The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1907-08-02
CHAPTER xv.-CoNrrxusp.,

began with tho prisoners on the plat
form, and spread instantly to the au-
dience. who echoed and echoed 1t again;
the fiercest woman-republican on the
benches Joined cause at last with the
haughtiest woman-aristocrat on the
platform. Even in that sphere Of dir
est discords, In that age Of sharpest en-
mites. the one touch of nature pre-
served its old eternal virtue. and reused
the mother-instinct which makes the
whole world kin!
OF the few persons in the court who
at once foresaw the effect of Danville's
answer on the proceedings Of the tri-
bunal Lomaque was one. His sallow
face whttened as he looked toward the
prisoners platform.
"They are lost" he murmured to him
self. moving out Of the group in which
he had hitherto stood. Lost! The lie
which has saved that villains head
leaves them without the shadow OF a
hope. No need to stop for the sentence
I-Danville's Infamous presence of mind
has given them up to the guillotine"
Pronoancing these words. he went out
hnrrtedly by the door near the plat
FORM which led to the prisoners wait
ing room.
Roses head sank again on her broth
er's shoulder. She shuddered. and
leaned back family on the arm which
he extended to support her. One Of The
female prisoners tried to help Tru-
dame in speaking consolingly to her:
but the contamination Of her husbands
perfidy seemed to have paralyzed her
at heart. She murmured once in her
brothers ear. "Louis. I am resigned to
die-nothing but death is left for me
after the degradation of having loved
that man." She said those words and
closed her eyes YEARLY, and spoke no
more.
"Ohe other question and you may re-
tire" resumed the president. address,
ing Danville. Were you cognizant Of
your wife's connection with her broth
er's conspiracy"
Danville reflected for q moment. re-
membered that there we're witnesses in
court who could speak to his language
and behavior on the evening of his
wife's arrest. and resolved this time to
tell the truth.
II was not aware Of It," he answered.
Testimony in my favor can be called
which will prove that when my wife's
completely was discovered I was absent
from Paris"
Heartlessly self-possessed as he was,
the public reception Of his last reply
had shaken his nerves. He now spoke
in low tones. turning his back on the
spectators. and again fixing his eyes on
| the green baize Of the table at which
he stood.
prisoners! have you any objection to
make, any evidence to call, invalidat:
ing the statement by which Citizen
Danville has cleared himself Of suspi-
cion?" inquired the president.
:He has cleared himself by the most
execrable of all falsehoods." answered
Trudalne. "If his mother could be
traced and brought here. her testimony
would prove it,"
"Can you produce any other evidence
in support of your allegation?" aske;l
the president.
II cannot"
"Citizen-superintend Danville,you
are at liberty to retire. Your state
ment will be laid before the authority
to whom you are officially responsible.
Eithsr you merit a civic crown for more
than Roman virtue. Or" Having
got thus far. the president stopped
abruptly, as II unwilling to commit
himself too soon to an opinion, and
merely repeated-"You may retire."
Danville left the court Immediately
going out again by the public door. He
was followed by murmurs from the
| women's benches, which soon ceased
however. when the president was OBJ
served to close his note book. and turn
around toward his colleagues. 1.-The
SENTENCED" was the general whisper
now. "Hush. hush-the sentenced"
After a consultation of a few minutes
with the persons behind him, the presi-
| dent rose. and spoke the momentous
words:
Louis Trudaine and Rose Danville
the revolutionary tribunal. having
heard the charge against you, and hav-
ing weighed the value of what you have
said in answer to it. decides that you
are both guilty. and condemns you to
the penalty of death.
| Having delivered the sentence In
those terms. he sat down again, and
placed mark against the two first con.
demned names on the list of prisoners
Immediately afterward the next case
was called on. and the curiosity of the
| audience was stimulated by a new trial
CHAPTER XVI.
| A HE waiting room
J; !; ! ! ]
S y(S Of the Revolutionary
| WA M tribunal wasa grim,
| Sz@&N bare place, with a
| AeR6SO dirty stone floor,
NSN and benches run
NWS% ming round the
| l.N'~~>0SM ~ walls. The windows
| tl&HM9<sS were hi1h and