The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-07-30
. Empty FAM" Short Story
As the day was breaking the pris-
By CURNONSKY

As the day was breaking the pris-
on governor and his stan made their
way to the cell of Constant Troustat,
and were considerably surprised to find
the condemned man already up and
busy at his toilet. Worthy NJ. Blaviot
thought 1t none the less his duty to
preserve a countenance fitting the oc-
casion.
Courage. Troustat," said he in a
solemn voice.
your plea is rejected" jokingly re
sponded the condemned man. Now,
listen to me. Mr.. Governor; IL this l.;
all you have come to tell me at this
early hour. allow me to say you have
got up too late even for that
He pointed to the lofty. narrow win
dow from which came a muttering, Is
measureless and confused as the noise
of the sea.
Its three hours since heard them.
he said. Then I said to myself, old
fellow, its for today"
Come" murmured NJ. Blaviot, just
a little put out. Il see you are taking
things WELL"
The priest stepped forward.
MY child" said he, so praisewor-
thy a resignation makes me hopeful"
What, what! Stow that nonsense
replied the condemned man.
MY duty is to accompany you to the
foot OF the scaffold." said Able Col
lizard, quietly. "Of course. my child
you may refuse the consolation"
hTceonsolations!' cried Troustat
But its the happiest day of my life:
Listen a bit"
NJ. Blaviot drew out his watch.
"Troustat," said he, ''our time is up, .
And mine, too, then" said the con-
demned man. Perhaps you are go
| ing to tell me the gallery is getting i'm
patient: but THEY'LL lose nothing by
waiting. I'm going to show them
how a man died for great crime; for
bear in mind, I'm no pick pocket or
area sneak. II did strangle Father
and Mother DRAPER and their daugh.
ter and their servant, it was at least
for a good motive. had stolen
enough to enable me to live nicely all
my days, and had they not wakened-
anyhow, II I missed fortune, glory Is
left me. Yes, that's it, glory" pur
sued the condemned man in a voice oil
exaltation. I'm as famous as Rostano
Dufayal, Potin and Sarah Bernhard
I've my picture on the front page of all
the newspapers"
"Troustat," interrupted NJ. Blavio.
"it's daylight now. and there are GER
tain toilet formalities to attend to
Have a last request to make?"
The condemned man smiled Gun
ningly.
"Well, I wish to learn English. bu,
I believe that is an old story. Then,
would like to see 'Chanticler.' But
since we are in the provinces"
He placed his foot on the edge ol
his couch to finish lacing his shoes.
| I'm glad" he went on, I'm not In
Paris. where they smother executions
Here, at least-But just listen to theil
roaring. There must be 10000 Of
the.
"All Chandon- on-the-Loire is there
said M. Blaviot, anxious to give the
l
| Troustats small green eyes blazed
with fash Of pride. He raised him
self erect and expanded his brawny
chest.
That's an audience for YOU" h.
said. Instead Of dying old and feeble
I'm going away at twenty-eight, amid
the acclamations of an immense
throng."
While he was being bound by the
warders, Troustat showed a sparkling
wit: he engaged in a lively and ami
mated discussion on the secret Of thu
confession; he cited Leo Taxil: he risk
ed few witty Jokes, and expressed
in pointed term, in a rather specia
vocabulary, the regret he felt at mo-
being able to love all the pretty wo
men who thought of him at that pre-
else moment.
When he had swallowed his las
mouthful of absinthe which one of hi:
goalers held to his lips. his hands a,
ready being bound behind his back
he rose gaily and gave the signal 4
start.
Go on" he said. AT the same tim.
would like to walk without anyon,
holding my arms"
The cortege traversed long. damn
corridors. q small court was crossed
then the prison gate opened, and tn
square swarming with people con
fronted them. Banked back by tn
troops. q human wave overlooked int.
the neighboring streets; balconies
roofs, tops Of walls, trees. lampposts
all were dotted with eager eyes ant
tense faces. Nimbly Troustat climb
ed the scaffold steps, pushing ava.
with q blow of his shoulder the prizes
who sought to conceal the guillotin
from him.
Stand aside, NJ. lie Cure. They don
see me-" he said.
His apparition was saluted with yell
He bent proudly between his warder
and bowed to the populace.
Then, of a sudden, there was an ava
lanche Of applause. Troustat knew tn
delicious JOY OF the ovation, this vo
uptuousness Of immediate and pre-.
ent glory which makes tenors and OF
ators weep. The whole crowd wa