Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-10-12


 ifest itself through the close bars of his cell. It was the light, the herald of a new day, the last for the condemned men. And now Radovitch began to ex- plain, in husky tones, that his convic- tion was all a blunder. The two men looked intelligently at each other and pityingly upon the wretched prisoner, but said not a word.
 In Q few minutes all the ten were as- sembled in the courtyard of the prison, nine of them calm and collected. for the bitterness of death was already past, one a prey to mortal fear and sickening terror and evidencing it all too plainly in his trembling limbs and hvid coun- tenance. In the hurried goodbys they exchanged with each other Radovitch came in for more than his share of at- tention.
 Come, Dimtri," said one, i've all owe nature a death. As we'll pay it now as later.''
 "Cheer up, comrade." |" whispered an- other. Ut makes these hirelings rejoice to see you afraid
 Its all a mistake" mumbled the wrerched man. "Where is General Gar ashinin?'
 'He is never present at executions, replied the soldier he addressed. ''He issued his final orders last night"
 And then a melancholy procession be- gan to move toward the glacis of the fortress prison. A priest led the way, holding aloft a large cross before the eyes of the doomed men, who followed in single file, their ordinary dress GOV |. ,zE at once a covering for the living and q shroud for the dead. The morning sun had not yet risen as the procession wend- ed its way slowly to the place of execu- tion, their life's span narrowed to q few minutes and narrowing with fear ful rapidity at every step they took.
 At last they reached the place ap- pointed. Five stakes had been driven into the ground near the summit of the long, even slope of the rampant To these they were bound in couples, fac ing the east, now kindling with the warm flush of the rising sun, whose coming was to be the signal for their death. Ranged in front of them, at a distance of , yards, was a company of soldiers with loaded rifles, whose cap- tain, standing little way apart, held in his hand white handkerchief, at whose fall 60 tongues of fire would leap forth and GO bullets seek the hearts of the unhappy men.
 There was still time for the last scene but one in the tragedy before the sun should rise. The cross was held before the lips of each man for final kiss in turn. Then dagger was broken over their heads by soldier detailed from the thousands drawn up to witness the vengeance of the czar. At that moment the sun seemed to bound into space, and every heart almost stopped.
 But the officer has not let the signal handkerchief fall Instead the retreat is sounded on score of bugles, and the troops march off the ground. The kneel- ing men were informed that the emper- or had been graciously pleased to grant them their lives. They were unbound, and, as if in a dream, tried to realize all that had happened and to congratu- late one another ere the last couple had been reached. One of these had fallen forward on his face as far as his bonds permitted. It was Radovitch.
 He has fainted," said soldier Bring me some water, sharp"
 "NO need to trouble" said the doc tor, who had rapidly examined him. He is dead. The fright has killed him
 It was too true. The chief of the se- Cret police had carried out his promise only too literally. The spy had no longer any reason to fear his betrayed com rades' revenge. e.-London Tit Bits.