St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1892-07-16
The chamberlain and the doctor following
him, each with lighted taper in his

bo Poilci, WIZ h'p' th0 my % W."
already in bed. Baumgarten went &c
awake him and convey the kings order
to straightway open the doors of the
legislative hall. Great was the surprise
of the poor man at such an unexpected
command. lie hastily dressed himself
and joined the king with his bunch OF
keys. He first opened the door of gal
lery which served as ante chamber, OF
passage to the main hall. The king en-
tered. What was his establishment when
he saw that the walls were drapcd in
mourning.
"Who ordered the hall to be thus dec
orated?" he asked in an angry tone.
"Sire, nobody to my knowledge" re-
sponded the bewildered porter. 1.-The
last time had the gallery swept, the oak
of the ceiling was bare, as it has always
been. Surely, these hangings do not
come from your Majesty's lumber
room"
Meantime, the king, walking with q
quick pace, had already penetrated
through more than twothirds of the gal
lery. The count and porter followed at
his heels, while Doctor Baumgarten
Jagged behind, struggling between the
fear of remaining alone. and that of fac-
ing IN adventure which had announced it
self in such strange fashion.
proceed no further sire.'' cried the
porter. "On my soul, there's sorcery
here. At this hour and since the death
OF the queen, your gracious consort-tis
said that she huunts this gallery. God
defend us!"
"Hold, sire.' exclaimed the count in
his turn. "Do you not hear the noise
coming from the legislative hall? Who
knows what dangers await Your Ma
jestyn'
Sire" put in Baumgarten whose light
had been blown out by current of air,
"allow me at least to go and fetch TWEEN
ty of your maiesty's tra6ans.' .
"Let us get in!' said the king firmly,
stopping before the door of the large
hall. Porter, open quick
He struck it with his foot, and the
sound, repeated by the echoes of the
vault, reycrberated in the gallery like
the discharge of a cannon.
AC pOAtCl w oS III SuSL u tiS PlootAoii,
that his key ratified againt the lock, and
he could not manage to insert it.
IAN old soldier trembling!" cried the
king, struggling his shoulders. Come,
count, open thou the door for u.s.
Sire" replied the Count, stepping
back, "let Your Majesty command me
to march to the mouth Of a Danish or
German cannon, and | will go without
hinching: but this would be defying the
powers of hell!''
The king snatched the keys from the
hand of the porter, and said in a tone
Of contempt:
II see that this affair concerns me
alone
And before his suit could prevent it,
he had opened the thick oaken door and
entered the great hall, muttering the
words, "With the help of God"
His three acolytes, impelled by curl
osity, more powerful than fear, and per-
haps ashamed to forsake their k ng, en-
tered with him.
The large hall was illumined with in
Vulnerable torches. A black drapery
had replaced the antique figured tapes
try. All along the walls were seen, ar
ranged in order as usual, the German,
Danish and Moscovite standards -tro-
phies of the soldiers of Gustayus
Adolphus. In the centre were prom
inently displayed Swedish banners
shrouded in funeral Grape.
An immense assembly filled the
benches. The four orders of the State
nobility, clergy, burghers and peasants
occupied seats according to their re-
spective ranks. All were dressed in
black, and this multitude of human faces,
cleaning against tine sombre background,
SO dazzIed the eye, that none of the four
witnesses of this extraordinary scene
could recognize any. In like manner an
actor, facing dense audience, only secs
confused mass, where his wandering
gaze fails to distinguish q single indi-
yidual.
Upon a raised throne, from which the
king was wont to address the assembly,
they saw bleeding corpse, clad in the
insignias of royalty. On its right stood
a boy with crown upon his head and a
sceptre in his hand; on the left, an old
man, or, rather, another phantom, leaned
against the throne. He was attired in
the mantle of state worn by the old ad-
Of Sweden ere yet Wasa had
transformed it into a kingdom. Facing
the throne several grave and austere
personages, dressed in flowing black
robes, who seemed to be Judges, were
seated before a table filled with large
folios and sundry parchments. Between
the throne and the benches of the assem-.
bly, stood block covered with Grape,
and an axe lying beside it.
Nobody, in this superhuman conconrse
to notice the presence of
Charles and his three companions. AS
they entered they heard confused hum,
from out of which no articulate word
could be distinguished. Presently the
older of the judges in black robes, who
seemed the president, arose and knocked
thrice with his fist upon volume open
before him. A deep silence followed.
Several young men of gentle appearance,
richly attired, and with their hands pin
toned behind their backs, entered the
hall through q door opposite the one
Charles XI.shad just crossed. They ad-
vanced with head erect and firm look.
Behind them stalwart young man,
wearing brown leather coat, held the
end of the cord wherewith their hands
were tied. The one who walked in front
and seemed the most important of the
prisoners, stopped in the middle of the
hall, close to the block, which he sur
veyed with naughty disdain. At the
same time the corpse seemed to shudder
and a fresh crimson stream
flowed from its wound. The young man
knelt, and laid his head upon the block.
The ak gleamed in the Dir and instantly
fell with thud. A CORY rivulet bub-
bled upon the platform, and mingled
with that Of the corpse. The head, re-