Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-09-30

10
were conducted to their cells for the
last time.
Some Of the prisoners slept soundly,
as though entirely unconcerned In the
grim tragedy 20 be enacted on she NOR
row. Not so Radovitch. From side 20
side of the marrow cell, like some Gagged
wild animal, be paced, listening the
while intsntly for the footStep OF the
messenger shat was TO recall him 90
freedom and 20 the Joys Of life. The
long night passed, all too quickly for
him. FOR whom the messenger so unac-
countably delayed. Hs had seen Cen
eral Garashinin 90 court from daY TO
day, and once q glance Of intelligence,
he persuaded himself, had passed be-
tween them. Vanity the two Warders,
whose dnty it was 20 watch him, sought
20 Induce him 90 take rest.
"He may come 90 any moment" he
kept saying 90 himself, "and had bet
Ter keep awake Ia case Of any misun-
rsianding."
as last faint EFayness began 20 man
iless itself through the close bars OF his
cell. It was she light, the herald Of a
new day. the last for the condemned
men. Aud now Rad0vitch began TO eX-
plain. in husky tones, that his convic-
tlon was an a blunder. The two men
looked inteligentlY 40 each other, and
pitvingly upon the Wr0tched prisoner,
but said not word.
In few minutes oil the ten were as
sembled in the courtyard Of the prison,
nine of them calm and collected, for the
!. bitterness o., death was already past;
- a pr(y 20 mortal fear and sicken-
zfor, and evidencing il all TOO
in his trembling limbs and li7id
ptananCo. Tn the hurried goodbys
bev exchanged with each other RADIO
witch came in for more than his share
OF attention.
"Coms. Dimtri," said one, "we all
owe Nature a death; as well pay 10 now
as later"
"Cheer up, comrade." whispered an
other: ''lt makes these hirelings rejoice
70 see you afraid.
"Irs an a mistsks." mumbIed the
wretched man. "Whsrs is General
Garashinin?'
"He IS never present at executions,
replied the soldier he addressed. he
issued bis final orders las night.
And then a melancholy procession
began 60 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
fn single file, their ordinary dress COW
cred with a long robe of white linen
al once covering for the living and q
sbropd for the dead. The morning sun
had not vet risen as the procession
wended IT'S way slowly 90 the place OF
execution-thsir LIES span narrowed TO
few minutes, and narrowing with
every step they took.
Az lest they reached the place ap-
uoirted. Five stakes had been driven
into the ground near the summito OF the
Iong. even slope Of the rampant. To
these they were bound in couples, facing
the east. now klndhnE with the warm
flush of the rising san, whose coming
was 90 be- the signal for their death.
Ranged 10 front OF them, 40 a distance
az fifteen wards, was a company Of sol
diers with loaded rifles, whose captain,
standfrg little way apart, held In bis
hand q white handkerchief, az whose
fan sixty tongues Of fire would leap
forth and sixty bullets seek the hearts Of
the unhappy men.
There was still time for the last scene
but one in the tragedy beiorsAthe sun
49, rlsSu - cross - o. re
fliF6. ..5li = o1Ecet was dS5r5a over
their heads by soldier detailed from
the thousands drawn up 20 witness the
vengeance Of the Gar. AT that mo-
ment the sun seemed TO bound into
space. aud every heart almost stopped.
But the officer has not let The signal
handkerchief fall Instead, the retreat
is sounded on a score Of Dugles and the
troops march of the ground. The
knesliug men we're Informed that thu
Emperor had been RrsciOuslY pleased
20 grant them their lives. They we're
unbound, aud, as IL 10 a dream, they
tried 20 realize al that had happened
and 10 cedgratulat0 one another ere yet
the last had been reached. One Of
these had fallen forward on his face as
far sc his bonds permitted. JIG was
RadovItcb.
"Hs has tainted, said q soldier;
''bring me some water, sharp"
mo need 90 trouble, 80 sal the doctor,
whOhad rapidly eXamiIed him, he Is
dead. The fright has filled him.'
Ito was too true The chief Of the Sc
cret police had cardcd out his promise
only too literally The spy had no
longer any reassn to fear his betrayed
mradss' reyhge.-Tjt-B.tS.