St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1864-02-25

~ hO"re's Un FeachlnS the ,ptacc OF our
destination, ] was carefully assisted out Of
the carriage. Theetwo strangers arranged
themselves on either side Of me, and each
took hold Of oRc Of my arms. Having
Walked in this WAY for the space Of q few, few,
minutes, We ascended q staircase which ap-
peared to be very. spacious, judging from
the resounding noise Of our footsteps.
was then led into large apartment where
the bandage was removed from my eyes,.
l now liscov cred lhatsit was still daylight,
but tho sun was setting. S5ge zs >.-
"A sumptuous ,repast was served, con-
sisting Of the, most exquisite dishes; but l
could not help renarking that the allow
anee Of wine was very sparing. At night
fall, i was directcdto hold myself in rcadi-
ness to perform my duty Of executioner,
by decapitatingg ~ person who had beeh
condemned to death. .,..*.. ii l.. ya....
|: Though long Injured to the painful duty
which The law imposes on me, and though
l had never, for q moment, misapprehend.:
cd the motives of my strange journey, yet
when that motive was formally announced
thrill Of horror unnervcd me- pus re-
covered my; presence Of MIND, nj ,epd sSes ex-
pestulating, with III tie energy. / could
command, when person " hose veice had
not hitherto heara SSau, id q tone Of calm
decision, "Dp; Is you are required, and
without hesitation, otherwise you merely
seal your own doom, without being able to
avert that of the, culprit.". s..i.3 j.. -.
81 found that further protesta,ion would
be in vain, and yielding to compulsion, l
.consentea;' I:.:rcpent my weakness, and
bitterly reproech myself for it; but it was
certainly a.case in which the law Of neces
sity was implacable- The axe was placed
in my hands. black veil was thrown over
my head, and two men, grasping my arms,
conducted me through a suite Ct several
apartments. At length ve entered room
larger than the rest, and there my conduc.
tors halted. The black veil was removed
from my face, and behe}}l in the centre q
The room soaffold,, ,raieea TO the height oi
about three feet from the ground. A black
velvet drapery covered the wood work, and
that part of lkc floor Immediately round it
was strewsd with . thick layer OF reu, col
ored saw-aast. I VAS IN painful state OF
anxiety, bewildcred in a maze Of conjec-
ture, respecting the victim on whom was
destined to strike the fatal blow. My con-
lecture was seen at an end. In few mo-
ments female was led, or rather carried
| into the room. She was Of tall stature,
and her complexion was brilliantly fair.
Her light hair, Of which she appeared to
have great profusion, Was confined under
a cap Of black Grape. Her dress, which
was Of black velvet, was confined a little
above the ancles by purple silk cord; her
hands were also bound by silkcn cords. OF
the same color, ,.. Hes face *a3' concealed
by mask, 80 that no part Of her person
was visible except her neck and shoulders,
which were dazzling white. She made no
complaint aud offered no resistance, and
as she approached, / perceived with in.
creased horror, that her mouth was gag
ged.. Blight or ten men, all Of. whom were
masked, raised her on the scatfold; she in.
clined her head, and laid it on the block.
|. need say no more! trust
that Heaven will forgive me. doubt not
that the victim was q person of illustrious
i rank, and should not hP surprised to hear
that all the Courts of Europe have gone in
: to mourning.
%"'Having performed my horrible task, !
was. conducted back to, the apartment in
which I had partakeh 6fthe fepast on my
first arrival. There 1 found the table re-
4 plenishel, and now several bottles of wine
placed on it. l sat down for few mo
ments to compose myself, uncertain wha,
was to be my fate.s but perfectly resigned
X to the will of God.
!. ;"*'Aftet The lapse Of little time / ageair,
stepped into the carriage, followed by my
two masked companions. We journeyed
all that night and part of the following day
Nearly twenty hours elapsed before reach,
ed my. home, at the door of which l wa!
eet down, and a purse containing two hun
" dred louis, was presented to me- Here i.
:, the money, NJ. Dietrich, 4 place it an you,
hands, and beg you will make w!latevc,
use of it ou see fit. II was expressly rec
, commended to observe the most inviolabl,
! silence respecting this most extraordinar,
event. 'On your discretion said III
masked men; your snfety depends AM
:. attempt to discover the secret Of tGis affai
Il will prove utterly vain, and If you reven
: to any one what hos transpired. the dis
I c10aurc will ho at nnco fato1 ~ yoursol
{ and to those ~hd'receive 'it:' II - H.5>'2
! 1.-The Preteur7 of Strasburg listered will
i deep interest and attention to the tragica
= and mysterious history related by the Exc
; cutioner. lie declined 10 take charge q
; the two, hundred louis which the Efecu
s TONER wished to lodge in his hands. i Il
: you will not receive the money said tn
> Exccutioner, Il will dispose Of it ii payin,
$ for masses. and relieyyinR4 the wants Of tn
pper,'. Hist.depbsition was read over t
/ him BY the Preteur and, after signing it
]. he took his leave. ri, .sgwrft En.9r"1 81
f...As soon rs he was gone, the Preteu
/ put the document under cover. CAREFUL,
! sealed II, snds,seht IT, by corflentia
courier to the Baron de Dreteuil, WHO I'D
5 then At the ID Of the French cabinet" !"
i At this point Of the narrative Napoleo,
darted . scrutinixing glance at his audi
tors, as If anx xiens to- ascertain what effec
his story had produced. That effect wa
most powerful !; sensation Of mingled hor
81 ror' and amazements pervaded every on
josephine vast vas ile ., fr.t Il Who t,satqtsd /
break silence. fssAo1 Dieu ( sBonaiparte,
!: she exclaimed. sswhy do you tell these ,hor
- rid StDrioaS You do Il To frinhfen ,la ;,