The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-04-27

mind If he dined with a widow, old
enough to be his mother and rich
enough to pay for bottle of nice wine,
especially il she was devout creature
and suffered from loneliness. He was
stupid enough to tell me that .'fine
feathers do not make fine birdsv I
hope he will not find out who my friend
is and do anything to spoil my fun
''It was only few days after this
that Coralie had some information for
me. i think NJ. Hanotaux is judge
she said, with an important air. 4
asked him last night why he got
masses said for the executed. He did
not seem to like my question, but he
said at last: "AIy child, am func-
tionary Of the state. My duties as it's
faithful servant oblige me to be stern
toward crime. There should be a re-
ward for duty, but sometimes what is
done for the citizens is resented by the
citizens on him who upholds the law.
So / try to see that some assistance is
offered to those who suffer from the
law since / know myself the ingrati-
tude toward those who carry it out.
Fate has thrust hard lot on me-"
And then he changed the subject add
ed Coralie. He Is so modest. 1 am
glad l have been able to tighten his
lonely hours. He has never married,
and he has no ties. 1t is very sad. I
told him thought he ought to marry.
He looked at me with his clear eyes
and his lovely cold dignity and said:
"Mademoiselle, have been welded to
my profession for 45 years, ever since
was a boy of 16. I shall shortly re-
tire, | hope, and live the rest of my
days in some quiet country spot where
can hear the birds sing. If I could
have a wife to share that with me, /
would not object. But fear that will
not be-" and he shook his head slowly,
looking at me- replied Coralie signifi-
cantly.
"'It's time for Auguste to do some
thing said, laughing, or the first
thing he knows you will be la femme
de monsieur lie juge. Do you care for
him, Coralie?
II feel for him, but of course 1 love
Auguste-if he We're not such tyrant
Of firebrand. I am afraid may have
to let one Of them go, for Auguste is
more annoying than ever
SIT was only few days after when
she came and, with pout and shrug
Of her pretty shoulders, exclaimed:
What do you suppose Auguste has
done now? Last night he reproached
me bitterly and had the impertinence
to say: II ought to let you go on, and
if I did not love you more than such a
coquette deserves l would, and my re-
venge would come later. But you are
foOlp He called me foolY ejaculat-
ed Coralie. And I think I am, for /
am really fond of this little Auguste.
He is truly great when he gets into
passion. OF course he adores me. So
1 said: "Pauvre cher enfant! You are
foolish to take these little things so Sc
riously. | will go anywhere with you
If you ask me when have no engage
ment." He had not mentioned M.
Hanotaux, but knew what the trou-
BILE was. And then,' cried Coralie dra-
matically, to what pleasant fete, what
diversion, do you suppose he invited
me?se To bal masque? No. To
students dance? No. To an excur-
sion? No. To an execution at La Ro-
quette tomorrow morning at O'clock!
The canaille that will be there! And
you know hate to get up before 10!
But had promised him, and so said
I would go. | will be reasonable, al
though he is not. The savage-to like
such spectacle as that! But, mon
sieur,' continued Coralie imploringly,
4 am afraid to go there alone with
Auguste. He might say unpleasant
things, and l know should have an
attack of the nerves and could not
count on him to help me. So won't
you be good and come with us? That
will restrain Auguste, and l shall feel
more comfortable
"Well, was with Auguste. 1 felt
that Coralie was extending more relief
to the man of lonely hours than was
necessary, and after his late remark to
her about n country home and birds
and wife / was sure Auguste needed
to clinch his hold ON the feather headed
little thing. | did not think 1t was n
very polite way Of doing it by taking
her to see a mans head cut off at an
unearthly hour of the morning, but l
could understand that Auguste might
think such concession a convincing
proof of Coralie's straight dealing with
him. l think it was myself. 1 had
seen everything in Paris except gull
lotining and had a sneaking desire to
witness one and compare this method
Of capital punishment with hanging, of
which | was once a spectator So
consented.
"The next morning when we got to
the Place de Ia Roquette the square
was crowded, although it was such an
early hour. Auguste pushed his way
through until he got us to a spot where
good view was had of the long side of
the guillotine. Have you ever been up
early enough to know how depressing
the raw gray hours are before the sun
comes? 1t was chilly and damp, and
those two uprights, with the triangular
blade of blue steel at the top waiting to
be let loose ON the head below, didn't
warm it up any. A double Gordon of
cavalry surrounded the square, and a
detachment of the Garde Municipale
was drawn up around The Widow as
her bodyguard.
''The crowd pushed and laughed and
made coarse jests as it waited impa-
tiently for the spectacle. Coralie was
more peevish than ratified. l know she
could not have felt any more wound