THE DEATH WARRANT

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIII, Issue XXII, 25 November 1899, Page 977

THE DEATH WARRANT

Complete Short Story. By

ROBERT DENNIS.

“Corporal Paul Renouf! The court adjudges you guilty of an ac*t. of gross insubordi nation for which there is only one penalty. Have you anything to say why sentence of death shall not be passed upon you?” “Nothing, mon Colonel; 1 die for the honour of French womanhood, and of the army!”

“I deeply regret so tragic a termination to a young career,” said the president of the court-martial. “I regret it all the more from the peculiar circumstances which led you to swerve so lamentably from the strict path of d'ftv.”

As the kindly old Colonel said these words he cast a. significant glance at Captain Dechaix, who had been Paul’s accuser, and who now stood with foiled arms ami with a certain bearing of effrontery to hear the doom of his victim pronounced'. Then the Colonel continued'—

“Corporal Paul Renouf, you know that I only do my duty. Sou know what our great Emperor said when signing the death-warrant of one of his bravest soldiers, who. like yourself, hid transgressed the boundary of ■military obligations!—-‘lt breaks my heart to do this —mais, la discipline avant tout.” Yes. discipline comes before all, Corporal. and so —the sentence of the court is that you be taken at daybreak to bastion No. It) of this fortress of Clermont-Ferrand, and there be executed by a firing party of your own regiments the 27th of the line, .under the command of Captain Dechaix.”

The prisoner remained calm; but a marked pallor overspread the Gascon features of the Captain, who. might well have desired 'to be excused from being the executioner of his own subordinate. But there were other reasons why Captain Dechaix should flinch from the task- imposed upon him. and for these we must go back to an incident which had occurred on the paradeground of the fortress only the day before.. Captain Dechaix’s company had just been put through its usual manual exercise when, striding- up to Corporal Renouf, the Captain said in insulting tones, which produced a visible impression upon all the soldiers—“1 congratulate you, Corporal!” Renouf blushed deeply and stammered, “May T have the honour of inquiring u|>on what?” “Upon your conquest, Corporal.” “Conquest.? I do not. understand you.” “Do you not?” exclaimed the Captain with a sneer—“l mean of Lisette La Perle; and I congratulate you all the more because, in conquering, you drive a rival —myself—from 'the field!” Rcnouf’s eyes flashed dangerously, and between his. teeth he hissed. “It is a lie! Lisette is my affianced wife!” “Bah!” exclaimed Dechaix, with an expression that could not be mistaken. (lorpotra.l Henouf, maddened with rage. drew his sword from its sheath, and with one mighty swing of the. flat of it struck the officer to the g-round. 11. The court-martial had hardly risen when the Colonel sent for Captain Dechaix. "I do not like this business. Captain.” he said; “and although 'the court has most justly found the prisoner guilty I will not sign the death-war-ra.nt.” Dechaix's face turned almost livid with fear ait the prospect of h's prey escaping him.. “May 1 ask you your reason, Colonel?” “Certainly. It is this. Paul Renouf is known to us all as a brave soldier, attentive to every detail of his duties, and of an altogether exemplary character. It is true he struck you on the parade-ground; but the provocation you gave him was more disgraceful than the blow. Why. except for the satisfaction of a. hard-and-fast military code, should France lose n. loyal son and the Republic a brave soldier because, goaded into madness by the taunts of a superior officer, lie dealt, out to tha't; officer the retaliation he deserved? Answer me that. Captain Dechaix.” To sav th-'t the Captain paled and trembled as he heard these terrible

words is'to grossly understate the fact. He knew in his heart that he was a murderer; he knew that he had purposely exasperated Paul Renouf into the act. for which he was condemned to die; but this crime caused him no remorse or shame, while the stinging reproaches of his commanding officer burnt in'to his soul like a firebrand. The Colonel evidently expected him to say something, and at last he stammered out—-

"Sir. you are unjust to me. You do not know Paul Renouf. 1 put on one side the insult he offered to me, and for which I freely admit death is too severe a punishment as between man and man, but I here before you solemnly denounce him as a traitor." “A traitor?" “Ay, and one of a most dangerous and desperate character.” "It is impossible." exclaimed the colonel. “lie has always been faithful to the service. He feels an immense enthusiasm for the army, and. moreover, his term with the flag being nearly expired, he is. 1 hear, engaged to be married, and has already arranged to settle down upon a farm in his native Burgundy. Why should sueh a man be a traitor? Why. moreover, should the son of that brave Sergeant Renouf, who fell so gloriously at Gravelotte in the first onrush of the war. be guilty of such a crime? No. Captain Dechaix.- there are no traitors in such a breed.” “But the proof—”

"Proof! What proof have you?” “This, mon colonel, which we found upon the prisoner after his arrest.” So saying. Captain Dechaix produced an ordinary sheet of note-paper, upon which something was closely written. He handed it to the colonel, who read as follows: —

