Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1884-05-24


est men constituted themselves hostages
as a guarantee of the payment, which
was to be effected within twenty-four
hours.
The general took all necessary precau-
tions for the safety of his troops, provid-
ed for the safety of the country, and re-
fused to lodge the soldiers in privtea
houses. After he had encamped them
he assembled to the chateau, of which he
took military possession. All the men,
bers of the De Leganes family, with their
servants, were kept in close custody,
bound with strong cords, and imprison-
ed in the grand salon where the ball had
taken place the night before, and whose
lofty windows opened upon the terrace
that overlooked the town. The staff was
established in a neighboring gallery.
where the general first held counsel as
to the measures to be taken in opposing
the debarkation of the fleet; then, after
having dispatched an aid-de-camp to
Marshal Ney, and established batteries
along the coast, they turned their atten-
ton to the prisoners. Two hundred
Spaniards, whom the inhabitants had
delivered up, were Immediately taken
out upon the terrace and shot. After
this military execution, the general COM
manded the erection of as many gallows
as there were persons in the salon, and
sent for the hangman of the town.
Major Marchand, profting by the time
which was to elapse before dinner, went
to visit the prisoners. Soon afterward
he sought the general.
81 hasten," he said, in an agitated
voice, "tc ask favor"
"Youp exclaimed the general, in a
tone of bitter irony.
"Alasp said Victor, "it is but a sad
grace. The marquis, seeing the erection
of the scaffolds, has hoped you will
change this mode of punishment for his
family, and begs, for the sake of his no
$50 be itt'said the general.
"They ask furthermore that they be
allowed the benefit of religion, and that
they be released from their bonds. They
will make no effort to escape"
Il consent" said the general, "but 1
hold you responsible"
"The old man also offers you his en-.
tire fortune if you will pardon his young
son."
"Reallyp responded the general, iron
ically. "A generous offer, seeing that
his possessions already belong to King
Joseph" He paused. A shadow of con-
tempt darkened his brow, and be added:
81 will surpass their desires. l under
stand the importance of his last demand.
Very well, let him purchase his names
existence, but at the price that Spain
may forever remember his treason and
its punishment. will grant life and
fortune to the one of his sons who will
fill the office of headsman. Go now, and
speak to me no more of this"
Dinner was served. The officers sat at
table appeasing appetites that fatigue
had sharpened. One only of their num-
Der, Victor Marchand, was missing at
the banquet. After long hesitation he
entered the salon where mourned the
proud family of Leganes, and threw a
sad glance on the scene, where, the night
before, he had watched the forms of
those young men and their beautiful sis
ters whirling gayly to the entrance
measures of the waltz, and shuddered
when he thought that within an hour
their heads would roll on their own ter1
races, severed by the headsnan's sword.
Bound to their guided couches, the
father and mother, the two young girls,
and their brothers sat motionless. Eight
servitors, their hands bound behind
their backs, stood near. These fifteen
people looked at each other gravely,
their eyes scarcely betraying the thoughts
that stirred them. A profound resigna-
ton, n,iand a reppet at having failed in their
plans, could be read on a few brows.
Motionless soldiers kept guard, while
respecting the the sorrow of these cruel
A oil of nn.ri lcifu lIf nm,
their faces when Victor appeared. He
gave the order to release the captives,
and went himself to release the cords
that held Clara prisoner on the divan.
She smiled sadly. He could not resist
touching the arm of the young girl as
his admiring glance swept from her dark
head over her simple form. She was
perfect type of her race. She had the
olive tint, the Spanish eyes and long
curved lashes, and iris black as ra-
ven's wing.
"Were you successful" she questioned
with one of those melancholy smiles
that yet had something girlish In it.
Victor could not repress shudder.
He glanced in turn at the three brothers
and at Clara. Juanito, the eldest, was
thirty. Small and slightly built, with
proud disdainful air, there was no lack
of nobility in his manner, and that del
icacy of sentiment which in other days
had rendered Spanish gallantry so re-
nowned. Philippe, the second son, a
tall, young STRIPPING of twenty, resem-
bling Clara. The youngest was lovely
child of eight. A painter would have
found i'm Manuel's lovely features a trace
of that Spartan endurance that marked
the children of old Rome. The grand
old marquis, with his picturesque white
he'd, seemed to have stepped from one
of Murillo's paintings.
The young officer shook his head in
despair of finding among them an ac-
ceptor of the generals bargain; then,
nerying himself, he told Clara of the
hard condition. For an instant a shud-
der shook the girls form; then, suddenly
recovering her calm air, she went and
knelt at herfathers feet.
"Ohln she murmured, compel Juanito
to swear he will obey you faithfully, and
we will be content"
The marquise, with an eager start of
hope, bent toward her listeningly, but
when she caught the words which fell
from her daughters white lips, that
mother swooned away. Like fash the
truth dawned upon Juanito, and he
sprang to his feet like Gagged lion. Vic
tor took it upon himself to send away
the soldiers when the marquis had
pledged his word to complete submis-
sion. The servants were then taken out
and given up to the executioner, who
hanged them. When at last the family
was alone, but for Victor, the old IA