The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-01-12


| enraged duke.
Charles demanded that tho governor
should be instantly delivered ND to him.
but the people would rather die them
selves than betray their beloved chief
into tho hands of the bloody conqucror.
Duke Charles threatened to DESTROY
gil with fire and sword if his demands
were not Instantly complied with, while
Mt the Same time he promised Il large
reward to whomsoever would point out
the governor hiding place.
His threats and promises were equal
~ 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 So
cret if the duke would swear on his
word to pardon all the inhabitants and
protect their property.
Never! roarcd the Infatuated duke.
In town taken by assault the victor
allows no terms to be dictated to him.
and | will take such measures to dis
cover your governor as shall strike ter
Tor into your hearts, Whereupon he
declared that every tenth person should
dio and ordered his heralds to proceed
to the work of numbering the people,
Then the men and women, boys and
girls, old and young, were placed in
one long rank, which reached from the
spot where Charles was holding his
court to the uttermost ratification of
the city.
All grew pale, and deadly fear was
in every countenance as they listened
to the terrible sentence. AS father.
ID
side, each trembled for the others life.
The air resounded with tho weeping
and wailing of women who had a short
time before defied the enemy; the men
stood silent with bent heads.
The duke now signed to his heralds
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
sharpcned by love and fear, every move
ment of the heralds. and always count
ell III advance III order to discover if
her dear futher would be one of the
doomed. With horror she recognized
that the fatal number would fall on
him.
In a moment her resolution was form
cd and carried out She slipped gently
behind him. and placing herself on his
right side so contrived that he would
be No. 8. while she herself would
be the tenth The herald drew near,
and it was only when the doom fell
upon his daughter that the father I'M
dcrstood why she had changed her place
Wildly he besought 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 it had only
happened by chance and while tax
ing care not to reveal the secret of her
fathers identity she earnestly begged
to he allowed to die, as the let had fall
en- on her. For Il long time father and
daughter maintained the loving dispute,
and at last the herald, not daring to de-
eide, led them both to the duke.
The father insisted on dying for his
daughter; that the doom rightfully was
his; while the daughter implorcd them
to take her life and spare her gray
haired father.
Charles hesitated long as to how he
OF whom he had before him. for no
word had fallen during their noble strife
which could bctray their rank.
But at length the governor cried
aloud:
Mighty duke. do not hesitate as to
which of MS You shall condemn To death.
will give up 10 you the man who has
so reused your vengeance, for whom SO
many brave citizens must die See, tho
governor stands before you; kill him.
but spare my daughter, tins peerless cx-
ample of filial love-
The bystandcrs as they listened to
these words were filled with dread ex-
pcctation of what would follow. All
wcr" moved to tears and trcmblcd for
the life of their beloved governor. who.
with such noble heroism. was willing
to die that they might be pardoned.
They surrounded himself and daughter
III close ranks. us 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 touching scene.
The whole people raised Il cry of suppl
cation and inplurcd their conqucror to
put them to death and spare him whom
they held So dear.
Gradually the stern features of the
duke relaxed, a softcncd expression stole
over them. and mt last rising from his
seat, amid universal silence he adj
dressed father and daughter III the fol-
lowing words:
:" You have touched the inncrmost