The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1885-07-23


different roads, sought the port where
they supposed the count to be, the gal
liant array set forward at a rapid pace,
and in a few moments nothing but a
cloud of dust in the valley and on the
hillside was left to tell of their late pres
ence.
1t was already high noon in Bour-
donnis. A little out of town, in q gentle
valley, was the place chosen for the
infliction of the horrid sentence. For
more than an hour-indeed ever since
the condemnation of the accused-the
populace had been pouring thither in
crowds. until now vast multitude.
comprising nearly the whole popula-
ton of the town, surrounded the place
of execution, and covered the encircline
hills, like spectators in an amphithea
ter.
At Length the procession came in sight.
Firstmarched body of soldiers; then
followed the magistrates of the town;
directly after appeared several monks;
and then, clad in white, with her
hands tightly pressed together came
the victim. She made no answers, it
was observed, to the words of the
monks on either hand, but ever
and anon she would kiss cruci-
fix which she carried, and
raised her swimming eyes to
heaven. In that hour of bitter agony,
what must have been her emotions!
She, the daughter of an emlr and the
affianced bride of one of the proudest
mobiles of France, to be Missed Mt by
mob, and end her life in unheard of tor
ments ut the stakel 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 well 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 sutferings of one
whom that lover had taught her was
the only true God.
COIL" she murmured to herself, ''if
Henri only knew my peril he would yet
rescue me. But there is no hope and
must not forget that am the daughter
of warrior. Henri shall hear that I
died as became his atfianced BRIDE"
and her figure seemed to dilate and her
walk to grow more majestic as she
thought
At length they reached the fatal stake.
But if Fila shuddered at it's sight the
feeling was checked before it could be
seen by the populace. Calm and col
lected, though pale rs the driven snow,
she stood proudly up while the fatal
chain was affixed around her
slender waist, ami with eyes appraised to
heaven, appeared to be only an Indifferent
spectator, instead of the chief person in
the fatal tragedy. Not repining 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 fiuttered
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 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 lett her lips
since her sentence? She sees a 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 wlirlwind down the hill,
shouting their war-cry, "Garonne
"a st. Denis and Garonne!" the
panic struck crowd opening to the right
and to the left before them. In vain
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 irrisls-
tlble. Foremost among them, cleav-
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, nor
were those wanting who saw in the sud-
den appearance of the rescuers, and
their indomitable courage, proofs OF
supernatural agency. A universal pan
ic seized on the crowd. Soldiers as
well as populace broke and fled. In
few minutes the count had gained the
stake, when, springing from his stee0
he rushes forward, and with one blow
of his huge sword, had severed the
chain which bound the victim to the
stake.
ooh! Henri" Historically said the
rescued girl, as she sprang forward anc
fell fainting into her lovers arms.
"Zilah! God be praised that you are
safe! Curses on the villains. She
faints. Ho, there, water, you knaves:
or [ cleave YOU to the chin"
But the maiden had only tainted from
excessive JOY, and when restoratives
were applied, she speedily recovered.
Our story is done. The terror of the
populace, the humble apologies of the
magistracy, the merited punishment OF
the periured publican; and the speedy
union of the count and the converted
princess-are they not all written il
the chronicles of the noble house o
Garonne ?-Graham's Magazine.
The Folly of Leaving Great For.