The Wadsworth dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1892-1899, 1894-12-05
to infncc him to take rest.

to induce him to take rest.
Tic may come at any moment, +" ne
kort saying To himself, land | had bet-
tsr keep awake III case CT any misun-
derstnncing."
Els throat was parched, and his
tongue Glove to tho roof OF his mouth,
bet I've refused every offer of water or
wine. overcome as he was with tue ter
rible anxiety of impending doom, an
anxiety rendered all the greater by the
conviction that such doom was not in
tended for him.
AT last o faint grayness began to man
ifcst itself through tho close bars of bis
cell. 1t was the Light, the herald of q
new day, the last for the condemned
men. And new RaGoyitch began to ex
plain, in husky tones. that his convic
ton was all u blunder. The two mel
looked intelligently Mt each other al,
pityingly upon the wretched prisoner
but said not a word. :
In q few minutes all The ten were as
seinbled in tho courtyard of the prison
nine Of them calm aud collected. for tn
bitterness Of death was already past
one a prey to mortal fear and sickepin,
terror and ~eyidencing 1t all too plainl.
In his trembling limbs and livid coun
tenanca. In the hurried goodbys the,
exchanged with each other Radovitcl
came in for more than his share Of ut
tention.
Come, Dimtri." said one, I'VE all
W nature q death. As well pay 1t now
as later"
Cheer up. comrade." Whispered n
other. 1T makes these hirelings rejoice
to see you afraid.
"It's all o mistake mumbled the
wrerchcd man. Where Is General Gar
ashinin?p +
He IL never psasent Mt executions, y
replied the soldier he addressed. "He
issued his final orders last night"
And then a melancholy procession bs-
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 coy
cred with a long robe Of white linen.
at cncs q covering for the living and .
shroud for the dead. The morning sun
had not yet risen as the procession wend-
cd its way slowly to the place of execu-
ton, their life's span narrowed to a
few minutes and narrowing with fear
full 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 sur. whose
coming was to be the signal for their
death. Ranged in front Of them, at o
distance Of 10 yards, was a company OF
soldiers with loaded rifles, whose cap
tain, standing Q little way apart, held
tn his hand q white handkerchief, at
whose fail 90 tongues Of fire would leap
forth and go bullets seek she 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 wis held beftse
the lips Of each man for q final kiss in
turn. Then a dagger was broken over
their heads by a soldier detailed from
the thousands drawn mp to witness the
vengeance Of the Z 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 of the ground. The kneel.
ing men were informed chat the emper-
or had been graciously pleased TO grant
them their lives. They were unbound.
and. q II In . dream. tried to realize
ell that had happened and 70 o~ongratn-
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 tainted" said u soldier.
Bring me some water, sharp"
mo need to trouble, said the doc
tor. who had rapidly examined him.
"He is dead. The fright has killed
him." -. i,
II was too trne. The chief Of the Sc
cret police had carried out his promise
only too literally. The spy had no1onger
any reason to fear his betrayed com
rades' revange.-London Tit Bits.
81