The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1847-03-17

they receive some communication from the
| crown. The windows of this hall seemed
| at this moment illuminated by vivid light.
This appeared strange TO the king. He
supposed at first that this light was produ-
ced by the fambeau of some valet But
what could he be doing at this hour, in
| hall which for long time had not been
opened? Besides, the light was so dazzling
to proceed from a single fambeau They
| might have attributed it TO a confagraton :;
but they saw no smoke, the glass was not
| broken, no sound was to be heard: every
thing indicated rather an illumination
| Charles contemplated the windows some
time without speaking. Meanwhile Count
Brahc, extending his hand toward the cord
| OF bell, was about to ring for page to
discover the cause of this singular light :;
| but the king prevented him. CT will 90
myself into this hail." said he AS he pro-
nouced these words, they saw him grow
pale, and his physiognomy express kind
of mysterious terror. However he depart
ed with firm step the chamberlain and
the physician followed him, each holding
lighted taper. The keeper, who had
charge of the keys, was already asleep
| Baumgarten went 10 awake him and orde-
red HIM, in the name Of the king to open
Immediately the doors Of the Government
hall. The surprise Of this man was great
at this unexpected order; he dressed him
self hastily and joined the king with his
bundle of keys. At first, he opened the
door of gallery, which served as an anti
chamber or entrance TO the hall OF assembly,
The king entered; but what was his as
tonlshmcnt at beholdng the walls entirely
hung with black "Who gave you orders
to hang this hall thus2" demanded the king
in m angry tone. "Sir no one that
know" replied the keeper much troubled
And the last time I had the gallery swept
1T was wainscotted with oak as it has always
been. Certainly these hangings came not
from the wardrobe of your Majesty. And
the king, marching with rapid step had
already passed more than two.thirds of the
gallery. The count and the keeper follow
| ed him closely; the phycan Baumgarten,
was little in the rear, divided between the
fear of remaining alone and that of exposing
himself to the consequence Of an adven-
ture which was announced in so singular a
manner. eco no farther, Sire" cried the
keeper. On my soul there is a sorcery
| within. AT this hour-and since the death
OF the queen, your gracious wife-they say
,ha. she walks in this gallery. My God
Stop, sire, cried the Count on his side.
| Hear you not that sound which comes from
the Hall of Assembly? Who knows to
what dangeryour Majesty exposes yourself2"
"sireF p said Baumgarten, whose taper a
puff of wind had just extinguished, sat
least allow me TO call u score of your soldiers,
"Let us enter, said the king in firm voice,
stopping before the door of the grand hall !;
and thou, keeper, open this door quickly"
''He pushed 1t with his foot and the sound
repeated by the echoing arches, resounded
through the gallery like peal Of musketry,
The keeper trembled SO, that the key struck
the lock without being able 10 enter it.
"And old soldier tremble ?" said Charles,
struggling his shoulders. sCome Count.
open this door," "Sire," replied the Count,
recoiling step, "let your Majesty COM
mand me to march to the mouth OF Danish
or German cannon, will obey without hes
itation but it is hell which you wish me
to defy."~ "A
The king snatched- the key from the
hands of the keeper. see well, said he
in a, ,contemptuous tone, that this belongs to
me alone )" and before his attendants could
prevent him, he had opened the thick oaken
door, and entered into the great hall pro-
nouncing these words: By the aid Of God"
His three acoiytes, moved by curiosity
stronger, than fear, and perhaps ashamed to
abandon their king, entered with him.
The immense hall was illuminated bv
an infinite number Of fambeaus Black
hanging had;replaced the antique tapestry.
Along the walls appeared, disposed in their
accustomed order, the German, Danish, and
Muscovite coIors, the trophies of Gustavus
Adolphus: They distinguished in the
midst some Swedish banners. covered with
funeral Grape, 81. 80
Animmense assembly covered the bench
es. The four orders Of the State sat each
according TO their rank. All were arrayed
in black, and this multitude of human
faces. which seemed TO shine beneath
sombre cloud, SO dazzled their eyes, that
Of the four witnesses Of this extraordinary
scene, none would discover amid the
crowd a familiar face. Thus al, actor be-
fore PUBLIC assembly sees only confused
lsmaeo IN urhich hios ox,no owe 800 III. ~