The herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1835-1837, 1836-02-27
THE SPANISH HEADSMAN.

THE SPANISH HEADSMAN.
Having seen his soldiers encamped and taken all due
precautions for their safety against sudden attack the
General proceeded 10 tie Chateau, OF which he ilnne-
diately assumed military possession The respective
members, with the domestIcs OF the family OF Leganes,
were bound with cords, and the ballroom assigned
them prison, the easements whereof opened upon
the terrace while the General and his staff occupied
an adjoining suit OF rooms where council holden,
to,adopt all necessary in the event OF AN
tempted Decentralization by the British. Orders were
given for the erection of batteries the COASTS and
dispatches sent OFF To the Marshal.
The two hundred Spanards who had acknowledged
themselves as the authors Of the and resigned
themselves into the Generals power were drawn up on
the terrace Of the chateau, and shot without single
exception As their execution had terminated
General Gl+r ordered the erection of as many gaOvs
as there prisoners in the ballroom, On the same
SPOT directing moreover that the haDgman OF the town
should be summoned.
Victor Marchand proted by the interval in the work
OF death, which the execution of the Generes orders
rsauired TO visit the unhappy prisoners; and few
minutes only elapsed before he again presented himself
TO his commanding officer. ii presume, Sir" he said,
with much emotion 10 Impore your consideration IN
behalf of the condemned family" fOu" observed
the GeneraI with sheer" Alas Sir III a sorrowlul
indulgence they solicit. The Marques, in observing
the preparations for the approaching execution trusts
that YOU will degn 10 change the mode of punishment
and that such of noble blood may suffer by decapi
tation." "Granted" was the laconc reply. he also
hopes YOU will allow him TO have the aid OF religion
and in rendering his solemn engagement not TO Indas
In the thought Of escape he prays that he and has may
he freed from their bonds. Be il So, said thu Gene
raj: YOU being responsible for the consequences.
What further would you p he added, sterny and I'M
patiently seeing the Colonel yet nger and hesitate to
speak- He prpsumes, Sir TO tender you all his wealth
his entire fortune-sO that his youngest mig be
spared" Indeed" said the General; IL Is extra
ordinary Of generosity as his property already
at the disposal of King Joseph But" he continued
after some Of reflection while indescrb BILE
expression Of savage triumph ghened up his features
- perceived all the importance attached 10 his last
TeaesI and saa even go beyond IT, Let him then pur
chase the continuance OF his name and family, that u
NAV memorial of bis treason and ITS penalty Blu
IL shall be on my terms mark mel leave his fortune
free and grant like pardon to such one of his
shall assume Tire office Of exeeutlOner. have said IL
-begone and let me bear 10 more OF him or his
The General turned FROM Victor towards the chateau
where dinner for himself and staff had been just served
leaving the Colonel ihundersIruck
His brother officers eagerly si-ned % satisfy an
appetite provoked by fatigue but he bad no thought but
for the wreIched prisoners and sumninans resolution
again t. meet them, he slowly entered the ballroom
where the father and Mother their three sons and two
daughters safe bound their rich and gildrd chairs
while the eight servants Of the house stood with then
arms tied behind their backs mute and moilcness then
looks turned ON their suprrors II TO derive lessoG
of courage or resignation fro their bearing AT times
hasty exclamation disturbed the silence atiesting the
regret OF some holder spirits at having Jailed IN then
enterprise. The soldiers who guarded them were Stern
and SILENT "a f respecting the msfoIuncs of their enc
mics: and Victor shuddered he looked upon the
euTnful spectacle of their distress where but lately
ioy and gaely presided; and compared their afflicted
state with the gaudv trappngs which vet adorned the
walls as IN mnckerv of The dreadful doom which they
were sentenced in a few minutes to undergo.
Ordering the soldiers to loose the bonds Of the others
he FASTENED TO the release Of Clarn and while
was turned towards him with intense interest, he freed
her beautifully mnuldered from The cords Even IN
that moment of sorrow, he could not bat admire the
loveness ofihe Spanish girl her perfect formhrr
har-her long, dark eyelashes-and too brilliant
10 be sazed on sguSsd il with tears ut anguish
or Indignation Have succeeded ~ she whispered
he bent her and her look srove to penetrate hi
sore reply; and avoid her arrlen gaze, he threw
wild and peous ook upon her brothers and her parents
and again on her. The eldest Jnsnifn, was abou
thirty years of age short of STATURE and scarcely vel
formed: bur these defects redeemed by n eounrr
nance emiaentv Spanish, prnnd fierce and dis 'anfil
seeming with all his counrys gallantv. Philippe, the
second was alY0uf twenty wears OF and borr
fraornary resemblance to Clara. Rs,ee The Youngest
VAS eight years oil mild AMI passive creature, with
much OF patience endurance in his gentle eaiurrs
The venerable cnunienance nf the aged Marqhess and
his silver hair offered study worthy of Murillo A.
he contemplated the manrnful group, Victor knew moi
how to announee the Generals determination. Com
pl,ance with surely out of The question; and why
should the rnp of grief arradv full he unnecessarily
oyerchsrged? The euirrairs OF Clara however. over
came him her faee the hne of denfh she listen
ed bu, she struggled violently with her feelings, ant