The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1851-05-28

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sounds of music, hum Of voices, and
noise Of dancing feet. Astounded and
anxious, he stepped silently to window,
and through it he beheld crowd of well
known faces. The company, flushed with
wine and excitement, sang and shouted
and danced madly round the room. They
were all acquaintance and inhabitants OF
the town.
Ignorant Of the events Of the night, the
man thought he was dreaming.
Presently his attention was attracted by
the licentious garb and demeanor of wo-
man. who circulated amongst the guests,
with loud laugh and libertine gestures,
sharing in and stimulating the orgies.
AT first he could not discern who the
woman was. Then he recognized her. 1t
was his own wife.
"Hold!' he shouted, and strobe in the
room where saturnalia were in progress.
He knew not what to do or say; it were
hard to find word which should express
the rage that possessed him.
"Hold!" he thundered out, every fibre
quivering with fury, "what do you here7"
The guests stood aghast at that appari.
ton of wrath. The boldest started at the
sight ofthe man as he stood amongst them,
terrible and deadly pale. For a while
none dared to approach him. He was up
to his wife. dark. haired. black-eyed, , red
checked wanton, who stood as if turned to
stone. He fixed his eyes upon her with a
deadly gaze.
"On your knees!"
The woman stirred not.
"On your knees, wretch!' vociferated
the husband and struck her in the face, so
she fell to the ground.
"Hold! dog!' was shouted on all sides.
The Raitzen rushed forward, and the man
was seized by twenty hands. He struggled
against them, grasped the throat of one,
and released not his clutch, even when
thrown down and rampled under foot, un-
til he had choked his adversary to death.
They bound his hands and thurst him into
corner. The Ratzen formed circle
around him.
"What would ye with mel" he asked,
the blood flowing from his mouth.
"What would We? Look around you.
See you not, all here are Ratzen!" replied
tall dark-browed Serb, scowling scorn-
fully and cruelty at the sufferer.
Sand am Magyar. What then?"
"Ask thy neighbors? Hast thou not
heard that to-day is our festival! the festi-
val Of the determination of the Magyars.
You are one: the last in town. All the
others are dead. As the last, you shall
choose the manner of your DEATH"
$50 you are the executioner, Basil"
81? am the chosen Of my people,"
With an indescrbable loathing, the
Magyar spat in his face.
'.Scoundrel!" yelled the insulted man,
"for this you shall weep tears of blood"
sweep I!-who ever saw me weep?
You may slay me, you may tortue me, or
tear me limb from limb. There are enough
of you to do it; but weep you shall not see
me, though you burst with impotent rage" :"
"Weep thou shalt. and It's | will make
thee. Know that it is who seduced your
wife, and for whom she betrayed you."
"That is thy shame, not mine."
"All thy kinsmen are slain"
"Better they should lie dead in the street
than breathe the same air with thee"
"Thy property is annihilaled."
"May God destroy those who did it."
"Truly, thou art cool fellow. But
you had daughter-a fair and innocent
child"
George looked upon his tormentor, and
shuddered.
"Lina, think was her name," continu-
ed the Serb, drawing out his words with a
refinement of cruelty.
"What-what mean you?" asked the
trembling father.
"a comely maiden by my word. Fair
to look upon is she not!"
"The devil seize thee! what next!'
$50 young and delicate, and yet-six
husbands Hard to choose. Your wife
could not decide to which she could be-
long. stepped in and settled the matter
| married hsr-to all six" He burst in
to fiendish laughter.
Mute and giddy with horror, the father
raised himself from the ground.
Oil Soiiys Coh'uuCu tho OCio,
''that you were not here for the wedding
"May Gods justice fall upon you'll
shrieked the wretched father, sitting his
tears; but the parents heart overpowered
the pride Of the man. He fell with hi:
face upon the ground, and wept-tears o
blood.
"Lih him up," said Basil, "that we may
see him weep for the first time in his life
Weep little, George, and you, sots, tune
lup your pipes, that he may have accom-
paniment to his tears"
| And thereupon the drunken band begar
|, to dance round their victim with shouts o
laughter and scoffing gestures striking
and kicking him as they passed.. Now
however, he wept no longer. He closet
his eyes and kept silence, enduring thei
ill-treatment without sign or sound Of com
/ plant. a'3 p iis
"Away with him. cried Basil; "throy
him into the garret, and put sentry owe
him. To-day we have celebrated hi