The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1905-10-09
His Iron Nerve
lorisinal.l

u AC1SAl. ". 0u01uOL dI4rUUQu EU8
bench dispensing justice" which
meant Kidding the country of the hated
aristocrats. He was a man possessing
great physical and will power, with
nerves of iron. This morning, having
leard that one of the most hated royal
ats had escaped to England, there was
III especially merciless expression on
his face as his cold gray eyes glanced
over the dozen persons covering be-
fore him. One by one he sealed them
to the guillotine, till the last, q girl, q
mere child, stood up before him, look
ing Mt him with a pair of innocent blue
eyes, apparently unconscious of her
peril.
your Manner asked Oudinot, relax.
ing momentarily from his severe ex-
preston.
"Clochette de Forcinet."
Daughter of the citizen who styles
himself the Marquis de F~orcinet?"
Yes, NJ. lie Juge."
Oudinot sat irresoiute. The marquis
was the royalist whose escape had so
disappointed the revOlntienists. 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-
delnning a dozen fellow beings to
death, and the wretched crowd was
led back to the prison. A man envel-
oped in a cloak and u hat drawn down
over his eyes entered the room, throw
Ing off both hat M cloak when he
perceived hat 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 gu~illotine?"
II have engaged a substitute. I wish
to resign my position"
"Are you not we'll paid?"
"Yes, NJ. Oudinot. I am well paid. but
my nerve is giving out"
Nonsense. mani We have no occa-
sion for nerves when we are Kidding
France Of those who have tyrannized
over us for centuries"
Nevertheless l can bear the strain
no longer"
"Are your sympathics turning toward
our enemies? p the judge asked. with
knitting brows.
mo. NJ. lie Juge. If you. with your
in1exible will, were to see what l see
every day l am sure you would bend
before the sight"
II bend before seeing these people.
who have SO long denied us n our
children bread. expiate their crimes9
Are you mad. Sanglier?"
Sanglier bent his head In thought.
"I will make you a proposition, NJ.
Oudinot. / will retain my office dur
ing tomorrow. Come at the hour the
work begins and remain till 1t is over.
II you do not finch l will acknowledge
you are right. If you do vol are to
relieve me of my office"
Done" said Oudinot. 81 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 side Of Il
cart, in whom he recognized Clochette
de Forcinet. She was looking at him
with an unconcerned expression. and
she said softly:
1000 uOTnluS, VI. lc JuSe!
Oudinot started. He had become
used to seeing people hear him con-
denim them to death with e 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 him a
good morning without h 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.
"Nonsense!' 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 a young noble, who met
death u~nfinchingly. Then came a
m who had to be carried Inc plac-
ed In position on the 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 UNI
finchingly 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 1t as
play? Wa she proud to meet death
which she did not UNDERSTANDINGS IL b
had been honored with a prize at
school1 She lay fat on the board and
asked:
Am l in the right positionT'
She was told that she was. Then,
turning to Oudinot. she said:
"Goodby, NJ. lie Juge."
Oudinot swayed. put his hand to his
head and cried.