Democratic messenger., 1894-01-13

tlfn, 10 escape recognition. hau uISglllS-
ed himself in an ordinary citizen s
dress, and now stood unknown. anon.
+. the assembled inhabitants, who were
awaiting their fate at the hands Of the
enraged duke
Charles demanded that the governor
should be- Instantly delivered MP to him,
but the people would rather die them
selves than hctray their ..clnved chief
into the hands of the bloody conqueror.
Duke Charles threatened to destroy
all with fire and sword if his demands
were not instantly complied with. while
at the same time he promised Il large
reward to whomsoevcr would point ont
the governor 5 hiding place
His threats and promises were equal
ly vain. All remained silent.
Then stepped forth an old man-it
was the governor himself in his disguise
and said that he would reveal the Sc
crct if the duke would swear ON his
word to pardon all the inhabitants and
protect their property
Never" roared the infuriated duke.
lin "A town taken by assault the victor
and | will take such measures to dis
cover your governor as shall strike ter
ror into your hearts. Whcreupon he
declared that every tenth person should
die and ordered his hcralds tu proceed
to the work of numbering the people.
Then the men and women, boys and
girls. old and Young, We're placed in
one long rank. which reached from the
spot where Charles was holding his
CONT To tho uttermost fortification of
the city
All grew pale. and deadly fear was
in every countcnancc as they listened
To- the terrible sentence. As father.
mother. daughter and son stood side by
side, each tremhled for the others life.
The air rcsounded with the weeping
and wailing of women who had short
time before defied the enemy: the men
stood silent with bent heads.
The duke now signed to his heral1s
to begin the counting and to separate
every tenth person. whose head should
fall by the sword.
Telesila had placed herself close be-
side her father and was now trembling
for his life. She watched. with eve
sharpened by love and fear. every move
ment of the hcral,ls. and always count
ed in advance in order Ia discover if
her dear father would he one of the
doomed. With horror she recognized
that the fatal number would fall on
him.
In "a moment her resolution was form
ed and carried out. She slipped gently
behind him. and placing herself on his
right side so cuntrived that he would
be No. .. while she herself would
be the tenth. The herald drew near,
and il was only when the doom fell
upon his daughter that the father un-
derstood why she had changed her place.
Wildly he bcsought the herald to take
him; he was the one ON whom the fatal
number should fall: Telcsila had pur-
posely changed her place to save him.
Telesila maintained that il had only
happened by chance. and while TAX
ing care not to reveal the secret of her
fathers identity she earnestly begged
to be allowed to die. as the let had fall
en- on her. For long time father and
daughter maintained the loving dispute.
and mt last the herald. not daring To- de
eide. led them both To- the duke.
The father insisted on diving for his
daughter: that the doom rishtfully was
his: while the daughter implorcd them
to take her life and spare her gray
haired father
Charles hcsitated long as Ia how he
should decide: he WAS quite ignorant
of whom he had before him. for no
word had fallen during their noble strife
which could brtray their rank
But at length the governor cried
aloud:
Mighty duke. do not hesitate as TO
which of us you shall condemn tn death.
| will give up to yuu the man who has
so reused your vengeance. for whom so
many brave citizens must die. See. the
governor stands before You: kill him.
hut spare my daughter. this peerless cx-
ample of filial love-"
The bystandcrs as they listened to
these words were filled with dread cx-
pectation of what would follow. All
were moved to tears and trembled for
the life of their beloved governor. who.
with such noble heroism. was willing
to die that they might be parinned.
They surrounded himself and daughter
in close ranks. as if to form rampant
so that the murderer : sword might only
reach him through their faithful hearts.
The duke. accustomed though he was
to slaughter and destruction. had never
before witnessed such IA touching scene.
The whole people raised a cry Of suppli-
cation and implorcd their conqucrur To
put them To death and spare him whom
they held So dear.
Gradually the stern features uf tho
duke relaxed. Il softened expression stole
over them. and mt last. rising from his
seat, amid universal silence. he adj
dressed father and daughter in the fol-
lowing words:
You have touched the inncrmost
depths of my heart: you shall not die.
II it is sweet to conquer let mo feel
that it is swecter still to pardon. Noble
Telesila. you have saved your father.
May you enjoy for long years the hap
piness of watching over AMI caring for
his old age. And you. noble old man,
brave rs you are III war. may your hap
piness as father exceed your bravery
-you. who have reared so heroic
daughter. 1t does my heart good in the
midst of the awful hloodshcd and
slaughter to find such love and devotion.
You have made me experience how
sweet and pleasant are the feelings Of
benevolencc, and therefore not only
you. but all the inhabitants. are pardon
cd. :" Strand Magazine.
Novel Occupation.
\ peculiar advertisement recently ap-
rcarcd in an English paper. a woman
describing herself rs "A lady with spare
time daily offered to plav hcZiuuc with