The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1894-09-20


light only vaguely outlined the figures
OF fourteen men about the board, it
shone full upon our faces, and showed
each his neiGhbor's countenance in the
pallid yellow glow.
At the head of the table sat Pulaski,
his burly form making the rickety
chair in which he sat creak and groan.
His stature seemed almost gigantic be-
side that of the others. for we were
all of sunny France but he. At the
other end of the table sat |, the least
OF them in stature-petit garcon, they
called me once-but | was tough and
wiry--ah, yes, for have | not lived to
be an old, old man?
How often had we met in that dingy
apartment ere Pulaski came, and,
with bated breath yet flashing eyes,
talked of the unredressed wrongs of
the poor, and the arrogance and pride
of the rich and powerful But Pu-
laSti-wqs n Lot action. He was not
content iu.y 80 -osse Gss the peoples
sufferings, "ut proposed "a do some.
'thing-to perform some gloat work
for the emancipation of the trolden
down, and the raising of the red flag
of liberty.
Pulaski was of that land where they
are ever fighting, and dying, and be-
ing beaten and exiled, for the sake of
liberty, and he threw himself. BODY
and soul, into our cause. He organ
lied US and taught us the fierce prin-
ciplcs of his own bloody religion, and
fired our hearts with something of his
hatred OF the rich and noble. Then he
said we must do more than talk-we
must strike
And now the fatal hour had come.
We had chosen our sacrifice. He was
mated of the people and must die. He
had done much against the cause of
liberty, and We all echoed Pulaski's
fierce declaration that he must suffer
for his crimes. Besides, was he not
rich, and arrogant, and powerful in
the State?
Now We were 10 draw lots to see who
should perform the work, and TO us
this meant much. Whoever drew the
fatal lot should compass the task to
which We had agreed, and in that same
hour he should also die. We trusted
each other, but man is weak aud long
brooding on death, or perhaps the
torture, might, ii he lived TO be tried,
wiring from the most faithful the
names of his companions in the con-
spiracy. THIS was perfectly under
stood.
"We are all here" said Pulaski,
raising his massive head, and his deep
voice filling the room. ole must die.
Are we all agrecd2'
a hoarse AYE rose from the croup
about the table.
"And We are firm upon that matter
of the future course of the messenger
VINO bears death TO him?"
Another murmur of sullen acouies.
.cence followed.
Pulaski glanced slowly about the
board, his fierce gaze resting upon each
lace IN turn-longer, / thought, on
mine than on the others.
There are fourteen Of us" he sald
From the drawer ut his end of the
table he produced handful of small,
white benns, thirteen of which he
counted upon the table in our sight.
Then from another compartment in
the same drawer he brought forth one
black one, and placed it with the
white.
There are fourteen" he said again.
A hat served i'll want of n better re.
'cePtecle, aud into 1t the fourteen beans
were dropped. Pulaski shook them
together, and passed the hat to the
man at his right hand. 1t was too
dark IN the room TO see the color of
the beans IN the hat, had one wished ;
but the first man looked straight ahead
as he plunged his hand within and
brought it slowly forth again, closed
tightly over the bean he had selected.
His hand remained closed as he passed
the hat to his neighbor, and thus il
went down the table.
A strange, odd feeling of terror came
over me as watched the progress OF