The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-12-18

side and told her in hard, cold voice that
only one of her lovers liked her well enough
to die for her.
"Who is hep" she asked in trembling
tone.
:. The one you first named for execution"
For several moments she stood still, her
form trembling all the while. Her face was
ashy white ana she seemed to have lost her
speech. Then slowly her eyes began to fill
with tears, the color began TO return to her
face, and at last she found tongue to gasp:
Hell He. whom thought liked least Of
all, willing to die for my sake. Oh, l never
thought that ever one of my lovers loved me
SO. Now can see it all. Now l feel how
good, kind and forbearing he was always.
And l have rewarded him SO. Oh, Expert
ence, DO not take him from me. Let him be
my true lover, for now truly know that
love this man. Yes, madly. fondly. Spare
him."
at is too late. l never change my de-
cision. People whom Iquestion are always
given fair chance to decide, and after they
have once decided never allow an appeal"
Here. then, sounded gong that stood on
table close by. In answer. Bastino and
number of soldiers appeared. He instructed
the officer to take the five men In charge and
to confine them in separate cells "To-mor-
row. he added, zone of them is to die, the
following day another, and so on until four
are killed. then on the fifth day the one that
survives will be set at liberty. Take good
the date Set for their executions until their
time arrives" The condemned lovers were
led from the room for the last time, and the
woman was shown weil-furnlshed apart
ment, which she was to occupy for the fol-
lowing five days. When she was alone
she sobbed as if her heart would break. 1t
was killing her to think that her truest lover
was the first one she had turned over to the
executioner. When the following morning
dawned the eXecutioner visited the cell OF
I'm of sl..t Atn sod
sight to see him when he was told the news.
AT the hour set for his execution he was led
into the eXecution-room, the floor OF which
was actually soaked with human blood.
The planks were still damp with the life
fluid of fourteen poor fellows who had snf-
fered the penalty the day previous. He
offered no resistance and was perfectly
silent. Ii he had thoughts of the woman he
loved so truly he kept them to himself.
Shortly after the King and his retinue made
their appearance, and his Majesty took his
place on seat which was erected ON
high platform. From this position lie
always witnessed executions, except when
he himself played the part of executioner.
Before Experience" was fairly seated the
woman appeared in the doorway, and when
she saw her lover stripped TO the waist wait
ing for the eXecutioner TO begin his bloody
work she uttered a piercing shrek, and,
holding out her arms in his direction, cried,
"Ob, NY life, my love, must you die? Come
10 ne, Snall uIe WITHOUT You. WauL you
so bad. l never felt love until now, and to
think they are going to take you from me.
Oh. my heart, my heart, it will burst" and
she clasped her hand over that organ, while
her face was full of agony. "Oh, God, can
not do something to save yon-anything-
everything?" She turned to Experience"
but he stood immovable. 1t Was useless to
address him. Her true love must die. At
last the King gave the signal and the eNecu-
TONER prepared for his task. The con-
demned man turned his eyes toward the
woman who had betrayed him, and their
stoical look made her culver. He had
grown to hate her. Then the eXecutioner
place hand on his victim the lover heaved
a heavy sigh, to.tered on his legs and then
fell to the f"or-deGd. His heart was
broken. The three following days the other
three were executed, but the woman did not
show much concern for their fate. The
possession of her.
When the last day arrived the King sent
for her and when she reached his presence
he admonished her thus:
You have suffered enough, so now You
may 90. But first step this way" He led
her to the cell where her surviving lover
was confined. When they entered, the first
thing that met their gaze was the inanimate
form OF the occupant hanging from a beam
On the floor was the following nute in his
handwriting:
Having deceived four of her friends she
might deceive the fifth
She was sent back TO her native land,
where she again thrived on newly found
friendship ana love. One day Experience"
visited her country and told her story to all
her friends. Soon after newly erected
tombstone in negihboring cemetery bore
her name, but the words "she committed
suicide" was omitted from the inscription
THE END.