Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-09-19

who denied you common justice, even
at the last hourp"
Despite himself the man was
touched. He looked at her doubt
fully.
What are you to himP" he asked.
"His wife"
II am sorry for you, but can do
nothing. Even to speak to You now
is risk. STAY will pass you on,
perhaps the lieutenant may allow you
to see your husband ere his sentence
is executed.
A moment afterward Ninette was
within tho fortress and in charge OF
ano her soldier, to whom she gave the
same message. She must see the COM
mandant on a matter OF life and
death.
The message passed from one Off
cial to another. Each and all receiv-
ed it with tho same wonder, but to
all hearts that lovely, piteous, implor-
ing face appealed more strongly than
any words.
The fierce rough-vo chief came
at last. He stared aghast at this
strange intruder, yet ere word or
question could escape she was at his
feet pouring out her tale in breathless
eager words. Then he laughed
aloud.
'His wife you say. Well, what of
thatP The plot was none the less of
his participation. Moreover, the
chief offense for which he is to suffer
is the blow to his superior. That ad-
mits of no appeal"
You do not know how he was pro-
voked," she cried. "You do not know
what he has suffered-and all for me!
Oh, for the love of Heaven do not
make me his murderessm
"You pretty fool! Why fret for the
loss OF one man? There are hun
dreds as fine fellows as he in
this land. Leave your old lover
alone and take new one-that is the
best advice / can give you"
''Are you quite merciless?" she
moaned. "Can nothing move you?
Win you not even delay the execution
of the prisoner till the return of the
kingP oh. if you would but kill me
and let the guiltless go!"
That would be pity indeed; you
are far too pretty to be sent out OF the
world yet"
She turned on him with scorn and
disdain that fired her eyes and flushed
her cheeks, and made her tenfold
more beautiful than she had been in
her weakness and desDair
"Will nothing move you or bride
youP" she asked.
"You might bride me, if you would, :"
he said, with a glance that made her
shrink from him with u shudder Of
loathing. You are brave, indeed, to
force your way in hither. Such cap
tives as yourself would make our gar
rison life bearable."
She started back with cry so terri
BILE that it curdled the blood of all who
heard it.
Following the glance OF her eyes he
saw through the narrow barred window
the first line of light in the eastern
sky. He rose and called u soldier to
his side.
Guard this woman" he said CURLY,
Il must go.
She did not speak or move, but
crouched down on the floor and buried
her face in her hands in the anguish
of dread, in the hopelessness of misery.
The man looked at her with deep COM
passion. The sympathy of the whole
garrison was with the condemned man,
and the sight of the beautiful girl who
was bound to him by so close tie, and
for whose misjudged efforts he was to
suffer so terrible fate, moved him to
an intense and uncomfortable pity.
Take heart" he said kindly, in his
rough German accents, ait is better
that he die than that he live on
to bear the life he has led here"
She raised her head and looked at
him. So might the dying look, he
thought, with that unearthly horror in
their glazed eyes, that mute despair
upon their silent lips.
In the stiffness came the sound of
marching feet, the rattle of musketry,
the long solemn roll OF drum. That
sound awoke her from her trance.
She sprung to her feet and gazed
wildly round. The soldier had turned
TO the window to watch the procession.
She looked over his shoulder, and the
sight froze her blood to ice, and held
her limbs nerveless and powerless in
the horror and remorse that consumed
all other feelings.
She saw the man she loved as he
walkly slowly, steadily by. A priest
by his side, murmuring the service of
the church-his executioners beside
and around him. In the open
square they paused, turned, halted.
Her ewes saw every movement-her
ears caught every sound. She saw
them bind his eyes. She saw the
golden sunlight pour down its rays on
his bare head-his erect and tranquil
form. She saw the leveled muskets
awaiting the signal, while over all
that moclSery OF justice, that tragedy
of revenge, shone the rosy warmth of
the glad new day.
"Wait-oh wait!'
The cry burst from her lips! With
the next instant she was on the spot
her arms around his neck-her
head upOn his breast while through