In the Name of Liberty

bove, B

elow, G

e do

at

mned. We're going

ight o'cloc

am just back f

com

nd the Court the onus of the battle of the Tuileries. But beyond Barabant's desire to see the execution of this first victim of the anger of the Nation,

ed when Barabant had joined th

ot in he

calle

iscover their estrangement, hastened o

g. To do him justice

he Tri

and repeated sarcastically: "'Victim of the law, could you but read the hearts of your judges you would find them

s well

" Goursac amended sarcasti

imentalists. "The Nation mourning and forgiving its enemies, even

e grandiloquent harangues of mercy and advice disgust me. They

lty; I pronounce upon you sentence of death; for fur

c: do you find it insincere to desp

o open an argument. "There is something to be proud of. I foresee great innovations from this simple invent

was started on his theo

what

n to grow up who are hopelessly destined to suffering-such as weaklings, m

ion groane

he decrepit, the mortally stricken, will be painlessly released from their suffering

is magnificent idea to fructif

ed, with a hitch of his head. "That is the ti

, you are eithe

be scorned," the theorist said

uare was hidden by a loose, shifting network of variegated colors dominated by the bright flecks of countless liberty-caps, which, in measure, as new groups arrived, contracted i

s the gu

abant. "Let us stay here; it is, perhaps, a fa

y. The faces of the throng could no longer be distinguished, when suddenly afa

throng, broken by sudden tensions at each new alarm. The people, who had greeted the first appearance of the guillotine with cries of disappointment and demands for the more sp

e to time, as Goursac explained the mechanism, some reflection from a torch falling on the k

the crowd, where, seeking for Nicole, he pe

were swept against the guards as those behind surged forward, stretching to tiptoe. Louison, caught in the press,

hu!

ng and the screeching gave place to a burst of hand-clapping. Barabant, astonished at the implaca

rchief at her throat as though to restrain her eagerness. The lips were parted, the eyes glowed with the intensity of fascinated contemplation, bu

d of Goursac recalled him to the drama before him. He sought in the gloom and the shadows,

ying her head in his sleeve. Another wom

o! Br

he costume of the Invalid

ell me, citoye

y. Himself recoiling at this death out of the dark

sgust nor passion. As calmly as though before her own mirror, she smoothed out her dress and replaced the cockade, torn by the contact of the crowd, with a fresh one from her basket, scenting firs

er!" Barabant exclaime

ut w

iently. "You did not see

ture of the night, in her element at such a time. They say she

rri

at by a process more charitable than natural death. That is the way a nation should

look at

ing back at the dim circle of lights around the gui

thief. To-night is the true beginning of the

" Goursac exclaimed. "Wha

I am impressionable, but to-night the blo

be telling me next that you had a

urs is so long and the chan

xtended his fist. "As for my neck, Madame Guillotine, I defy you to take it." He

arabant, rubbing shoulders with the departing crowd, felt a pul

e you very an

azing into the teasing countenance; but at that mom

live long enough for lovers to qua

n his silence, Nicole

are stil

es

m so

ightly, that Barabant's anger held no longer;

e street, called back, with a laugh of

. Love-making is disconcerting to the older

ts, plunging by preference down quiet ways where only an occasional window reddened the sides of the night. Barabant struggled to maintain his ju

at last, withdrawing her arm

squely and faced her

que

his arm, she said rapidly: "Barabant, it i

ight to be wh

king herself

ieve I am play

d

a step and sh

ot you I am

; but Nicole, immediately perceiving the danger, retreated from her serious

ever been in love-

O

serio

N

sure

t demanded, nettle

You assume rights over me and my actions, and yet what right have you? You have never once told me

vy, weakened despite herself, until at th

"Why am I angry? Because you will not give me the opportunity

do not wish to. You are too headlong. Bara

t know wh

cked hi

st, Barabant. Be reasonable and I will not avoid you again." Then peremptoril

the turn r

aw h

she aff

Goursac's expression. "There is s

ou," she confessed, with a laugh,

ère Corniche appeared at the door, shading her candle to discover their approach. They passed on through the first court

arabant, and u

eyes, the lips, and the smile that tempted him with the mystery of what it hid, overcame his resolut

fiercely. "What are you? What do you

ntly, struggling

me

icole, I love y

no,

himself at her feet, he stretc

k, l

elieve. In his eyes she saw the tears appear, and moved, despite herself

yself, B

t her hand in his and repeated, as only the lover

ands to her eyes

her voice reverberating in the hollow of the s

ife-fo

her breast rose in long, tumultuous breat

out his hand to her. She dared not lo

le, N

st the wall. He smiled to her, waiting confidently. Up the dark as

en suddenly she shrank away, and with a cry, spreading out her hands to screen him fr