Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1838-09-28

know, too, that Nicholas Booiski would ra-
Their yield his life upon scatlold. or at the
lannon's mouth, than that Christine should
render herself unworthy the distraction Of
Polish wife 7
You have resolved p enquired Wrel-
schoG, aud his eyes flashed fre as be spoke
i have, was the calm and dgnied re-
ply.
Then be il So cried WrelschoG snatch
ing the boy from his mothers arms, and de.
livering him Instantly to the guard Let it
be as have ordered !; and the guard with.
drew with the child
Monster what is it you would do J.
give me back my child + cried the trembling
mother as the door closed upon them
Aye replied Wrelschon, by-andby the
boy shall return be has first deed to exc
cuic--to serve his country and his king
What is it you meanP
There is traitor TO be shot to-day, and
il is resolved that the boys hand shall be tri
et upon the firing Of the oanncn-that, mad
ame, is all 7
All I rrjoined Christine, my mind pic
lures scene of horror. Wrelsc hoh, your
looks confirm my fears who, tell me, is the
boy to shoot p
The traitor Nicholas Roofski'
Oh no, oh no, you cannot be so mon
strous ! shrieked Christine Recall those
words, tell me they are false are but to try
me- say you would cheat me to dishonor and
let me picture such a scene no morep
ChrIstne, II is resolved on; but the Ia
TIERS face will be concealed, and he will
not know no il is that fires the instrument
of death--nether will the boy be aware OF
the individual who receives destruction Be
hold continued he. christening an iron
window that had overlooked the parade, be-
hold the preparations for the execution
Christine gazed from the window, and be-
held the soldiers drawn up in military array,
| preparatory 10 the scene OF death that was TO
ensue the cannon that was TO destroy her
husband was fixed, and her boy. her dar-
ling boy. was by its side, holding the light
ed match that was TO fire the fearful instiu-
ment, wholly unconscious of the being
whom he would destroy guards were over
fhim to direct the cbild's hand, everything
appeared ready for the last ceremony
Christine instantly avei,ed her glance. and
fell at the feet OF the author Of this scene oil
horror
For the love OF God = she cried, by
the hope Of heaven, stop these dreadful prep
arations--recnll the sentence, or recall my
innocent child let no. his fathers blood be
on the poor boys head
Ii is Christine murmured Wreschoff
= who has caused these preparations-it i:
Christine who has placed the child with q
| lighted match at the cannon's head, anC
gives the signal for the destruction OF Rolof
skir
Monster, monster = exclaimed She how
can yau force me 10 this state of suffering 2
One word, Christine, and your husband
saved-Bcholdp
The procession was now seen advancing
towards the scene of death. Rolofski ap
PATIENTLY resigned 10 his impending fate re
ceived the religious consolation of the holy
man that attended him, with composure ant
placidty, and beheld the engine of dsmay.
lie does not fear to die ! energelicall,
exclaimed Christine. He falls as a Polish
patriot should fall, and heaven will receiv,
his soul But my boy
One moment longer Christine, and yon
resolve is OF no avail-say, must he perish
Not by the hand of his child-you vii
not, dare not be so barbarous
He dies ! cried the officer and hastily
quilted the apartment
Christine Shriekedu as she saw him depart
she followed him to the door, but il was
closed fast and firm she heard he bolts ia
in the iron clasps, and she turned away dis
consulate. The guard was her only com
panon, but he was mute and sullen Re
heclon oyerpowered her, aud she sank up
on her seat motionless, gazing on vacancy
her thoughts too great for utterance, too yio
lent for fears. The trumpet announcing tn
arrival of the commanding officer upon th
scene of death, awakened her from her stu
por she shrieked, and turning to the win
dow from whence WIelschoh had directed
her attention to the preparations for the exc
cution discovered that il had not been clos
ed in the impulse of the moment, the dis
tracted mother spraug towards the easement
and before the guard could withhold her
leaped from her confinement, aud with tn,
speed Of lightning rushed towards the spo
where her darling boy held the match read
to destroy his father
The alarm was instantly spread, but tn,
action of Christine was too swift for proven
ton; and ere her progress could be arrested
she struck the lighted match from her child
hand and in frantic tone exclaimed
Boy boN IL is yOur father yo~ would kill +!
Rolofski recognised the voice and the fear
(ul words it breathed and starting from hi:
llneeling posture, rushed towards the spo
from whence it proceeded, and in momen
clnsped to his despairing heart the wife anC
child so dear to him Wrelschoff furiousy
ordered their instan, separation, and the de