Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1885-07-17

that he and his fellow had escaped in
the night of the tumult, and each, by
different roads, sought the port where
they supposed the count to be, the gall
liant array set forward at a rapid pace,
and in a few moments nothing but
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 Bourbon
mis-. A little out OF town, in a gentle
valley, was the place chosen for the in
Fiction 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 population
of the town, surrounded tue place of
execution and covered the encircling
hills like spectators in an amphitheatre.
At length the procession came in sight.
First marched body of so.diers 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 cruciix 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 emir and the
allianced bride of one of the proudest
mobiles of France, to be hissed at by a
J /, e. -, IL e
ments at the stakel Oh! if her lover,
she thought, only knew her peril But
alasl 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 minister of religion who
sanctioned her sacrifice and trust only
/ in that cross which was her lovers gilft,
and the emblem OF the sufferings of one
whom that lover had taught her was the
only true God.
At length they reached the fatal stake.
But if Zilah 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 upraised to heaven,
appeared to be only an Indifferent spec
tator, 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 tho
silence of the dead. Mems breath came
quick, and their hearts futtered when
they felt that in another minute the aw-
full 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 cheek9 Why
that cry of thrilling JOY, the first audi
BILE sound which had left her lips since
her sentenced ShegeTs- rr66p of-fery
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, retainer fol-
10 wing retainer, they swept like whirl-
wind down the hill, shouting their war
cry, "Garonne-a St. Denis and Ca
ronne!" the panic struck crowd opening
to the right and to the left before them.
In vain the soldiery who guarded the
victim attempted to resist the rush Of
the assailants. They might as well have
withstood the ocean surges in their
might. The shock of the horsemen was
irresistible. Foremost among them,
cleaving his way like a giant, rode the
count himself, his tall figure and power
full 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 panic
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 steed he
rushes forward, and with one blow OF
his huge sword, had severed the chain
which bound the victim to the stake.
"Ohl Henrr' Historically said the
rescued girl, as she sprang forward and
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 perjured publican; and the speedy
union of the count and the converted
princess--are they not all written in the
chronicles of the noble house OF
Garonne. = GrGham's Nagazine
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