The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1907-07-26
session IN his eye, and l dread the con
sequences already" s. es5. 55

session IN his eye, and I dread the con.
sequences already" Us.
"Citizen-president, Z began Danville
II demand to know II anything has
transpired affecting my honor and pa.
triotism in my absence?''
He spoke apparently with the most
perfect calmness, but he looked no.
body in the face. His eyes were fixed
steadily on the green baize Of the table
beneath him.
"The female prisoner has made q
statement. referring principally to her.
self and her brother" answered the
president, "but incidentally mentioning
a previous attempt on your mothers
part to break existing laws by emil
grating from France. This portion of
the confession contains in it some ele.
ments Of suspicion which seriously at.
feet you"
"They shall be suspicious no longer
at my own peril will change them
to certainties!" exclaimed Danville, ex-
tending his arm Electrically and look
ing up for the first time. "Citizen-pres-
ident. I avow 1t with the fearless frank
ness Of good patriot; was privy to
my mothers first attempt at escaping
from France"
Kisses and cries of execration fol-
lowed this confession. He WINGED I'M
der them at first, but recovered his self
possession before silence was restored.
Citizens, you have heard the confess
sion of my fault" he resumed, turning
with desperate assurance toward the
audience; now hear the atonement
have made for it at the altar of my
country"
He waited at the end of that SEN
tence, until the secretary to the tribunal
had done writing it down in the re.
port-book of the court.
"Iranscribe faithfully to the letter.:
cried Danville, pointing solemnly to the
open page of the volume. Life and
death hang on my words"
The secretary took fresh dip Of
ink, and nodded to show that he was
ready. Danville went on:
I'm these times of glory and trial for
France" he proceeded, pitching his
voice to tone of deep emotion, what
are all good citizens most sacredly
bound to do? To immediate their DEAR
est private affections and interests be-
fore their public duties! On the first
attempt of my mother to violate the
laws of emigration, by escaping from
France, failed in making the heroic
sacrifice which memorable patriotism
demanded of me. My situation was
more terrible than the situation of Bru-
tus sitting in judgment on his own sons.
l had not the Roman fortitude to rise
equal to 1t. I erred, citizens-erred as
Coriolanus did, when his august mother
pleaded with him for the safety of
Rome! For that error I deserved to be
purged out of the republican commune
ty; but I escaped my merited punish
ment-nay even rose to the honor of
holding an Office under the government.
Time passed; and again my mother at
tempted to escape from France. Again,
inevitable fate brought my civic virtue
to the test. How did meet this second
supremest trial? BY an atonement for
past weakness, terrible as the trial it.
self! Citizens, you will shudder; but
you will applaud while you tremble.
Citizens, look! and while you look, re-
member we'll the evidence given at the
opening of this case. Yonder stands
the enemy of his country, who intrigued
to help my mother to escape; here
stands the patriot son, whose voice was
the first. the only voice, to denounce
him for the crime! AS he spoke, he
pointed to Trudaine, then struck him
self on the breast, then folded his arms,
and looked sternly at the benches oc.
cupied by the spectators.
do you assert" exclaimed the presi-
dent, that the time when you de-
nounced Trudaine. you knew him to he
intriguing to aid yorr mothers es-
cape?"
Il assert it," answered Danville.
The pen which the president held,
dropped from his hand at that reply;
his colleagues started and looked at
each other in blank silence.