The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1905-01-26
His Iron Nerve
[original.]

/ :
| meant Kidding the country of tie hated
aristocrats. He was man possessing
great physical and will power, with
nerves of iron. This morning, having.
heard that one Of the most hated royal
lists had escaped to England, there was
! an especially merciless expression or
his face as his cold gray eyes glanced
over the dozen persons covering be-
fore him. One by one he sealed them
to the guilotine, till the last. a girl, q
! mere child, stood up before him, look
ing ut him with pair of innocent blue
eyes, apparently unconscious of her
peril
'Your name?" asked Oudinot, relax
ing momeGtarily from his severe ex-
preston.
'Cloehette de Forcinet."
"Daughterl 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
/ oRSAAS SACi WINS IAuS SShAClhhNu luS
child to the guillotine.
Oudinot leaned back in his chair to
rest after his mornings work of con-
demning dozen fellow beings to
death. and the wretched crowd was
led back to the prison. A man envel-
opsd in cloak and hat drawn down
! over his eyes entered the room, throw
ing or both hat and cloak when he
! perceived that he was alone with the
Judge;
1Ha, Sanglier, what do you here"
asked Oudinot, when you should be
In the Place de la Concorde working
your guillotineT'
have engaged "A substitute. I wish
! to resign my POSITION"
"Are you not well paid?"
Eyes, N. Oudinot, am well paid. but
my nerve is giving Sat"
Nonsense. man! We have no occa-
sion for nerves when we are Kidding
France Of those who have tyrannized
over us for centuries"
Nevertheless I can bear the strain
no longer
"Are your sympathies turning toward
our enemies!' the judge asked, with
knitting brows.A
NO NJ. lie Juge. If you, with your
infexible will, were to see what / sec
every day am sure you would bend
before the sight,
who have so long denied us and our
children bread, expiate their crimes?
Are you mad, Sanglier?"
/ Sanglier bent his head in thought.
II will make you proposition, M.
Oudinot. / will retain my office dur
ing tomorrow. Come at the hour the
work begins and remain till it is over.
If you do not finch will acknowledge
you are right. If you do you are to
relieve me Of my of1ce.s
"Done," said Oudinot. 81 will be
: there"
In the morning Oudinot after COM
Portable breakfast took his hat and
cane and strolled toward the Place de
la Concorde AS he was about to turn
into the space where the guillotine was
set up t. mbrel passed him with |
load of victims, one Of them strip
ling girl leaning over the side of the
cart, in whom he recognized Clochette
de Forcinet. She was looking at him
with an unconcerned expression, and
as the tumbrel passed very near him
she said softly:
Good morning, M. lie Jugev
Oudinot started. He had become
used to seeing people hear him con-
denim them to death with fear and
trembling, with shricks and fainting.
1t seemed to madden him, to put an
edge on his cruelty, but this child
what did she mean by wishing him
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 slight tremor in his arm.
"NonsenseY' he muttered, and, brac-
ing himself, he hurried on to the foot
of the guillotine. Sanglier was stand
ing by the instrument waiting for him.
AS soon as he saw the judge he called
for the first victim.
He was young noble, who met
death unfinchingly. Then came q
woman, who had to be carried and plac.
ed in position on the guillotine; next
priest, encouraging the others and
wearing look on his face as If he al
ready saw heaven. They followed one
another, Oudinot keeping his eyes I'M
f1inchingly 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 on the
guillotine. Did she look upon it as
: play? Was she proud to meet death
which she did not understand las if she
had been honored with a prize at
school?. She lay fiat on the board and
asked:
Gam in the right positionY'
She was told that she was. Then,
turning to Oudinot, she said:
"Goodby, NJ. lie Juge."
y n,,1;r1t ~ hi !, n 10 + q,