The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1913-04-22
An Incident Of the
French Revolution
By MARTHA w,,MoNRoe

was leader. loo. but q Conservative
The revolution was like roaring
stream, that gathered power as It sped
on. Time came when those who had
been instrumental IN starting II lost
their heads by trying to control It.
MilIet went into It hoping to reorgan-
lie the existing government Before
II finished its mud course it's object
Eas to get rid Of the existing govern.
ment and the class that supported 1t
by means OF the guiIfotine.
When order was restored under the
directory. lie Beouf. who had made
bitter enemies during the period of
blood running from having sent so
many persons to the guillotine. found
himself exposed to plots hstcIled
against him for purposes OF revenge.
One who had lost u near and dear
relative spent a long time in mnnufac-
turing case Of murder against him.
had him arrested and tried. Millet
presided as judge, and 1t was in his
power so to instruct the jury that they
must bring In a verdict OF guilty Of
not guilty. as he chose. When II be.
came his duty to do this. instead Of at
once addressing the jury he addressed
the prisoner.
Citizen Antoine lie Beouf. stand up"
LIE Beouf. who was much broken by
his troubles could only stand by lean
ing on his daughter. young woman
perhaps twenty-three or twenty-fo
years old.
Citizen le Beouf. do you remember
during the reign Of terror one who at
the time the Girondlsts were executed
protested against their execution"
There was no reply
do you remember that you sent out
an order for the arrest Of that person.
that he was brought before you and
adjudged an enemy of the revolution
He was confined In room in your
house-the prisons were too full to ad-
init him-till he could be sent to the
guillotine, He escaped and strove as
before to keep the French people from
committing political suicide by their
murderous course. Tell me, lie Beouf.
do you remember that MANI
YES" moaned the prisoner. III re.
member him"
All who heard the Judge speak be.
Aeved his words to be preliminary to
vengeance upon the accused. They
supposed that he would In the end ask
Le Beouf II he thought that one who
had sent 30 many to the guillOtine
should be spared from the guiIlotine.
then instruct the jury that 1t was theIp
duty under the law to bring In yer.
dict OF guilty. The girl who sustained
her father kept her eyes on the Judge In
q frightened. reproachful look. like the
rest dreading his final words
This man Millet, who was trying to
stem the butchery of yourself and 9TH
ers. kept himself out of your way. You
tried to get your hands ON him by open
means. but. falling. tried treachery.
You sent for him on the ground that
you wished 10 form union between
the Conservatives and the Radicals and
desired him as representative man Of
the Conservatives to join with you to
make the revolution less bloody. Sus-
pecting your design. he sent a man to
meet you In u dark court. where YOU
would not recognize him. He- was
seized and hurried away. But when the |
light shone on him you saw that II was
you instead OF who had been trIcked."
The prisoner trcmbled. but said moth. |
Ing.
And now. Antoine 10 Beouf. you who
on the bench-not the judicial bench. |
the bench OF the rcvolution---s sent so
many innocent persons to the guillo- |
tine. what do You think that l. a Judge |
regularly appointed by the state. should
do In yOur case?"
The prisoner bowed his head without |
reply. but his daughter In a trembling |
voice said. You should be inerciful. M. |
10 Judge"
"No. madenoiselle. not merclfui.
Your father does not deserve mercy. !,
But first ! should be Just II has not
been proved that the prisoner commit
ted this murder with which be has
been charged. But this h not my
ruling motive. Gratitude ID today
stronger than jNtice--gradtude to you.
who. when was confined 10 the rear
" your fathers house while he was
In the front sending men and women
10 the gnillotine. came and at the risk
pf yourself dying to save me opened
my door and conducted me to the
'treet. Il II my duty to instruct the
Jury In this case to bring IN verdict
'f not guilty. and It II my pieasure to
give you yonr fathers life"
When the Judge was speaking the
ast words an Impressive slleucs reign
d IN the courtroom. Milo. b Beoul
'an to the Judge and. kneeIins before
him, ssiaed bic hand and kisssd Il.
Raising ber. be turned to the Jury and
rave them bis formal instructions that
'reed the prisoner. Then Ls Beouf
'ried to thank the Judge; bnt. bsing I'M
lblc to speak. he waved his hand to
ai'n and was led away BY bis daugh.
'er N. |
Apart Of the throuR followed the n.