The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-02-19

been his bosom friend, Y
b He watched the hands Of aiarge and
curiously constructed clock as they ap-
preached the hour of noon. Suddenly the
elock struck twelve, and the sound Of he
prison bell ceased.
'What have I donea What have T
doneY, muttered the duke. s.Surely it
cannot bel"
Another aud another clock doomed out
the hour, and then all was still.
"All is over, now-all overl" exclaimed
the duke, and then, as if with desire TO-
drown unpleasant thoughts, he called for
wine.
The page, who was well used to the sum.
mons, entered with the wine and at the
same time announced that the Count Felice
desired immediat audience.
"Let him enter,'' said tlA duke, sternly,
as he raised the goblet to his lips.
The count entered, and close. observer
might have noticed something strange in
the expression of his eye. Little wonder,
for he was risking all. After accustomed
greetings he said, respectfully:
"Your grace saw fit to reject my last pc
tition, but I have now come to beg one
favor, which, I pray you will not deny.
My dearest friend had just paid the penalty
of his crime, and his poor old father lies at
the point of death. I have come to your
grace to crave the body of young Orsini,
that we may bury it in the family vault"
The grand duke, flushed. with wine, and
, relieved at learning what the. petition really
was, said, after moments pause:
/ "Hei is dead now, see, no reason for re-
fusing."
'But," said the count, twill your grace
give me an order for the body Immediately,
for it has already been removed from the
chapel, and it pains me that my unfortunate
friend should be exposed to the vulgar gaze.
I would like to convey it Of once to the
palace of the Orsini."
HE is dead now," repeated the duke; II
see no reason to refuse"
! He spoke mechanically, and Felice saw
that conscience was at work.
'May it please your grace" he said, Ito
direct that the body of Orsini be delivered
to me as it is. and without questioning, for
Villain, the Governor of the prison, owes
hate to me, and L fear he may dispute my
order" ,.
HE dare not dispute mine" answered
the grand duN, imperiously, as he sat
down to the table and called for his Sec
retary.
The secretary entered, and the duke die
tated. '. 81.
'To THE CoMprE DE VILLAIN, &c-De.
liver to our well l-beloved, the Compte Felice,
the body of Compile Orsini. Do this with.
out question and immediately"
This order was not in the usual form,
but the duke was not in the humor to at
tend to forms and customs. He handed
the paper, after signing it, to Felice, who
bowed profoundly, and then, placing it in
his bosom, left the palace.
Not moment was to be lost. Quickly
as he could, without giving occasion for
suspicion, he hastened to the entrance OF
the palace, where, dozen Of his own fol.
lowers, well mounted, awaited him, when,
silently mounting his horse, he gave sigma,
and they all rode off in speed toward the
prison.
Well for them they delayed not mo-
rnent, for the hour of death had come.
The condemned man was kneeling at the
block, while the headsman awaited the sig
nal for the fatal blow.
Rushing up the steps of the scaffold all
breathless, Feice presented his order to the
captain of the guard VILLAIN.
The exeoutioner paused.
Villain scanned the paper, and seemed as
if he would have urged some objection, all
though the grand ducal signature was too
well known to him to admit OF a moments
doubt as to the genuineness of the docu-
ment.
''This is strange !" he said. 'gThe exc
cution was ordered for noon It lacks
but o few seconds to the time, and l
| fear"
Fear anything you please" said Felice,
but disobey the dukes command at the
peril of your life, Ny order states that you
are to give me the body of Orsini, and
whether dead or alive. you are bound to de-
liver that to me-" l
Villain could say nothing. To refuse
might cost him his head. Suddenly he
directed@t the ''body'' of the Count orsini to
be delivered to his friend. He then went
to the ducal palace to report what he had
done.
Meanwhile the young Count Orsini, who
was thus, as it were, snatched from the
jaws Of death, was mounted on horse led
by one Of his friends attendants. Thew
made toward the coast, and in few hours