The record-union., 1894-07-07


fage of youth nor beauty. In exchange
she asks little of your affection and the
promise to remain with her for life.'
The prisoner remained impossible.
Madame" said he quietly, II know the
lady OF whom you speak. You can tell
her that / cannot consent 20 abandon those
who are condemned like myself, the mon
who have been my companions in battle
and who are soon to be my companions
in execution. But since this lady is so
high placed that her voice can reach the
Emperor, 1 will ask her one favor. and
that IS TO go and see him and tell him
from me that the war carried on by Hun
gary against two presumptuous powers
In Europe is a struggle which is destined
nnally TO overthrow tyranny and TO
! achieve the independence of people,"
The Princess was not discouraged. She
spoke TO him with eloquenee and inn
plored him with passion. but she could
not change the resolution OF the captive.
AT last Batthyany told her the secret
cause of his resistance. sit is useless,
madam" said he, ito 60 on any further.
| prefer to tell you the plain truth. l
| love young woman of my race and my
country. She alone has my heart. She
| is not an Archduchess, but if she was,
rest assured that she would not attempt
to make bargain like the one which you
now endeavor TO make with me-"
| That was too much for the Princess.
| Her face reassumed its naughty and hard
expression. She drew herself up, and
with threatening glance left the prison
without word.
On the same evening she returned to
| Vienna and Immediately sent for the
Countess Elsa. She was meditating upon
the best method OF woundIng the heart of
the mother, TO avenge herself for the dis
dain Of the son. when a dispatch from
Pesth arrived at the palace bringing the
news that Louis Battyany had attempted
suicide by opening the veins OF his wrists,
but had not succeeded. A bitter smile
fitted over the couDtenance of the Prin-
cess. She was in possession of material
for her vengeance. Madam" said she
to the mother of Louis, showing her the
dispatch, your son is a mere comedian.
He insuited me yesterday. With great
pompous phrases he declared that he
would not abandon his companions i'll
prison. But apparently that was only a
passing piece OF bravery, for since then
he has changed his mind" And she
handed her u paper and pointed to the
door. This is permit TO see him." she
said, land l can tell you that it will be
your last visit. All, Dut / forgot! You
can announce TO him that we will be in
dulgent. They condemned him to be
hanged, I believe. Well, he shall be
shot"
The Countess of Batthyany took the
permit, and without a WORD left the
palace.
For whole hour she wandered about
like wounded faWn. She saw nothing
and only remembered one thing, and
that was that Louis had tried to kill him
self; that he had revolted at the idea of
mounting scaffold, and then his mother
whose heart had experienced the most
frlghttul tortures, was possessed OF one
fixed idea, an idea terrible in its grand
eur. She determined that her son should
do his duty 10 the end; that he should adj
vance to the place of execution with the
same serenity with which one goes to
banquet; that he should meet death with
a denant air, and that executioners could
not say, like the Princess, that he was
afraid. Since he was hopelessly lost for
her, since nothing in the world now
could save him from falling by the bull
lets of the soldiers, he should, at all
events, fall like a hero and show the
world the way that Batthany dies.
The next day, the last day of the con-
demned man, she again visited her son.
She advanced toward him with a smile
on her lips and joyful voice. Louis,
my son." said she, as she pressed him to
her breast, Il have good news for you. l
soIemnly promised the Emperor not to
son. The Emperor at last took pity on
Inc. He comprebended my tortures and
he has granted your pardon, but on one
condition. 10 punish you he intends
that up to the last moment you shall eX-
perience all the pains of a condemned
man who is about TO give up his life; and
it will only be when the guns are leveled
against you, and when the officer is ready
TO order the soldiers TO tire that the order
II oh, 7
as you see, you must act as if you knew
You must be grand and proud.
Let nothing but contempt for your exc
cutionerS and JOY over the performance Of
a noble duty be seen in your face. You
must be splendid; yes. you must be splen-
did"
\ slight color tinged the cheeks of the
captive. REST assured, mother" said
he, sit was not death that / feared, but it
was that infamous and degrading public
execution in the presence of those
wretches, that would have spied and
watched the slightest palIor OF my cheeks,
the slightest tremor OF my body. But
now depend upon it. | shall be courage
Gus and strong; l shall show them how a
Batthyauy dies"
Presently he reflected and added, "But,
mother, suppose the Emperor should
change his decision?" The Countess be-
came pale. She did not foresee such d
suggestion. She hesitated moment. and
then said, 81 shall be near the place of
execution. You know the house of Prin-
cess Ignatieff which faces the prison. [
will be on the balcony. You can look
up and see NE. l will wear long veil.
Ii it is black, remember that you are
Hungarian anu a Chri tian; and 1t it is
white, it will be proof, my son, that the
Emperor has not changed his decision
that you are pardoned and that you will
live.' Here the term of her visit
elapsed. The jailer came to escort her TO
the door. She kissed her son and mur-
INJURED, Till Tomorrow"
The next day. the 10th of October, at
O'Clock n the morning, was the time
fixed for the execution. The prisoners
were aroused and brought into the court
yard Two by two they were bound and
brought to the place of execution. There
was double spectacle on that day.
shooting and hanging; but those who had
obtained the favor OF falling under the
guns Of the soldiers were obliged at first
to see their comrades die on the gallows.
Batthyany was among those VINO were
kept for the last. Pale and feeble through
the loss of blood, dressed in black, wear
ing a blue cap with silver binding, he
stood with his back against the wall wait
ing for the door to open. AT last the door
was opened. Knowing that he could
learn his destiny from that balcony i'll
front OF him, he slowly raised his eyes.
The veil was white.
Then, believing himself saved, he ad
vanced with a defiant air and flashing
ewes. The crowd al little distance.
which before had remained silent and
still could not restrain Il shout OF adml-
ration on seeing the illustrious wounded
man standing SO boldly and so erect.
The execution commenced. Nagy-
Sandor was the first 10 mount the scat
fold The brave republican passed the
rope around his own neck, anu sternly
looking into the face OF the hangman he
shouted in voice of thunder: III odie
mihi. cras tipi' to-day it is my turn, to-