The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-07-09

to an ignominious death, and it would
serve little purpose to have her innocence
proved after she had yielded up her life
With these impressions on my mind,
lost no time in trying to procure q delay
to her execution, or mitigation of bel
sentence, in which I was assisted by the
humane clergyman who attended her in
prison. Through the kindness of the
British Ambassador, procured an au
dience of one Of the principal men Of the
court. To this nobleman I communica.
ted all that I knew and felt respecting
Elise's case, the honesty of her family,
and her own hitherto unimpeachablc
character, and besought him to procure
for her the merciful intcrposition of the
reigning Prince.
'sStay but the execution for few
weeks" said I, sand I have no doubt
whatever but the innocence of the young
woman will, in that interval be made ap-
parent"
My urgent representations did not,
however, seem to be of much avail; the
Baron was o courteous but a somewhat
positive man; he did not like it to be
supposed that he required any one to
suggest line of policy which he should
follow. Bowing me out of the bureau, he
said he would think of what 1 had rep
resented to him, and see what could be
done. Elise's religious attendant was at
the same time busy in another quarter,
and we yielded ourselves to faint hope
that the execution would be stayed, or
the punishment altered.
Day after day fed, yet each descend
ing sun shone upon Elise at the grating
of her dungeon. Time flies on with fright
full rapidity, when the moments arc
counted by those who are condemned to
die On the scaffold. The eve of the day
of execution at length arrived, and it
harrows up my very soul when 1 re-
call to remembrance the horrible pre-
parations which were making for the
taking away of the life of one of the most
simple and amiablc creatures that ever
brcathed. That night I could not retire
to my place of residence in the town; l
wandered round the prison in sort of
while the stiffness was ever
aud anon broken by the noise which
the workmen made in erecting the scaf-
fold and preparing the apparatus of death.
Morning dawned, and as soon as I could
gain an entrance, REPAIRED to the prison
with heavy heart. Elise was pale, but
perfectly composed. After thanking me
for the interest had taken in her mis-
fortune, she said:
"I have yet another favor to. ask Of
you. Will you deliver these tokens of
my affection to my dear parents and
friendsf"
promised to fulfill her last wishes,
and she then gave me number of little
packages, lock of hair to her parents,
and favorite brooch for Joseph. Her
companions and fellow-servants were not
forgotten. There was some little gift for
every one. She also made me the bearer
Of letter to Eric, to be given to him
should his life and senses be spared.
"Pardon me, SIR" said she, with a
smile, "for tasking your kindness so
deeply; but I feared that if I addressed
my dear brother on this subject, mis- grief
would destroy the fortitudc which have
so severely to acquire"
Joseph now entered; but shall pass
over the scene that followed. 1t is many
years since I witnessed it, but the recol-
lection still brings tears to my eyes. AS
she was conducted to the scaffold, all
the spectators were in tears. Her
youthful and modest appearance, her
sweet and ingenious countenance, and
her air of resignation and piety interested
every heart; sobs and groans were heard
through every part of the assembled
women wept aloud, and many
, bearded man turned aside to dash
away the large drops that fell from his
eyes. The feelings of her brother al
most battle description. On first en-
the moving mass assembled to
witness his sisters execution, Joseph
ookcd around with an expression of
ierceness and disdain; but, on meeting
heir sympathizing glanccs' and seeing
;he tears that bcdewed their faces, his
,ountenance changed and he appeared
nearly suffocated by emotion.
The fatal moment at length arrived;
he term of her earthly sufferings was
about to close, when a sudden tumult
arose at the extremity of the crowd. I
heard a confused murmur which grad
lally increased in loudness. The sensa-
ion, as it soon appeared, was caused by
;he approach of on officer of government,
bearing an order to release the culprit, a
pardon having been granted in her
'avor, or rather, as it appeared, her in
1ocence having been made apparent.
From gloom and sadness, all became
joy and hilarious exclamation.
confess my inability to depict the scene
which followed in way it deserves to
De portrayed; so let me explain, in few
happy words, the cause of so happy
of this singular drama.
Perhaps you may smile when I inform
you that the true culprit, the only rob-
Der of Madame Miners premises, was
discovered to be no one else but the
COW which browsed in the paddock be-
hind her mansion. Its voracity in seiz-
ing upon and swallowing articles, GER
,ainly ill calculated to serve it for food
was discovered in time to save poor Ell
se's life. The animal was slaughtered,
and in cavity in its stomach was found
he spoon which had been carried off so
nysteriously; q fact which explains eve
-ything else.
Tho nams Of this rnrna RI, ahln event