Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-09-28

nearQ arOunu nun SOuHus, es u sS'OlNA
battle axes or muskets were laid upon the
ground.
"Come along" said the voice, for he
had stopped as if in hesitation.
Remember your promise" whispered
his travelling companion, "and We Will
not forget ours"
1t then seemed to him that he entered
large vestibule, then crossed several
vast dark rooms, which he was certain
were vaulted, and at last he was led into
large saloon, where the bandage WAS
taken from his eyes. The walls were
hung with black, a few torches cast a
dim, sepulcheral light over the apart
ment. Ten men in majesterlal robes,
were seated at some distance from him.
and though they were unmasked. the
light was so faint that he could not dis
tinguish their features. All the inferior
actors in this drama stood around with
Grape upon their faces.
Immediately after the executioner had
entered this apparent hall of judgment, a
door in the opposite wall was flung open,
and two men appeared, leading lady
whose face was concealed by long veil.
She was tall. slight, and evidently young,
and wore long and flowing dress of Yio-
let velvet She was placed in the centre
of the circle, where she stood erect, calm
and motIonless, her hands folded and CO.
vered by the long and graceful sleeves of
her dress. All were profoundly silent,
and he who seemed of the most authori-
ty among them, rose, and addressing the
exeeutioner in German, which all Alsa-
tians UNDERSTOOD said :
You have been brought here to in
fict in secret the merited punishment of
a secret crime, You will behcad this
woman. who, though unanswerable to a
public tribunal, is stained with unpardon-
able guilt"
The executioner-all executioner as he
was-was an honest man. He would
unhesitatingly put people to death by or
der OF the magistrate CT Colmar. md a
mandate signed by them and scaled with
the great seal and 6eurdelis. reviewed by
the kings commissioners, and registered
in the records Of the town; but this was
quite another affair-nothing better than
an assassination, for how could he know
what right these men had to exercise the
authority of legal judges when their very
faces were mystery to him After a
few moments reflection he summoned
sufficient courage to say. with an unhesi-
tating voice,
% | cannot obey you"
All around he heard swords. drawn
from their scabbards, from which he sus
pected that those magistrates were not
quite so pacific as would be suitable to
their office. He looked at the lady, there
she stood in the same position. apparent
" calm and undisturbed, as if these pro-
ceedings had no interest TO her.
.'You have promised obedience to our
commands said the voice of the man
who brought him, "and you will feel the
weight of our vengeance, if you do not
keep your word"
g When promised, it was under the
impression that your proceedings though
secret, would be legal, l am not an as
sassin; and, gentlemen, whoever you be,
l refuse to execute your orders and L
will not touch a hair of that woman's
head. Beside, what crime has she com
mitted ?"
The president looked at his colleagues,
as if to get their opinion, and then rising.
quickly, said in voice OF thunder, "Y GU
ask what crime this woman has commit
ted. Listen and you shall hear. and the
horror of the tale shall nerve your arm
to inhict on her punishment which is,
however, unequal to her guilt. This wo-
man
Enough" said the lady stretching
forth her hand, ''enough. You may de-
prive me of life, but you may not, you
ough: not to reveal to man the secre
your ears have heard. If am guiltyt
punish me, submit, aud that is more
than you have right to expect"
This alteration was succeeded by
solemn, death. like silence. interrupted by
the monotous ticking of large clock,
covered by gloomy hanging. Eleven
struck.
There is not a moment to be lost, :"
said the president. "obey y
A large. sharp sword was presented to
him. like them used by the executioners
in Switzerland.
'No." said he. ''put her to death your
self You are an illegal judge, and you
may as well be an illegal executioner."
During this scene the condemned did
not stir.
Listen" said the first speaker, " do
you value your life %
Yes, for the sake of my wife and
little daughter, whose sole support am"
Very good-decide then ; if you have
not beheaded this woman before the
the quarter strikes. will send a bullet
through your head
"Why not kill her yourself? ItwOuld
be as little crime as to kill me-
The Judge trembled under his long robe
but commanding himself, he said, cold
Decide"
Theexecutioner had resisted with great