The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1885-07-23

different roads, sought the port wllere
they supposed the count to be, the gal
liant array set forward at rapid pace,
and in few moments nothing but q
cloud of dust in the valley and on the
hillside was left to tell of their late pres
ence.
It was already high noon in Bour-
donnis. A little out of town, in gentle
valley, was the place chosen for the
intliction of the horrid sentence. For
more than an hour-indeed ever since
the condemnation of the accused-the
populace had been pouring thitl,er in
crowds. until now vast multitude.
comprising nearly the whole popula-
tl0n of the town, surrounded the place
of execution, and covered the encircling
hills, like spectators in an amphithea.
ter.
At Length the procession came in sight.
First marched 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 a cruel
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 on emit and the
affianced bride of one of the proudest
mobiles of France, to be Missed at by a
mob, and end her life in unheard 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, und 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.
"Oh!" she murmured to herself, iii
Henri only knew my peril he would yet
rescue me. But there is no hope and /
must not forget that am the daughter
Of a warrior. Henri shall hear that I
died as became his affianced bride,
and her figure seemed to dilate and her
walk to grow moro majestic as she
thought.
At length they reached the fatal stake.
But if Fila shuddered ut its sight the
feeling was checked before it could be
seen by the populace. Calm and col
lected, though pale as tho 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 I'm 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 futtered
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 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 var
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 swep
like a wllirlwind down the hill
shouting their war-cry, "Garonnt
"a st. Denis and Garonnew the
panic struck crowd opening to the righ
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 irrisis
tible. Foremost among them, cleav
ing his way like giant, rode the coun
himself, his tall figure and powerful
charger rendering him conspicuou:
over all. Nothing could resist him
He seemed like an avenging spirit com,
to the aid of the suffering victim, no.
were those wanting who saw in the sud
den appearance of the rescuers, ani
their indomitable courage, proofs O
supernatural agency. A universal pan
ic seized on the crowd. Soldiers a!
| Ao1 Tn, q
few minutes the count had gained tin
stake, when. springing from his stcet
he rushes forward, and with one blow
of his huge sword, had severed thu
chain which bound the victim to til,
stake.
ooh! Henri" historically said tn
rescued girl, as she sprang forward ant
fell fainting into her lovers arms.
"Zilah! God be praised that you ar
safe! Curses on the villains. Sh'
faints. Ho, there, water, you knayes
or I cleave you to the chin"
But the maiden had only tainted iron
excessive joy, and when restorative
were applied, she speedily recovered.
Our story is DONE The terror of tn
populace, the humble apologies of tn
magistracy, the merited punishment o
the perjured publican; and the speed
union of the count and the converte'
princess-are they not all written il
the chronicles of the noble house O
Garonne ?-Graham's Magazine.
The Folly of Leaving Great For
tunes to Children.
Ne York Letter in the Utica Herald
It is often a question with men Q
great wealth what to do with it. ]
they leave it for their children. it gen