Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1885-07-23

inherent !, roads, sought the port wbara
,hey supposed the count 10 be- tba aoI-
iatt array set forward at a ranid neca
and ~ few moments nothing nnt =
eioud OF dust in the valley and nm M
ence. ''''e pies-
" was already high noon in Bour.
aonilB. a little out Of town, in a gentle
sahey, was the place chosen far The
mnictlon of the horrid sentence. For
more than an hour indeed ever sinct
the condemnation of the accused-the
popuiace had been pouring thitler in
crowds. until now vast mnlt;tpta
surprising nearly the whole popula.
tioh OF the town, surrounded the place
Oh execution, and covered the encirclino
MIS- like spectators in an amphithea.
ter.
-. AT lengh the procession came in sight.
first marcheda body of soldiers; then
.oiioWed the magistrates OF the town:
directly after appeared several monks.
ana then, clad in white, with her
i,ands tightly pressed together came
the victim. She made no answers. il
was observed, to the woids of the
monks on either hand. but ever
and anon she would kiss a cruci-
nix which she carried. and
raised her swimming ewes to
heaven. In that hour of bitter agony.
what what nust have been her emotions /
she, the daughter of an emlr and the
ahianeed bride of one of the proudest
mobiles of France, + be Kissed at by
mon, and end her life in unheald of tor.
ments ut the stake! Oh! if her lover.
she thought, only knew her peril But
alas! he was away. Well might she
raise her streaming eyes to heaven as to
her only hope, and we'll might she turn
away from the ministers of religion who
sanctioned her sacrifice and trust only
IN that cross which was her lovers Gift,
and the emblem of the sufferings of one
whom that lover had taught her was
the only true God.
"Oa" she murmured 10 herself. AT
Henri only knew my peril he would vet
rescue me. But there is no hope and
must not forget that I am the daughter
OF warrior. Henri shall hear that
died as became his aflianced bride"
and her figure seemed to dilate and her
Walk to grow more majestic as she
thought.
Atiength they reached the fatal stake
But II lila shuddered at its sight the
feeling was checked before it could be
seen by the populace. Calm and col
lected, though pale as the driven snow,
she stood proudly up while the fatal
chain was affixed around her
slender waist, and with eyes appraised to
heaven, appeared to be only an in different
| spectator, instead Of the chief person in
the fatal tragedy. Not q ropining word
broke from her lips. The first agony OF
death had passed away and she steeled
her heart to her fate.
At length all was prepared. Over
the vast assembly gazing on her, hung
the silence Of the dead. Mems breath
came quick, and their hearts fluttered
when they felt that in another minute
the awful tragedy would be begun.
Every eye was bent intently on the fatal
stake as the eXecutioner approached
with the fiery brand. For the last time
Zilah opened her eyes to take q final
look on that earth to which she was
soon to bid farewell forever. But what
sent that sudden flush TO her cheek
Why that cry of thrilling JOY, the first
audible sound which had left her lips
since her sentence? She sees troop
of fiery horsemen, covered with dust
and foam, laundering over the brow Of
the hill in front of her, and in the very van
of the array she recognizes the pennon Of
the Count of Garonne waving in the
MONDAY sun.
Onward came the rescuers. Horse
on horse, knight after knight, re
tainer following retainer, they swept
like whirlwind down the hill
shouting their war-cry, "Garonnt
"A ST. Denis and Garonnel" the
panic struck crowd opening to the right
and to the left before them. In vaiI
the soldiery who guarded the victim at.
tempted to resist the rush of the assail.
ants. They might as we'll have with
stood the ocean surges in their might
The shock of the horsemen was irrisis
tible. Foremost among them, cleay'
ing his way like giant, rode the count
himself, his tall figure and powerful
charger rendering him conspicuous
over all. Nothing could resist him
He seemed like an avenging spirit come
| to the aid OF the suffering victim, mol
were those wanting who saw in the sud
den appearance of the reseuers, and
their indomitable courage, proofs o
supernatural agency. A universal pan
ic seized on the crowd. Soldiers a
, well as populace broke and fed. In {
fow minutes the count had gained til,
stake, when, springing from his steet
he rushes forward, and with one blow
of his huge sword, had severed thu
, chain which bound the victim to tn
stake.
"Ohl Henri" Historically said tn
rescued girl, as she sprang forward AM
fell fainting into her lovers arms.
"Zilahl God be praised that you ar
safel Curses on the villains. Sh
faints. Ho, there, water, you knaves
or cleave you to the chin"
But the maiden had only tainted fror
excessive Joy, and when restorative
} were applied, she speedily recovered.
: Our story is done. The terror of tn
populace, the humble apologies OF th
magistracy, the merited punishment
| the periured publican; and the speed
union OF the count and the converte
/ princess-are they not all written |
the chronicles of the noble house
| Garonne ?-Graham' Magazine.