The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-12-20
His Iron Nerve
1Original.1

The reign of terror in France was at
its height. NJ. Oudinot sat upon the
bench dispensing justice" which
mean Kidding the country of the hated
aristocrats. He was a man possessing
great physical and will power, with
nerves of iron. This morning. having
eeard that one of the most hated royal
Ats had escaped to England, there was
an especially merciless expression on
his face as his cold gray eyes glanced
yer the dozen persons covering be-
fore him. One by one he sealed them
to the guiIlotine, 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 namef' asked Oudinot, relax
ing m~omentarily from his severe ex-
preston.
"Clochette de Forcinet."
Daughter 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
spoke the words that condemned the
child to h g~uillotine.
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 he was lion with the
judge.
"Ha, Sanglier, what do you here"
asked Oudinot, when you should be
In the Place de la Concorde working
your guillotine?'
"I have engaged a substitute. l wish
to resign my position"
care you not well paid?"
"Yes, NJ. Oudinot, 1 am well paid. but
my nerve IS giving out"
Nonsense, man.! We Eave no occa-
sion for nerves when we are Kidding
France of those who have tyrannized
ever us for centuries"
Nevertheless l can bear the strain
no longer"
"Are your sympathies turning toward
our enemies? - 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"
81 bend before seeing these people,
who have so long denied US and u
children bread. expiate their crimes?
Are you mad, Sanglier?"
Sanglier bent his head in thought.
Il will make you a proposition. NJ.
Oudinot- l 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 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 h Place de
la Concorde. AS he was about to turn
into the space where the guillotine was
set I'D a tumbrel passed him with a
load of victims, one of chem a strip
ling girl leaning over the side 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 near him
she said softly:
Good morning, NJ. lie 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 she mean by wishing him a
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 a slight tremor in his arm.
"Nonsenser' 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 unfinchingly. Then came a
woman who had to be carried and plac-
ed in position on the g~uillotine; next
a priest, encouraging b others and
wearing a look on his a al lie he al
ready saw heaven. They followed one