The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1907-07-19

so SOFT and tender at all other times,
were lit up wildly. A low hum Of MUIR
INJURED curiosity and admiration broke
from the women Of the audience. Some
rose eagerly from the benches, others
cried:
Listen! Listen! She is going to
speakw
She did speak. Silvery and pure the
sweet voice, sweeter than ever in sad
ness, stole its way through the gross
I sounds-through the coarse humming
and the kissing whispers.
| MY lord the president"-began the
poor girl, firmly. Her next words were
drowned in volley of Kisses from the
women.
"Ah! aristocrat, aristocrat! None Of
your accursed titles herew was their
shrill cry at her. She fronted the fierce
gestures which accompanied it, with
the steady light still in her eyes, with
the strange rigidity still fastened on
her face. She would have spoken
again through the uproar and execra-
ton, but her brothers voice overpower.
ed her.
"Citizen-president." he cried, II have
not concluded. demand leave to COM
plete my confession. implore the
tribunal to attach no importance 10
what my sister says. The trouble and
terror of this day have shaken her in
tellect. She is not responsible for her
words-I assert it solemnly. in the face
of the whole court!''
The blood flew up into his white face
as he made the assertion. Even a.
that supreme moment the great hear.
of the man reproached him for yielding
himself to deception, though the mo-
tive Of 1t was to save his sisters life.
LET her speak! let her speak!' ex.
claimed the women. as Rose. without
moving, without looking at her brother
without seeming even to have heard
what he said, made second attempt to
address her judges, in spite of Tru-
DANES interposition.
"Silencev shouted the man with the
bludgeon. SILENCE. You women! the
citizen president is going to speak,"
"The prisoner Trudaine has the ear
Of the court" said the president, "and
may continue his confession. If the fe-
male prisoner wishes to speak. she may
be heard afterwards. l enjoin both the
accused persons to make short work of
it with their addresses to me. or they
will make their case worse instead OF
better. l command silence among the
audience, and if am not obeyed, will
clear the hall. Now, prisoner Tru-
daine l invite you to proceed. No more
about your sister; let her speak for her.
self. Your business and ours is with
the man and woman Dubois now. Are
you, or are you not. ready to tell the
court who they are?'
II repeat that am ready" answered
Trudaine "The Citizen Dubois is SER
want. The woman Dubois is the
mother of the man who has denounced
me-Superintenden Danville."
A low, murmuring, rushing sound CT
hundreds of exclaiming voices. all
speaking, half-suppressedly, at the
same moment, followed the delivery Of
the answer. No officer of the court at
tempted to control the outburst of as
constituent. The infection of it spread
to the persons on the platform, to the
crier himself, to the judges of the trib-
unal, lounging. but the moment before,
so carelessly silent in their chairs.
When the noise was at length quelled,
it was subdued in the most instantane-
Gus manner by one man, who
shouted from the throng behind the
presidents chair:
"Clear the way there! Superintendent
Danville is taken illv'
A vehement whispering and contend
ing of many voices interrupting each
other, followed; then a swaying among
the assembly Of official people; then a
great stiffness; then the sudden appear
ance of Danville alone, at the table.
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