dared not disobey the command.
when NJ. Henri says thing he means
| it, they said; but ! persuaded one Of them
| to place his mattress across the door, beg
ging him to spend the night there, ready to
| break in at the first alarm. This done, l
retired; but / was still uneasy. Though I
| threw myself dressed upon the bed / could
not sleep. An hour passed YEARLY by, then
another; the suspense became unbearable
| unable longer to suppress my fears, took
ladder from lumber room at the end
of the corridor, placed it noiselessly under
the oeil de boeuf window, climbed up and
looked into the room. The hight was still
burning, though the house was in silence.
NJ. Henri was lying on the side of the bed
nearest to the wall; and Ripard, having
| placed the light upon the table near to the
head of the bed, was standing motionless
beside it watching the sleepers face.
could not see his expression, for his back
was towards me. He remained thus some
| minutes, ueDatlhg, perhaps, whether the
serenity of those noble features were not
| a ruse.
The young chiefs shirt was open at the
neck, showing a medallion attached to a
silver chain that reposed upon his breast
His breathing was calm and regular, his lips
half open in a smile that betokened a peace
fui and happy dream. Ripard's right hand
was half hidden in the shadow Of the table;
l could see that it held the pistol, his finger
upon the trigger. He seemed to hesitate;
then raising his arm slowly, he aimed
straight at the sleeper's heart. / was pet
riied with horror, my heart ceased to beat;
a cry of horror and anguish died away in
my throat. Still l watched, powerless to
move, as in dream. And NJ. Henri slept
on, smiling and breathing peacefully, un.
consciously offering his warm breast to
the cold muzzle that was menacing him In
that awful moment | felt the cold shiver
of death upon me. Ripard maintained his
murderous aim, still he did not fire. He
sighed deeply, his hand trembled then he
lowered the pistol with furious move
ment turned and stepped backwards from
the bed. He was hideously pale, his eve