The Sisseton weekly standard. (Sisseton, Roberts County, S.D.) 1892-1929, 1907-07-19

oner, OF criminal knowledge of the
same"
Produce your proofs In answer to
this order"
Picard and Magloire opened their
minutes OF evidence, and read to the
president the same particulars which
they had formerly read to Lomaque in
the secret police office.
Good said the president, when they
had done; I'VE nee trouble ourselves
with nothing more than the identifying
OF the citizen and cheyenne Dubois.
which, OF course. you are prepared for.
Have you heard the evidence" he con-
tinued, turning to the prisoners; while
Picard and Magloire consulted together
IN Whispers, looking perplexedly to-
wards the chief agent, who stood silent
behind them. Have you heard the evil
dcnce, prisoners? Do you wish to say
anything? II o do, remember that
the time Of this tribunal is precious,
and that you will not be suffered to
waste it,"
Il demand permission to speak for
myself and for my sister," answered
Trudaine. MY object is to save the
time Of the tribunal by making a con-
fession."
The faint w%hisperings, audible among
the women spectators a moment before,
ceased instantaneously as he pro-
nounced the word confession. In the
breathless silence, his low, quiet tones
penetrated to the remotest corners of
the hall; while, suppressing externally
all evidences of the death-agony of hope
within him, he continued his address
In these words:
Il confess my secret visits to the
house in the Rue de Clery. ] confess
that b persons whom l went to see
are the persons pointed at in the evil
dence; and. lastly. l confess that my OBJ
ject In communicating with them as l
did, was to supply them with the means
of leaving France. If I had acted from
political motives to the political preju-
dice of the existing government, l ad-
nit that would be guilty Of that con-
spiracy against the republic with which
am charged. But no political pur-
pose animated. no political necessity
urged me. In performing the action
which has brought me to the bar of
this tribunal. The persons whom 1
aided in leaving France were without
political influence or political connec-
lions. acted solely from private mo-
tives of humanity towards them and
towards others-motives which a good
republican may feel, and yet not turn
traitor to the welfare of his country"
Are you ready to inform the court,
next, who the man and woman Dubois
really are?" inquired the president, i'm
patiently.
II am ready" answered Trudaine.
"But first l desire to say one word in
reference to my sister, charged here at
the bar with me-" His voice grew less
steady. and for the first time. his color
began to change, as Rose lifted her face
from his shoulder and looked up at him
eagerly. Il implore the tribunal to con
slider my sister as innocent OF all active
participation In what is charged against
me as q crime"-he went on. Having
spoken with candor about myself, l have
ooAAO SA0AuI W US UOllcSSu when ! speak
Of her; when I assert that she neither
did help me nor could help me. If there
be blame, it is mine only: If punish
ment. it is I alone who should suffer-"
He stopped suddenly and grew con-
fused. 1t was easy TO guard himself
from the peril of looking at Rose, but
he could not escape the hard trial to
his self-possession of hearing her If she
spoke. Just as he pronounced the last
sentence, she raised her face again from
his shoulder, and eagerly whispered to
him.
mo. no. Louis! Not that sacrifice,
after all the others-not that, though
you should force me into speaking to
them myself!"
She abruptly quilted her hold of him.
and fronted the whole court in an in
slant. The railing in front of her
shook with the %quivering Of her arms
and hands as she held by it to support
herelf! Her hair lay tangled on her
shoulders; her face had assumed a
strange axedness: her gentle blue ives.