Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-06-02


already in bed. Baumgarten went to
awake him and convey tho kings order
TO straightway open the doors of the
legislative hall. Great was the surprise
of the poor mao at such an unexpected
command. He hastily dressed himself
and joined Che king with his bunch of
keys. He first opened the door of gal
lery which served as ante-chamber, or
passage to the main hall. The king en-
tered. What was his establishment when
he saw that the walls were draped 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 a
quick pace, had already penetrated
through moro than two-thirds 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 an adventure which had announced it.
self in such a strange fashion.
Proceed no further, sirew 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 haunts this gallery. God
defend usl"
"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
jesty"
Sire" put in Baumgarten, whose light
had been blown out by current of air,
''allow me at least to go and fetch twen-
ty of your majesty's trdbdnS."
"Let US get in!' said the king firmly,
stopping before the door of the large
hall. Porter, open quickw
lie struck it with his foot, and the
sound, repeated by the echoes of the
vault, reverberated in the gallery like
the discharge of cannon.
The porter was in such a trepidation,
that his key ratified againt the lock, and
he could not manage TO insert ii.
"An old soldier trembling!" cried the
king, struggling his shoulders. "Come,
count, open thou the door for us"
"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
finching: but this would be defying the
powers of hell"
The king snatched the keys from the
hand of the porter, and said in 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 king, en-
tered with him.
The largo hall was illumined with in
Vulnerable torches. A black drapery
had replaced the antique figured tapes
try. All along the walls we're seen, ar
ranged in order as usual, the German,
Danish and Moscovite standards
phies of the soldiers of Gustavus
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 the sombre background,
90 dazzled the eye, that none of the four
witnesses of this extraordinary scene
could recognize any. In like manner an
actor, facing dense audience, only sees
a confused mass, where his wandering
gazo fails to distinguish single indi-
vidual
Upon a raised throne, from which the
king was won't to address the assembly,
they saw bleeding corpse, clad in the
insignias of royalty. On its right stood
boy with crown upon his head and
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-
illustrators of Sweden ere yet Wasa had
transformed it into 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 concourse
appeared 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 a 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 door opposite the one
Charles XI.shad just crossed. They ad-
vanced with head erect and firm look.
Behind them a 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
convulsively, and fresh crimson stream
flowed from its wound. The young man
knelt, and laid his head upon the block.
The ak CLEANED in the air and instantly
g. ,v;th &hud corv rfvt,lat huh-