El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-11-25
HIS GRIEVANCE
By Madame Severine.


working overtime for the pris-
ons we're overcrowded and
quick work was necessary to make
room for the hundreds of men, women
and children who were daily arrested,
suspected of being enemies of the re-
public. The courtI Dom is full of peo-
pie who have nothing to do but to
witness the trials who have been
there since early morning bringing
| with them their breed, wine and
cheese rather than leave the room for
their midday meal and risk missing a
single exciting scene, a single mo-
| ment of the enjoyment of watching the
| agony Of the prisoners.
Are they then all monsters these
| people. many of whom have good ma
! tured faces? This stout woman who
| has evidently left her cart Of vege-
! tables in the market place, this CO.
quoting young laundress who smil-
ingly submits to being kissed on her
red cheeks and lips by those standing
next to her, and this baldheaded, kind
~ looking old man, who is so contin-
ually endeavoring to make those
standing near him stop talking that
he may hear the questions and answers
of the prisoners?
No. they are not cruel by nature.
they have simply been seized with the
general fever, the lust of blood the
contagfon of cruelty. Under other cir
cumstanc they would be the most
kindheared and charitable of people.
They come to court as to theater, to
look at the accused, to applaud those
whose behavior pleases them, to boot
the towards and admire the brave
'.Armandin Louis, former marquis
de Chalost, to the bar"
Of no rfc
cratic. rather pleasant features arises,
faces his judge and he begins to an
swer the questions which are flung at
him by the public prosecutor.
He defends himself cleverly, a little
too cleverly perhaps and with i'll con-
cealed contempt of his Surroundings.
His replies are singing, full of car
casm and arouse the anger of the aU-
dience
ITO the guillotine, To the basket
A has IaristOcrat"
Grace, JUSTICE
A clear, silvery voice rings through
the court room and "a young woman
dressed in the cap and skirt of an
humble citizen, forces her way through
the crowd. which is astonished at her
audacity.
Is she pretty? They do not know.
Big. earnest, pleading eyes. a charm
ing smile, dimpled cheeks and a
wealth OF auburn hair falling in naf-
ural curls about her slender neck and
shoulders. and the most impressive Of
all an air of fearlessness, of natural
viVacity of tender heroism.
The face Of the Judge loses its stern
expression which gives way TO an al
most benevolent regard.
who are you citizeness?
"Citizeness Chalost-"
xiii her, The dirty mink Chop
her head off! Hand her over to u.s."
Wait a little" she replied with a
smile raising her little hand That
will all come in good time. You seem
to be in such terrible hurry
The crowd glared at this slender, al
most girlish woman who dared tell
them how to behave. 1t was mon
strous unheard of, And still the
charm of her face her evident sim
,erity and earnestness were irresis5--
ible.
In the name of the people 1 place
YOU under arrest citizeness ChalOst."
why, of course you do sir judge.
What else could you do in your posi-
ton But that matters little to me.
if you will allow me to speak"
ITO defend pourself?'
Defend myself? Why, no, to de-
fend him.
In simple words, but in an exquis-
itely mOdulated voice, she tells how
Chalost went to America with La
fayette to fight for the cause of free
dom. how he refused to emigrate to