"It is a detestable thing you ask me to do. Have I not already run risks enough? You know that 1 shall shortly leave the army upon the expiration of my term. You know that lam to be married to Lizette. You know theobligationsl have undertaken in order to assure our future. Never before have you tempted me with such open offers, and I tell you plainly that were it not for the circumstances in which 1 am placed I would reject your proposals with scorn. But, quoi faire!—in tlm few weeks that remain to me here I will do my best to obtain a. plan of the fortress, and Lisette shall deliver it to you upon some favourite occasion. Still, if ever a German shows himself before the fortress of Clermont-Fer-rand I swear I will be the first to shoulder my rifle and deprive of all value the information I shall have supplied. Horror and amazement were depicted upon the colonel’s features as he read this momentous document, but, speaking very calmly, he said to Captain Dechaix: “And so, sir, you tell me that you found this upon the prisoner.” “I did.” The liar! “Was anyone else present?" “No. sir." “That is unfortunate. Are you sure that this is the prisoner's handwriting?" The question seemed to disconcert the captain, but he was equal to th? occasion. He said. “Let someone fetch the prisoner's written answer to the accusation upon which he was condemned." Alas! here was proof indeed. The resemblance between the two writings was so remarkable as to go beyond the region of positive proof. There could be no doubt—none whatever. Carefully folding up the fatal document ami placing it in his pocketbook. the colonel strode silently to hit writing table took a sheet of partly printed blue paper from a drawer and wrote underneath: “Condamne a mort. (Signe) Montfaucont.” Then he handed the warrant to Dechaix. 111. About an hour before the sounding of the bugle which signalled the closing of the fortress gates for the night, a tall slight figure presented itself to

the sentry, with pale, firm lips ami tearless eyes demanded to see Captan Dechaix. Lizette —for she it was—was at once directed to the officers* quarters. Still unmoved, almost statuesqque in her immobility, the girl confronted the officer, ami realising how important it was that she should play her part well, stid to him in the gentlest tones she could command: ".Mon eapitaine. you will grant me a favour, will you not?" "Certainly, sweetheart, if it is within my power." The girl shrank from the epithet, but continued: "I want to see your prisoner—Renouf—alone.” "It is impossible. Every rule of the service forbids it.” “He will be Iteyond the reach of all your rules to-morrow," said the girl, “and why not for a few minutes tonight? I implore you in the name ot — of our love.” 'rhe Captain started; he had not expected this. “Our love!” he repeated under his breath. He did not mean her to hear; but the girl’s senses, strained to the utmost tension by the fearful circumstances in whieh she was placed, were acute enough to almost penetrate the Captain's thoughts. Her ears caught the words, and instinctively her eyes flashed with an expression partly of pleasure and partly of alarm. "He believes 'tis himself that 1 love!” she thought. (terrified the while lest he, too, should look into her soul as she had looked into his — "Good!" Then she said aloud “It is wrong to wring sueh a confession from me. Captain! I am but a weak girl, while you are a brave soldier—forgive me!" “Forgive you, Lisette, when you have made me the happiest man alive?” “Then make me the happiest woman ! ” “But how?” "By permitting me to see—Renouf.” “It hurts me to think you can wish to see him. Lisette —the traitor, the miserable!” “The traitor?” said the girl. “Yes,” answered Dechaix. “The Colonel has documentary evidence of his guilt. He has been betraying our military secrets to the foreigner." The girl’s eyes glittered. “It is not true!” she exclaimed. “It is impossible!” Displeased at Lisette's mianifest concern for the good name of her betrothed, Dechaix changed his tone. “Sweetest,” he said, “tell me really why you have come here." She answered— “l have caused him much unhappiness, and it. is right that I should make some amends. It can make no difference to us two. Captain —" “Call me Eugene!” The girl faltered, but she managed to utter the word. “No, Eugene, it can matter little to us, for to-morrow he will no longer be here, while you ” She bowed her head, and Dechaix took her in his arms. She offered

no resistance, but demanded, feebly, “Let me go to him! let me go!” "I cannot!" he declared passionately. “If I did it would l>e at the cost of my life!" "Your life? Ami is that more to you than my ’’ "No. Lisotte! A thousand times no! For your love I would risk all —all. save honour -and it is honour, too. which forbids the granting of this hopeless, this mad request. But tell me. why do you wish to see Renouf?” “I must give you a woman's reason —because I do. Nay. that is not the true reason. Rather is it that Renouf may desire to see me, who am the cause of all his misfortunes. Perhaps I do wrong in going to him. The sight of me may add to his torments, and God knows they are terrible enough!" “So much the 1 tetter!" growled tin 1 savage; "he deserves all he suffers, and more! For he would rob me of you, Lisette—'that is. of all that 1 love in the world!" He would have drawn her nearer to him: but the girl revolted from his touch, ami shank into 'the darkening gateway. "Well, well!" he said—there is time enough! Lisette, it is for the love I l>ear you that I do this thing—nav. for the love you bear me! I!e it as you wish, dearest, and mar Heaven protect us!" Then he hastily wrote a note to the sergeant of the guard, ami handing it to her said with a smile of sinister triumph - “La discipline avant tout, Lisette, is it not? But it is love'that comes first, after all!" IV. It is doubtful whether she heard 'him. Seizing the paper with feverish hand, she sped through Ithe opening gateway, returning him neither look nor word. The officer who had Paul in his keeping was not a liittle surprised when he read the paper. Knowing as he did all that had happened on the paradeground. he jumped to the conclusion that 'the permission given to the condemned man's betrothed was only a further refinement of torture intended to enhance the agony of the culprit's last hours. The honest old sold’er, as he looked U|x»n 'the frail form Which now stood trembling before him, could not repress the ejaeulafon. “Accursed villain! Would that Renouf and he could change places to-morrow!” Then he opened the cell floor and passed the visitor in. “Paul!" “Lisette!” Thus exclaiming, the two lovers fell in'to each other's arms. The girl was the first to recover her composnri'. She needed all her presence of mind for what she was going to do now. “See. Paul! my poor daring! see what I have brought you!" and she fumbled in the folds of her dress as she spoke. "You have brought me yourself.” he interrupted, “and 1 I want nothing more. But how did volt contrive it?

