The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-03-27

NJ. lie Judge Curier was dispensing
Justice on the bench during the French
revolution. The justice he was dis
pensing was between classes, not indi-
yiduaIs. The mobiles had tyrannized
over the common people for centuries.
Now the common people were endeav-
oring 10 extirpate the mobiles from the
face Of the earth Judge Curier was
sending a batch of them to the gulllo-
tine
'Who is thisg' ne asked, seeing
girl. mere child, brought before him.
"Citizeness Elise Bellair," replied the
officer of the guard.
"Who ordered her brought here? She
is not old enough toto understand the
difference between patriotism and tyr
rany."
"She was included in list furnished
by NJ Marat,"
Indeed said the judge, frowning.
M. Marat Is accustomed to make in.
quiries if all those OBJ his lists have
been-taken care OF"
"But this one-did he know that she
is childP
The officer shook his head. NJ. Ma
rats brain was not open to him to
look into
The Judge pondered few moments.
There was something wrong in this
case. Possibly a list had been made
out and presented to some one In au-
thority who had signed the warrants
accompanying 1t while thinking Of
something else. Nevertheless the judge
did not dare disobey the order he had
received to sentence every one sent be-
fore him.
Take her away with the others"
he said reluctantly.
He was looking down into the childs
face pltyingly She saw the expression
on the Judges face. Children are quick
10 recognize their friends. and the mar.
Quise, not understanding that the
Judge had sent her to the guillotine,
smiled at him. Then a soldier took her
little hand in his and led her away
with the others.
The Judge asked one standing by
something about her and was told that
she was the Marquise de Bellair, and
since she alone represented the Bel
lairs and since the revolutionary com
mittee was anxious that no member OF
the family should be left alive the
child had been marked for execution. !
when the deed had been done it would
be put down to an error.
The Judge went home that evening,
and his own little daughter, about the
age of the child he had condemned, /
sat upon his lap put her arms about
his neck and kissed him.
How hot your face is, papaw she
said.
He unwound her arms, gently put
her away. and called for a glass Of
wine. He had stood up under the
grim duties required of him till the
matter Of the little marQulse had re-
Qulred bis attention. He did not eat
his dinner and went to bed feverish. +
The smile he had received from the
little marquise had unnerved him. All
night he lay IN bed. two sights coming
uD alternately before his mental vision
the one the marquise's smile, the 9th
or her little figure lying on the gull
lotine, the drop of the knife and her
little curly head dropping into the
basket,
In the morning Judge Curier looked
as II he bad passed through a fit Of
sickness. He ate nothing spoke not
a word When he went out after
breakfast his little daughter put up
her arms, as was her custom. for her
morning hug and kiss Her father put
her away and left her standing With
tears IN her eyes in the hallway
The judge turned into a boulevard [
and after f9liowng. IL Eor awhile en-. /