The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1875-10-27

the same sum III my STEAD, as my sore
heiress, under the only condition of her
marrying a respectable young man of
about my age. who loves her, and whom
she loves, and of her giving the black
tulip, which will constitute a new species.
the name of Rosa Barlgsnsis,' that is to
say, hers and mine combined.
$50 may God grant me mercy; and to
her health and long life!
"CoRNELIUs VAN BAERLE"
The prisoner then giving the Bible to
Rosa, said
Read"
"Alas" she answered, 81 have already
told you ! cannot read"
Cornelius then read to Rosa the testa-
ment that he had just made.
The agony of the poor girl almost over
powered her.
"Do You accept my conditions ?" asked
the prisoner, with a melancholy smile,
kissing the trembling hands of the afflict-
ed girl.
"Oh, l don't know sir" she stam-
mered.
"You don't know, child, and why not ?"
Because there is one condition which
l am afraid cannot keep"
(Which ? | should have thought that
all was settled between us"
"You give me the hundred thousand
guilders as a marriage portion, don't
your
Yes
"And under the condition Of my mar
rying a man whom loveY
Certainly"
"Well, then, sir, this money cannot be-
long to me shall never love any one;
neither shall ! marry"
And, after having with difficulty utter
ed these words. Rosa almost swooned
away in the violence of her grief.
Cornelius, frightened at seeing her so
pale and sinking, was gong to take her
in his arms, when heavy step, followed
by other dismal sounds, was heard on the
staircase, amidst the continued barking
Of the dog.
"They are coming to fetch you. Oh,
God Oh, God" cried Rosa, wringing
her hands "And have you nothing more
to tell me p
She fell on her knees, with her face bur
ried in her hands, and became almost
senseless.
81 have only to say, that wish you to
preserve these bulbs as the most precious
treasure, and carefully to treat them ac-
cording to the directions | have gwen
you do it for my sake, and now farewell,
Rosa.
Eyes, yes" she said, without raising
her head, 81 will do anything you bid
me, except marrying" she added, in low
voice, ''for that, oh that is impossible
for me-"
She then put that cherished treasure
next her beating heart.
The noise on the staircase which Rosa
and Cornelius had heard was caused by
the Recorder, who was coming for the
prisoner He was followed by the exe>
cutioner, by the soldiers who were to
form the guard round the scaflold, and by
some curious hangers>on Of the prison.
Cornelius, without showing any weak
ness, but likewise without any bravado,
received them rather as friends than as
prosecutors, and quietly submitted to all
those preparations which these men were
obliged to make in the performance of
their duty.
Then, casting glance into the yard
through the narrow iron>barred window
Of his cell, he perceived the scatlold, and,
at twenty PAGES distant from it, the glib
bet, from which, by order of the Stadt-
holder, the outraged remains of the two
brothers De White had been taken down.
When the moment came to descend, in
order to follow the guards, Cornelius
sought with his eyes the angelic look OF
Rosa; but he saw, behind the swords and
halberds, only a :orm lying outstretch ed
near a wooden bench, and a death-like
face half covered with long golden locks.
But. Rosa, whilst falling down senses
less, still obeying her friend, had pressed
her hand on her velvet bodice. and, for
getting everything in the world besides,
instinctively grasped the precious deposit
which Cornelius had entrusted to her
care.
Leaving the cell the young man could
still see, in the convulsively-clenched
fingers Of Rosa, the yellowish leaf from
that Bible on which Cornelius De White
had with such difficulty and pain written
these few lines, which, if Van Baerle had
read them, would undoubtedly have been
the saving Of man and a tulip.
Continued next week.
In one Of Josh Billings late papers he
says: The sun was agoing to bed, and