Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-04-07

shop?" she inquired.
at is just behind the house, audi
Then shoe the horses immediately
Not moment is to be wasted, Hasten
oh, hastenm
The man hurried of to do her bidding,
while Reene in an agonizing state of sus-
pense thought of the precious time she
was losing Every moment was one less.
Suppose she should be too late The head
less body of her husband, all CORY and
CHASTITY, came up before her. She shud-
dered and closed her eyes as if to shut
out the awful sight, but still it tormented
her. She imagined it all-oh, so wildly
Her Leopold marching between guard
of Notwithstanding the gloomy scaffold
hung with black-the executioner, all
masked, and holding in his hand the fatal
axe-the last prayer-the laying of his
head upon the block-and then the cruel
blow, the blow which would sever that
beloved head and send 1t MI dripping
with blood down to the basket below
1t was too fearful, and she fairly Shrek
cd with dread rs she pictured that final
scene.
Then came the landlord with the four
horses, good, common animals, but in no
way to be compared with her own, and
they were soon attached 10 the carriage
She gave him sum of money with
which he might well be content, and at
length started again. Then looking at
her watch, she found that she had been
delayed fully three-quarters of an hour,
and her heart sank low within her bosom.
And so, through the weary night, they
rolled on. Now dashing through the qui-
ct street OF some little village, anon rat
ting over the stony thoroughiares of
more important place, which called it.
self town. Occasionally stopping at
some inn to change horses, Joseph rous-
ing the sleeping inmates with laundering
raps, then a great hustle and hurry with
the Harvesting and embarrassing of
horses, and then they drive off into the
night again.
At last the morning dawned, clear and
bright, and they were sixty-fve miles on
the way. But again the horses were Civ
ing out, and no inn appeared in view. SO
they drove on, on, on. Joseph lessened
their pace, until they were going but lit
tie faster than walk, for to have kept
the horses on at the former rate would
have been to kill them.
When Reene had almost given up in
despair, n little wayside tavern came in
sight, and they soon drove up before the
wild Boar" But to her hurried inqur-
les the landlord shook his head.
No. he had not four horses. nor even
two, for that matter"
\ group OF workmen on their way to
the field were congrcgated before the
house, and to them the heart-broken wo-
man appealed.
"Oh, my friends" she cried, "can none
of you aid me? Hear my story. Ny hus-
band is TO be beheaded in Pesth at six
o'clock this evening. am on my way
to save him, | have the Emperor's par
don here. viii you not; 0 will you not
help me-
For moment they were all silent, but
as a new conner, rather better dressed
than themselves, joined them, they cried,
"Oh, here is Fritz. Fritz, let the poor
lady take thy horses"
"Not l." said Fritz, gruAly. i've 9TH
er use for my horses"
The stricken woman heard the words,
and flew TO him.
Aid me-" she cried wildly, "oh, aid
me. Here is gold. Here are jewels" and
she tore the pearls from her hair, her
arms, her bosom Take them; | give
them willingly. Only pity my disuessn'
and her eyes, bedewcd with tears, looked
appealingly to him.
The man eyed greedily the priceless
gifts held out to him, and avarice con
quered every other feeling.
Well" he said, sweeping them into
his pocket, I'm get the horses for YOU"
and walked away.
So after another half hour they started
once again, and were whirled onward till
four in the afternoon, and then they saw
by the signs and toll yates that Pesth was
still twenty miles distant.
\ change Of horses at Twenty Mile
Inn" and then began Il fierce struggle
between time and death, and death seem
ed about to win, for at halt past five there
were still about eight miles to be gone
over.
Reene's tortured brain seemed ready TO
burst, and her heart almost ceased to
beat, as the nearer they drew TO their
goal, the nearer came the dreadful hour
"Oh, that may be in time" was her
constant prayer,
Easter, Joseph, faster" she sirieked
in agony, as the hands of her watch point.
ed to five minutes of six.
The man lashed the horses fiercely, and
they bounded on with lightning speed
clearing all obstacles and disregarding
every hindrance.
The Countess looked breathlessly from
the window up the long vista of street
and saw where il ran into the Public
Square. She saw, too-oh, horrible sigh
the scaffold and the surging masses o
people around, and as they came nearer