The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1878-02-28

evening the illustrious prisoners head
should be struck off.
The Governor returned TO the castle
and signified 10 Ranuccio that he had
but two hours to live. The young man
laughed in his face, and began TO eat
his supper. He could not bring himself
to believe that he, the heir-apparent to
the Duke of Parma, could be seriously
menaced with death by an obscure
monk, whose only title to the pOntitl-
cate seemed to have been his age and
decrepitude. Yet speedily the threat
seemed to him less worthy of derision,
when he saw from his window the
scafiold, bearing hatchet and block,
in process of erection. But who can
describe his dismay when his room was
entered by a monk, who came to admin
lister the last rites OF the Church, fol-
lowed by the executioner, asking for
his last orders!
Meantime Cardinal Farnese was not
idle. He consulted with his friend,
Count Olivares, Ambassador from the
Court of Spain, and they resolved to
attempt to obtain by stratagem wha
had been refused TO their prayers.
Two precious hours remained.
"Our only plan," said the Cardinal,
"is to stop the striking of the public
clocks in Rome! Meantime do you oc-
cupy Anneli's attention.
His eminence possessed great influence
in the city, and, moreover, the control
of the public clocks belonged te his
prerogative.
At the appointed hour, as if by magic,
time changed his noisy course into
silent flight. Two clocks, those of st.
leter and st. Angelo, were put back
t%nty minutes. Their proximity to
theprison required this change, and
the Nardinal's authority secured the
the iniolable secrecy of everyone con-
cerned Il the plot.
Inc execution was to be private; but
oliVares, lnNis quality of Ambassador,
was permitted Q remain with the Gov
ernor. A single glance assured him
that the clock wasgoing right-that is
to say, that it was quite wrong. Already
the inner court was filed with soldiers
under arms, and monh chanting the
solemn "Dies Ir@." ENerything was
prepared save the victim. Oliyares was
with Angel, and scene coAmenced at
once terrible and burlesque The Am
bassador, in order to gain tine, began
to converse on every imaginable sub
ject, but the Governor would nc, listen.
"My ORDERS" he said, "are ihpera-
tive, At the first strike of the clockQll
will be over"
"But the Pope may change his mind, ~
said Olivares
Without replying, the terrible Angel
walked impatiently up and down the
room, watching for the striking of his
clock. He called; soldier appeared.
els all prepared?" The attendants,
like their master, were only waiting
tor the hour.
"'Tis strange" muttered the Cover
nor. 81 should have thought"
cat least" interposed Olivares, eff
you will not delay, do not anticipate"
And monsignor resumed his hasty walk
between the door and window, listening
for the faithful tongue the clock re-
fused to utter.
Despite the delay, however, the fatal
hour approached. Ten minutes more
and Ranuccio's faith would be sealed.
Meanwhile the Cardinal repaired to
the Pope. AS he entered, Sixtus drew
out his watch, and his eyes sparkled
with revengeful joy. On the testimony
of the unerring time-piece Ranuccio
was already executed.
"What seek you?" asked his HOli-
ness.
"The body of my nephew, that l may
convey it to Parma. AT least let the
unhappy boy repose in the tomb of his
ancestors"
"Did he die like Christian ?"
"Like saint" cried the Cardinal,
trembling at the moments delay.
Sixtus v traced the following words:
"We order our Governor of Fort St.
Angelo to deliver up to his Eminence
the body of Ranuccio Farnese." Hav-
ing sealed 1t with the pontifical signet,
he handed 1t to the Cardinal.
Arrived at the palace gates, Farnese,
agitated between fear and hope, hast
ened to demand entrance. A profound
silence re!gned within, broken only by
the distant notes of the "De Profundis."
He rushed towards the court. Was he
too late2 Had his stratagem succeeded ?
One look would decide. He raised his
eyes--his nephew still lived. His neck
bare and his hands tied, he knelt beside
the block, between priest and an exc
cutioner, uttering the words of his last
prayer. Suddenly the chanting ceased
the Cardinal flew towards the Governor,
Ere he could speak, his gestures and
his countenance lied for him.
ga pardon! A pardon!" exclaimed
Olivares. The soldiers shouted. The
executioner began to unloose his vic
tim, when sign from Angeli made
him pause. The Governor read and re-
read the the missive.
The body of Ranuccia Farnese ~ he
repeated; "the criminals name would
suffice "Why these words, the body
ot9'"
"What stops youS" cried the Cardi-
nal, at that perllous moment, looking
paler than his nephew.