The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1905-09-04
His IRON Nerve
fOrigfnaLJ

ITS uelSuI. M. Oud1nOE SAl upon Lu6
bench dispensing justice" which
meant Kidding the country Of the hated
aristocrats. He was a ma possessing
great physical and will power, with
nerves of iron. This morning, having
oeard that one of the most hated royal
Its had escaped to England, there was
an especially merciless expression on
his face as his cold gray eyes glanced
over the dozen persons covering be-
fore him. One by one be sealed them
to the guillotine, till the last, a girl, a
mere child, stood up before him, look
ing at him with a pair OF innocent blue
eyes, apparently unconscious of her
peril.
"Your name?" asked Oudinot, relax
ing -momentarily from his severe ex-
preston.
"Clochette de Forcinet."
Daughter of the citizen who styles
himself the Marquis de Forcinet?"
Yes, NJ. lie Juge."
Oudinot sat irresolute. The marquis
was the royalist whose escape had SO
disappointed the revolutionists. On
hearing the hated name the judge
spoke the words that condemned the
child to the guiilotine.
udino leaned back in his chair to
rest after his mornings work of con-
demning a dozen fellow beings to
death, and the wretched crowd was
led back to the prison. A man envel
oped in a cloak and a hat drawn down
over his eyes entered the ROOM, throw
ing off both hat and cloak when he
perceived that he was alone with the
Judge.
.Ha, Sanglier, what do you here"
asked Oudinot, when you should be
in the Place de la Concorde working
your guilotine?"
81 have engaged a substitute. 1 wish
to resign my position"
"Are o not well paid?'
Eyes. NJ. Oudinot, l am well paid. but
my nerve is giving out"
Nonsense. man! We have nc occa-
sion for nerves when we are Kidding
France Of those who have tyrannized
over US for centuries"
Nevertheless l can pear the strain
no longer"
care your sympathies turning toward
our enemies? the judge asked, with
knitting brows.
mo, NJ. lie Juge. If you. with your
infexible will, were to see what I see
every day 1 am sure o would bend
before the sight"
81 bend before seeing these people,
who have so long denied us and u
children bread, expiate their crimes?
Are you mad, Sanglier?"
Sanglier bent his head in thought.
II will make you a proposition, NJ.
Oudinot. l will retain my Office dur
ing tomorrow. Come at he hour the
work begins and remain till 1t is over.
If you do not finch 1 will acknowledge
you are right. If you do you are to
relieve me of my Office"
Ozone" said Oudinot. "I will be
there"
In the morning Oudinot after a COM
Portable breakfast took his hat and
cane and strolled toward h Place de
la Concorde. AS he was about to turn
into the space where h guillotine was
set up a tumbrel passed him with a
load of victims, one of them a strip
ling girl leaning over the side Of the
cart. in whom he recognized Clochette
de F%orcinet. She was looking at him
with an u~nconcerned expression, and
as the tumbrel passed very near him
she said softly:
Good morning, NJ. lie Juge!'
Oudinot started. BE had become
used to seeing people hear him con-
denim them to death with fear and
trembling, with shrieks and fainting.
1t seemed to madden him, to put an
edge on his cruelty, but this child
what did she mean by wishing hm a
good morning without the slightest
bitterness? He put his hand in his
pocket and took out his handkerchief
to wipe his brow, for the day was hot,
and noticed a slight tremor In his arm.
"Nonsenser' he muttered, and, brac-
ing himself, he hurried OF to the foot
Of the guillotine. Sanglier was stand
ing by the instrument waiting for him.
AS soon as hi saw the Judge he called
for the first victim.
He was a young noble, who met
death u~nhinchingly. Then came a
woman, who had to be carried and plac-
I'd in position on h %guillotine; next
a priest, encouraging the others and
wearing a look on his face as If he al
ready saw heaven. They followed one
another, Oudinot keeping his eyes I'M
~dinchingly on them from first to last
till Clochette de Forcinet was led up.
1t seemed to NJ. Oudinot as if some
thing within him were giving way. His
head swan. He leaned heavily on his
cane. Clochette was placed or the
g%uiilotine. Did she look upon it as
play? Was she proud to meet death
which she did not UNDERSTANDINGS il she
had pee honored with a prize at
school? She lay fat on the board and
asked:
Am 1 In the right ~position?"
h was told that she was. Then,
turning to Oud1not. she said:
M. lie Jupe."