Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-04-12
The Daily Story
REVENGE OR GRATITUDE F. A. MITCHEI.
Copyrighted. Associated Literary Bureau

rather at the time they were sacri-
fced-so called judges sat in .mprO-
viSed cUurtTooms for the purpose Of
eradicating the nobility that they
might never again crush the people
under their feet.
Victor Guerard was one of these
judges. He wished not then so much to
regenerate France as for revenge. He
had had already enough TO satisfy an
ordinary person. but not for one who
had felt the lash of an aristocrat
across his cheek and the same tyrants
bullet crashing through his vitals.
One name. one face, he remembered
the name and face of the man who
had shot him. He had hoped to meet
this man, but thus far had not done
so and feared that he had escaped
with other mobiles to Holland. He had
in the beginning of the reign of blood
handed in TO the committee OF safety
the name Of the Marquis of Beaufort
as an enemy to France. which meant
that he belonged TO that class which
must be eradicated and should be
hunted down If possible for treatment
by the guillotine.
One day while Judge Guerard was
sitting on the bench-a chair before a
rude table-dispensing with those &C
cused Of being enemies of France a
man was led up before him on seeing
whom he started. The prisoner was
the man he was looking for the Mar
! quis of Beaufort A CLEAN Of triumph,
of hate, of vengeance, shone in Cue
rard's eye. He could scarcely contain
himself
AHA, Citizen Beaufort! am happy
to meet you again, but doubt If you
remember me-"
81 do not" said the marquis.
"DO you recollect meeting & country
/ boy some ten or dozen years ago
and ordering him to carry your gun
and game bag?"
/ 81 do"
And the cut you gave him with your
whip?"
Yes: remember"
/ "And the bullet you put in his sideH"
al am very sorry for that 1 should
not have done it. l was angry"
"Ah, You are sorry for it? Do you
think. you mobiles, being sorry for
the centuries you have sucked the
/ blood from the French people will save
you now that we have you in our
power?"
The marquis made TO reply to this.
"I regret that YOU have but one head
for the guilIotne. would you had a
thousand heads that | might strike OF
one every day. / should rejoice TO
think that you were every day TO be
tortured by the remembrance that an
other head must fail before night.
Guards, take him away lest l soil my
own hands with him"
zone moment, Citizen JudGcr' cried
the prisoner.
''WelIf"
"WhPn years ago left you bleeding
on the road one Of the bunting party
stanchad your wound. then took YOU mp
and carried Won 20 your home aui
called "A surgeon. under whose care
Won recovered"
That noble man saved my life.
We're he doomed 20 the guiIlotine and
J could go In his place I would do so,
for am not my own. hut his"
"SInce the beginning Of the revolu-
ton" continued the marquis. "I have
seen this man and talked with him.
He told me that there was one revolu-
tionary leader in Paris whom he had
befrienaod. He gave me this in case
] Shouli be IN trouble and should meet
you, NJ lie Judge"
Thrusting his hand into his pocket,
he drew forth scrap OF paper, which
he handed to Guerard The latter
opened 1t and read.
Citizen Guerald I asl, that YOU Will be-
friend the Marquis Of Beaufort
The struggle that appeared in Cue
rard's face--a struggle between re-
venGe and gratitude-is not 10 be de-
scrbed in words He sat with the pa
per in his hand regarding the man he
had just condemned to death. At one
time a fierce light in his eye and a
rush Of blood to his face indicated that
revenge had conquered. Then il seem
Cd as If he felt the soft touch Of an
angels wing, and the expression
changed TO one Of childlike gentleness.
While the struggle was going on every
face was turned upon the Judge. seek
llE 10 NHltlnldlil Nl8I IHlS singular
interruption meant. At last he said.
Clear the room. | wish TO be alone
with this man"
When all had gone Guerard said:
Where IS the Count Marivardf"
an England
There was a silence for some mo-
ments, when the Judge spoke again:
My interest Ia the revolution is
gone. | had hoped to see you perish
and that | might have an opportunity
To give my benefactOr his life Both
these wishes are denied me BY this
bit OF paper'-crumblng II spasmod-
ically in his haui-"you 70 free.
shall send you back to prison. telling
those who have witnessed the scene
1ust past that you have important in
formation TO give concerning certain
mobiles In hiding Tonight you win he
taken ont pstrnsibly for a special exc
cutOn You will be driven ~ the Dor
der, where You will be safe"
He paused moment with bowed
hTHl fHay, ,r,aH.