Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-07-23

The following IS the conclusion oil
tale from Fraser's Magazine, with the
above title. 1t will be understood that
Rudolph, who was considered low born,
was condemned to he beheaded for asp ring
TO the hand Of the naughty Baron's daugh-
ter The Baron went into the turret 10
witness through the lattice, the execution.
The orders to the executioner, were to
withhold his hand only when the Baron
lay down his own head at the feet OF the
executioner. The fate of the Baron had
been foretold by an a.,rologer:
." will see il from the battlcments, F"
said the baron "the hour is at hand y
and SO muttering, he ascended the cork
screw stairs which led TO the highest PIN
nacle of the castle.
Bars of light shining in through mar.
row loop holes in the thick walls guided
the baron's footsteps. AS he ascended he
left the din and confused turmoil of the
castle far below A.; there was no sound save
the occasional twit,er Of swallow from
her nest in u loop hole, and the solemn
and regular pulsations of the clock, and IN
few minutes, the baron stood am ing lis
ponderous and complicated machinery
lie paused and contemplated it. Slowly
rcvolved the vast wheels, 50 curlously in
,crlaccd with each other. Steadily and
noiselessy worked lever, and spring, and
ratchet; and the deep lhrob Of the pendu-
lam, us it performed lis unwearylng pull
sations, Eel with strange and omlnous
sound upon the listeners ear. He looked
upon the huge Jumps of metal which act
ed as weights, and thought upon the power
of a machine which was set ia motion by
tho downward action of such ponderous
masses.
The baron was on the point of moving
still higher, when he paused. hesitated for
a moment, and then muttered, 4" Yes, here,
even and the mechanism will | take my
stand, and mark the end OF him who franz
ed il.
The dial-plate OF the clock was not SOL
id; it consisted of huge circular grating
OF metal, in tho rim Of which the letters
denoting the hours were traced. Inserting
his head into one Of the open spaces which
Just sufficed to admit it, he looked anxious
ly downward. Had the baroa's mind been
comfortable, or had his taste inclined 10
the picturesque, he woul1 have gazed with
deli ght around him. He would have mar
kcd from his commanding position the vast
panorama of wild and romantic country
beneath. llc would have admired the Ell
feet Of the sun and shadow as they fell
upon knoll and glade, tlngng with s:lll
more varied hues the differing shades Of
the oak, and the pine, aud the beech,
which, interlacng their green arms, spread
out waving sea of fol age lie would
have admired gray messy ptcripIces con
trasing with the green verdure, and break
iGg It's expanse !; he would have loved 10
look long and earnestly on the waters N
the sisant Rhine as they pursued their
course, cleaning in the sunshine and he
would have listened 10 the low song OF
many birds, the dlmly heard ripple OF the
far river, and The subdued rustic OF the
waving trees, us these varied sounds came
Aoating on his eur IN blended sweetness
like the inarticulatc voice of Nature in
her gladnesss; but the baron, like Gallo,
"cared for none of these things" His
gaze was riveted upon the court yard be-
low. There was the block, and standing
beside it, leaning upon his bright axe, the
headsman; while close by, the centre of a
little group, he discovered the slight but
unshrnking form of the victim.
"Ha, hal" he muttered with croakng
sound intended for laugh, "the hour
which was prophecled as fatal to me sees
the last moments of mine enenmy. Here
l stand firmcr than ever in my power
The stars!-ha, ha!-let them do their
worst despi>e them" AT This moment
Il stir took place among the little party in
the courtyard.
- Ha - said the baron, "they are pre-.
pairing !" and, stra ming his eyes, he g6at-
ed upon the spectacle OF approaching
death. Indeed SO intensely was his mind
occupied by what he saw, that he either
did not feel or did not heed a sight-very
sig't, but still perceptible pressure OF
something cold and hard upon his bare
and outstretched neck "There is but lit
tie mole of beavers sunshine for him!'
he murmurod. ala, Ia II will be soon
over'
ala, ha so it will ~ said a voice be
hind him like the echoes of his own.
The baron stared-s,ruggled. Great
God he could no, stir his head and like
lightning, the awful truth flashed upon
him.. Silently and ,unperceired The blade
formed hand of the clock had closed upon
his neck and fastened his head to an iron
piliory! The words Of his foretold late
rushed on the baron. He felt he was q
doomed, dying man-and such death
The blood curdled in his veins, his limbs
hung powerless, not muscle would do its
office ; he was insensible 10 every sound
but ono, the slow measured click-click-
click of the machinery which would urge
the sharp sword-blade second by second
and line by line through his shrinking
neck.
Anon he partially revived, and tried TO
shou' an alarm TO those below. 1t was in
'a'n' the time for that had gone by, the
pressure upon his throat was TOO great to
allow Inn TO use his voice, his face flushed.
una ne wr'thed his limbs in agony.
Al thls moment another head was nro-
truded from another aperture of the dial
1t looked like that of gliding fend, but i,
was that of the astrologer.