Did you bribe the guanl? Did you break through file gates? Did you implore perm's-imi from the Colonel?" "I came here by favour of le Capilaine Deehaix.” she leplied. "Of le <’a pi twine-of that villain*. How could you so humble yourself, even for the sake of seeing- me once more?” Lisette blushed. She had indeed humbled herself; but she would confess all. "He made love Ho me at the gatewav.” she stammered, “ami I" “Lisette!” “I fooled him!” Then, with many pretty coquetries, with tin archness that had something almost, of gaiety in it—such la the I'gh’t-heartevlness of the Southern nature —-Lisette told the story of the trick she had played upon the Captain; and even the condemned man laughed over the comedy of the thing, forgetting the tragedy which fatally ami irrevocably overshadowed and envelojied itaill. But only fora moment. Suddenly, as if a heart-string had snapped, he groaned heavily. L’sette, (too, was sobbing. Then something seemed to recall her to herself. “I have something to tell you,” she said. “Capltain Deehaix has denounced you as a traitor. He says you have sold military secrets to the foreigner. Is it true?” “No!” exclaimed Paul. “It is false. But T know that for weeks past, he has been intercepting my letters—letters 1 have written <to you. Lisette! And it. is possible he may lune produced them against me.” “Or," interrupted the girl, with quick Southern intelligence, ‘“he may have copied your handwriting. Oh, Paul! might it not be possible to convict him of his villainy ami so. perhaps. save your life and mine?” "No." replied Paul, “it is not worth while. I struck him, and- for that act I must die. God knows 1 am no traitor. and I will meet H.'in face to face just as I yesterday met my earthly judges. I see through it all now—the intercepted letters, Ifhe forged proofs of my supposed treachery, -the -provocation on the parade-ground—'all, al). Lisette! I would rather die than live.” “But see. Paid!” Lisette exclaimed. "I have brought you something.” So saying, she produced a tiny revolver from her pocket. “I have brought this for you! It was my father’s—the one that he carried at. Mars-la-Tour —and it will not fail. But there is only one cartridge left.” The man’s eyes flashed. “How dare you. Lisette? —ami 1 a soldier of the Republic! Am T not sufficiently disdisgraced already? Do I not merit my doom? In a moment of rage 1 forgot— I forgot the army, the Emperor, ’the law. ‘la discipline avant tout’!—and 1 <lie justly condemned. And to die at the hands of my comrades is no cowardice -but to do this!” He recoiled from the proffered weapon with horror. But Lisette eaught him convulsively by the arm. “No! no!" She cried in piteous accents. “You do not understand. I did not mean that! You were always so brave that such a thought could never enter my heart! But 1 have another thought; can you not guess it?” The Corporal took the weapon from her ha ml anil pressed the sinning barrel to his lips. As he did so he muttered a few syllables; but Lisette could not tell whdt.her they were a.n oath or a prayer. The convent bells are ringing. But mournfully and slow: In the grey square turret swinging. With a deep sound, to and fro. Heavily to the heart they go; Hark, the hwmn is ringing The song for the dead below, or the living who shortly shall be so. liven thus the minute bell tolled dismally from the chapel of the fortress as Captain Dechaix’s company marched with muffled drums to bastion No. 10. The prisoner was already there, closely guarded. A tiring party of five rifles was drawn by lot from the company, and Captain Deehaix stood ready to give rhe word of command. The sentence was read out in due form, tlie firing party was wheeled up, and the prisoner was asked whether he hud any request to make. “Only," he replied, “that I may not be blindfolded or Ivound.” “Your request is granted,” said Dechaix coldly. Then speaking rapidly he exclaimed, “Ready! Present! Fire!” The. prisoner was seen to make a gesture as if extending his arms in an attitude of supplication. Sharply rang out the report of the rifles in 'the still morning air, aud the

scene was at once enveloped in smoke. When this had cleared away, the soldiirs beheld the prostrate body of Corporal Renouf lying at the bottom of the post by wh'eh he had stood, while that of Captain Deehaix was stdetched by the wide of the tiring party, shot through th? heart with the bullet which the father of Lisette had saved from Mars-la-Tour.