The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-03-31
part Of it, SO thefe Vas no reason WY thee

to push to the: front which animates all
ranks and both sexes of the British, there
was plenty of elbow-room, and q sensitive
lady might even have tainted, without being
trodden to death in consequence.
"You will have an opportunity to see
with what force the blood is always pump
ing through our arteries" said Seymour.
'Barbarous? not bit Far more humane
than hanging, 1 take it. Curious though,
that they have never introduced the guillo-
tine in this country; perhaps because it is
French"
"I see no block
''They do not use one. The culprit sits
in that chair, and the executioner snicks his
head off with his sword as you would
thistle with your cane. But here they
come"
It was with sickening feeling that I
watched the executioner, the priest and the
murderer step on to the scaffold. The last
was middle-aged man, of light, agile form
and delicate features, relieved by black hair
and moustache. He was in his shirt which
was open at the neck and turned back, and
which supports many miscreant in his last
hour, and enables him to 'sdie game" he
could lay no claim, for his face was blanched
with terror, he trembled in every limb, and
was evidently nearly fainting.
The mental agony of the poor wretch
added so much TO the terror of the scene,
that L could bear it no longer, and L was
turning to go, when an exclamation from
my companion stopped me. Seymour was
habitually SO quiet, Indifferent, and almost
sleepy in his tone, that anything like ener-
getic speech from his mouth was perfectly
startling. 1 had known him from boy,
and never remembered his being excited
before. had seen him resisting the over
charge of an abusive cabman in the midst
of Derby row, and in many other situa-
tlons calculated to stir the temper and set
the tongue wagging freely, but his voice
had never been raised or hurried.
my good man." he drawled, on the
Derby occasion, eff you do not get out of
my way, and keep quiet, 1 must hit YOU"
and presently he did SO, enectually, but
quite coolly.
So that L had como to look upon him as
well-dressed red Indian or dandy stole, and
half doubted at the moment whether the
cry of surprise could possibly have come
out of his mouth. One glance at his face
assured me of that, however; he was leaning
forward and gazing at the scafrold with
parted lips and straining eyes.
"Lend me your glass;" he cried; and after
looking through the binocular minute
Eyes, it is the man himself; no doubt about
that. But there is one thing I want to
make out, and can't. Here; your eyes are
better than mine; take the glass and exa-
mine his face; it is turned this way now.
Well. do you see any mark upon it?''
mo. Yes, do; there is broad scar on
his cheek
(Which cheek?" cried Seymour, grasping
my arm so hard that he hurt me.
THE left, replied.
s'Then, by Heavens, I have guessed
right!' exclaimed Seymour, drawing long
breath
At another time, curiosity would have
dictated a question, but at that moment the
headsman began to blind the eyes of his
victim, and by strange revulsion of feel
ing, could not now help watching him.
The business was neatly done; one sweep
of the large sword, and the plotting brain
was separated from the bad, cruel heart; the
life-s stream spurted up in one thick Jet to
the height of several feet, and all was over.
We walked to the hotel, which was close
by; and after bath and change, I found
that the scene l had witnessed had made
less impression upon me than / anticipated.
When the meal was over, and we were
lolling in chairs in the pleasant court yard,
L remarked on the singularity of Seymour's
landing on that particular morning in time
to assist at tho decapitation of an old ac-
quaintance.
eyes," he replied, in his ordinary tone
now, "most extraordinary thing that ever
occurred; the beggar had try at my life
once, and gave him that scar was GER
tain it could not be ghost, because, if
there were ghosts. don't believe they can
fire pistols
"Was it in India?"
"No; in Yorkshire, or Lancashire; I'm
not certain which. But see, you want the
whole story, SO you shall have it, only don't
talk about it..
Conc August, somo years ago, when I
was in the cavalry, L got two months leave
OF absence, and thought should like some
shooting. Not knowing any one in Scot