Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1894-09-20

she might see. one by one, the head
of her ''accomplices" fall. Blu,
God, in His wise mercy, turns otter
evil purposes to good account. Al
immense crowd had assembled. but
at intervals there reigned q mourn
full silence, and the voice of th,
Officials calling the condemned, on,
b ona, conId be distinctly heard
Then took placs oAe IL the nobIes'
and most touching scenes Of which
history has ever given an account
The princess was standing there
calmly awaiting the call; her head
uncovered, her arms fastened with
chains; she looked beautiful in he,
white dress, gazing quietly, but with
a scornful eye, at the scaffold, or
with sweet, endearing smile, try
ing to meet the eyes of her compan.
ions in agony, or looking now and
then up to heaven with her fine blue
eyes which the poor she had loved
had so often admired.
The officials now call. Madame
de Crussol is the first summoned to
mount the fatal steps. Advancing
towards the princess, she respect
fully bowed and asked would she be
allowed to embrace her. Madam
Elisabeth replied with great sim
plicity: 'Oh, yes, with pleasure,
and with all my hearth The march
ioness embraced her, bowed again,
and ascended, calm and steady, the
steps of the scaffold. This was the
opening Of a heroic march past !;
for all the women-the noble lady
and the poor servant girl-.-all, as
they were called up in turn, walked
towards Madam Elisabeth, bowed
embraced her, and passed on to the
scaffold, but not without first hear
ing some kind and much-needed
words of encouragement. Next
came the men-each and all of
them, the noble lord and the poor
tradesman. as they came up, on
passing before Madam Elisabeth
they stopped, bowed respectfully,
whilst she returned the salutation
with loving smile on her graceful
countenance and kind words of
hope in Gods eternal promises for
those who keep the faith and trust
in Him. Meanwhile, Madam Elisa
beth recited aloud the De Pro funds,
to which responded the choir of her
Complies The chant, however,
with each fall of the knife, grew
weaker and feebler, as the voices be-
came fewer. At last there was but
one voice left. The twcnty-fourth
victim had just bowed to the noble
lady. Elisabeth was then heard to
say in loud and firm voice, 'Cour-
age and confidence in Gods mercy!'
The next call. she knows, is for her,
and OIL being called she ascended
the steps alone and unsupported,
and then gazed around with firm
and a placid countenance upon the
thousands Of terrified spectators,
with recollected look, as though
she was approaching indeed the
holy table of the royal chapel al
Versailles. AS one accustomed To
be waited upon by her maids oi
honour, she allowed herself to be
fastened to the fatal plank, betray.
ing neither fear nor reproach. II
was a ileartrending spectacle, and
many people were seen shedding
tears OF waving handkerchief as q
sign of farewell. The shawl which
covered her neck and shoulders
having fallen to the ground exposed
to the eyes of all q medal of the
Blessed Virgin which this holy
Child of Mary wore always around
her neck. The assistant execution.
er wanted to remove this sign oi
devotion. But as he put forth hil
hand to grasp the ribbon, .iedam
Elisabeth said in a dignifie, and
commanding tone of voice: in the
name of your mother, sir, leave thil
and cover me?'
These were her last words. His
tory will for ever preserve them al
the faithful recapitulation of hel
life, the sublime reflection of that
angelic virtue which had always
found protection in the medal o.
Mary Immaculate.
The days work was now over
Eyewitnesses of this regicidal trag
edy inform us that when the Roya
: victim was inundated strong per
fume OF roses, as sometimes hap
1 mems at thq death of a saint ma