Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1858-11-12


you will conduct him to place of rest
and report to me when thou hast done
it,"
The man thus addressed approached
our hero, and placed his hand upon his
arm.
Come he said.
Alarlc started as he heard the tones
of that voice, for they sounded like a
knoll. The word was not spoken as
speaks one who leads guest to quiet
chamber
"Go with him, spoke the king.
Alarlc turned, and was Led away. In
an ante-room his conductor was Joined by
four dark, sinister looking men, who had
more the appearance of common rufiians
than walters upon king. and then he
was seized by both his arms, and hurried
on through a vaulted passage TO dim V
lighted corridor. Presently the officer,
who was ll1ppon, the jaiior. stopped at
a deep niche, where guard was posted.
and procured torch, BY the garing
light OF which he led on once more.
On, through dark and narrow passa-
ges an! down, down. down, long and
steep star~ays, the youth was lei and
when his conductors finally stoppe d.
Nippon opened door of soiii metal
which swung out from jagged wall,
and the prisoner WAS forced roughly in,
and the massive door was cos d. 1t
was shut with dull heavy sound, the
reverberations being drank up by the
solid walls as soon as they fell upon the
alr-and the prisoner was left in utter
darkness. He closed his eyes, and then
openel them again, to see if some glim-
mer might not be :ound to break the
horrible gloom; but it was all in vain
He srooped his way to the wall, and
leaned against it for support, for there
was 10 seat save the floor.
The youth was not long in making UP
his mind that he had been doomed to
death He knew the character of the
monarch, and that no deed would be to
evil for him. Lie knew. also, how fear
i could make the tyrant more cruel than
before, ana to what deeds of darkness
the tear-strichcn nSIrpcr can descend.
1t was a te riblr thought, and for a
willie Al4rie was inein d to blame him
self for what he had done; but when he
came to reflect upon the transactions Of
the day, he could not see how the pres
rnt result could have been avoided. 1t
had flown from causes over wACh he
could have exercised no control without
the power Of fore knowledge. He thought
Of Ianthc, ana he wondered if hc should
ever see her agaia. The CHARGE, were
against it, but he was not prepared to
give up all hope. He had just started
to aropc his way around the Shiny wall
when he ncarl the sound OF footsteps
without, and presently the moving Of
bots iell upon his ear. In few mom-
ents more the door Of his dungeon was
opened, and three men entered enc ot
them bearing flaming tJrc-.. They
were huge fellows, clad in som6re gar5s.
and eacA bore a naked sw1sd in his
hand.
Alaric recognized those sagbs, for he
had seen taem Years before, and he knew
that only tn. execut;oners wore them =,
The moment his eyc rcstel upon the
the grim visitors, he knew that his doom
had been spoken, and that the time for
execution had come ! ins,inctively he
placed his hand upon kis hip, but there
was no weapon there. He was all unarm-
ed, and seemingly powcrles' against the
/ gigantic rutii4ns. The man who held the
torch leaning against the wall, where a
projecting point OF rock helped support
1t. ana then the .hree approached the
prisoner.
.IIow now" spoke Aianc." "Wkaf
won, business h re :"
"A foul business, you'd say, If VI
knew it. nv MASTER" rsolicd the leader
of the lnfernd tho. in an untecli " tone:
.bnt when II, done. We'll DO it 50 we'll
von won't knov we've loDe it IT all
81 am IN die ~ the vootb said. with
his hands cla,noJ uDon his bosom,
4 "We've all cot to die some me, and
those who die first will got tn, sooner
on, of a varv wicked world And since
von know wba.'s com;poI I spDnose youu
80 tos o,s;ly asn5ssible."
Whit \ Htatime of thought AMI feel
inc was crowded into the next moment
The three rleamin, swords were raise |.
and the doomed youth saw them point
in, s9raIv towards his heart. There
was no escape bv fight, for between him
and the door advanced the w)rkmen Of
death There was no hope in his own
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