The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1905-08-02
His Iron Nerve
forisinal.1

80 (AeA - aP0A kAO
bench dispensing justice" which
meant Kidding the country of the hated
arfstocrats. He was a man possessing
great physical and will power, with
nerves of iron. This morning, having
ceard that one Of the most hated royal
cts had escaped to England, there was
an especially merciiess expression on
his face as his cold gray eyes glanced
over the dozen persons covering be-
fore him. One by n he 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 F~orcinetf"
Yes, NJ. lie JUICE"
Oudinot sat irresolute. The marquis
was the royalist who's escape had SO
disappointed the ~revolutiOnistS. On
hearing the hated name the judge
spoke the words that condemned The
child to the guillotine.
Oudinot 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 be was alon with the
judge.
"Ha, Sanglier, what do you here"
asked Oudinot. when you should be
In the Place de la Concorde working
your guillotine?"
81 have engaged a substitute. l wish
to resign my position"
"Are you not well paidT"
Eyes, NJ. Oudinot, l am well paid, but
my nerve is giving out"
Nonsense. man.! We hav no Occa-
sion for nerves when we are Kidding
France of those who have tyrannized
over us for centuries"
Nevertheless 1 can bear the strain
no longer
care your sympathics turning toward
our enemies:" the judge asked, with
knitting brows.
NO, NJ. lie Juge. If you, with your
infexible will, were to see what 1 see
every day l am sure o would bend
before the sight"
81 bend before seeing these people,
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 a proposition, NJ.
Oudinot. l will retain M office dur
Ing tomorrow. Com at the Jour the
work begins and remain till 1T is over.
II you do not finch 1 will acknowledge
you are right. If you do you are to
relieve me Of my office"
Done" said Oudinot. II will be
there"
In the morning Oudinot after a 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 a tumbrel passed him with a
load Of victims, one of them a strip
ling girl leaning over the | d Of the
cart, in whom he recognized Clochette
de F%orcinet. She was looking at him
with an unconcerned expression, and
as the tumbrel passed very lear him
she said softly:
GOOD morning. NJ. le Juge"
Oudinot started. He 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 b mean by wishing him a
good morning without the slightest
bitterness? He put his ham in his
pocket and tool 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 on to the foot
Of the g%uillotine. 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 a young noble, who met
death un1inchingly. Then came a
woman, who had to be carried n plac-
ed in position on the guillotfne; 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
6inchingly 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
guiIlotine. Did she loo upon 1t as
play? Was she proud TO meet death
which she did not UNDERSTANDINGS II she
had been honored with a prize at
school2 She lay fat on the board and
"Am l in the right p~osidonf'
She was told that she was. Then,
turning to Oudinot. b said:
"Goodby, NJ. lie Juge."