Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-06-26
\ ed the Judge, Tor else confess. Will
you, q child Of Belial, maign Chris.

| Ell the Judge, or else confess. I'LL
! you, d child Of Belial, maign a Chris.
tan man q IN. II q
| The testimony Of the publican had
| worked complete change in the
huctuatlng feelings Of the mob towards
the prisoner, and the words Of
the Judge we're answered back by
q shout Of approval. The prisoner was
seen to turn deatbly pale. She did not
reply, however, to the question, but
shook her head despondingly, as if con-
! scious that all hope was over.
Lead her away" hoarsely growled
| the mob, while the dense mass of peo-
pie swayed to and fro in the excite
ment, as if they would have rushed on
the defenceless victim. 7
| Again / ask thee, woman, wilt thou
confess 2" III ..... .ss5Eass. Z
She shook her head despondingly,
| buried her face in her hands, and muir
INJURED something; perhaps it was a
| prayer. The mob burst once more into
| commotion. %
where are the servants of this wom-
an?-let them be put on the rack" said
the Judge. g.. . .,.
,"They have escaped" answered an
official
Escaped, said the Judge, cha! were
they living men or the servants OF the
foul fend? Know you ought ?" ,'
II do know" said the maiden, sud-
denly rising to her feet, and speaking
with the energy of queen, while her
! eye flashed and her bosom heaved with
excitement, "and thank God they are
free, although they have left me de-
fenseless. Yes, they are free from your
fortunes. Me, you may murder with
your accursed laws, but--mark met
shall be fearfully avenged. My
story has been truly told-so help
me Gcd"--and she raised her eyes
to heaven in abjuration, "and
if L die, die innocent. I tell ye I am
the betrothed bride of noble. I am
more; I am the daughter of prince.
And now do your worst I shall die
worthy of my race"
She sat down. Not murmur was
heard for the space of minute after
she had ceased. Her daring energy
awe-struck all. But what could even
bravery like hers effect against brutal,
bigoted populace? As soon as the
hearers could recover from their mo-
mentary CONSERVATION, they broke into
a whirlwind of shouts and impreca-
tions, and rushed on to the defenseless
girl; and had not the soldiery, who inn
mediately guarded her, interposed, she
would have fallen an instant victim to
the rage of the populace. To be torn
in pieces by mob was a death too hor-
rible. She turned imploringly to the
Judge, but there was no hope in his
iron face. She closed her eyes, but the
howling mob still swan before her
vision; and when she buried her face in
her robe, and strove to shut out their
imprecations, their fierce, wild cries
still rung in her ears. At each moment
the tumult deepened, until the excite
ment of the populace became uncon-
trollable.
"Away with her--she is sold to the
fiend-away-away!"
vengeance for the sufferers by her
incantations!" hoarsely growled a voice
from the mob.
The Judge no longer hesitated, but
yielding to the popular current as we'll
as his own prejudices, sentenced her to
be burned at high noon Of that very day.
A wild shout of exultation rose from
the frienzied mob as the sentence was
pronounced, but over all the din
swelled the fearful cry. $50 the stake
with her-away with the sorceress.
1t was q few hours earlier in the
same day when noble knight sat in a
hostelry of the little seaport town Of.
He was of siugularly imposing cast OF
countenance. His features were of the
true Norman outline, with lofty in
tellectval brow, shaded by locks of the
richest chestnut hue. His cheek was
embrowned by q Syrian sun until it
was of the darkest olive color, but the
clear white of his forehead, which had
been protected from exposure by his
helmet, betrayed the original purity of
his complexion. He had an eye whose
glance can only be ikened to that OF an
eagle His form was tall and COM
handing. He sat apparently absorbed
in thought but wsas aroused from his
reverie by the entrance Of n retainer.
''Are the hor>..s ready?"
EYES my lord, said the man.
eve will mount into the saddle al
once then ;: how far did they say it was tc
Bourdonnis p
"Six leagues
"We shall reach it before nightfall
lead on
The party which set forth from the
inn was a gallant sight to behold.
knights, squircs, men alarms and 9TH
er retaners swelled the escort of the
vouAg count to the number Of nearly
four score, while the pennons waving in
the air, and the occasional sound of a
trumpet gave liveliness to the escort
which attracted the attention Of the pass
er-by of every rank and sex, and drew
many O sigh Of envy from them. But
who might pretend to be the equal OF
| the renowned Count Garonne, crusad.
er of untarnished fame, gallant still
in the flower of his youth and the lord
of half score OF castles scattered over
the wide domain of France.
| r, At Che head Of the proud array rode
the count himself, conversing gaily with
| q knight at his side, whom he Familiarity
called cousin. .a- 49,.
Gay, by St, Dennis!" said the count,
she is divinity such as even our sunny
4 Provence doth not afford. Such eyes.
such hair, and then, by my faith such a
voice! It panied my heart topart from
my sweet Zilah-but she would have ii
so--and so she comes in company with
Father Ambrose ind score Of my best
I knights. Her maidenly modesty die
4 tated this, and I was forced to submit.
We were separated, however, by that
heathenish storm, and I suppose he1
/ galley put into Genoa. You know she
] will ha etirar away nv nnna huf The hnlr