Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-07-20
AUIAoR or the MN IN elAcN.'..
n GENTLEMAN OF FRANCE; EnE~.


1T is the Duke of Clevcs arriving, L ex
pect, he whispered. He comes in by tn,
| other gate
moment later VIC moved on ard passed
out into the light, tho soldiers before IN,
| stopping on either side to give me place
The sunshine for an instant dazzlcd me
and lowered my Dyes. AS l gradually
raised them again saw before me q shorl
lane formed by two rows OF spectator.
Kept back by guards, and at the end oil
TINS two or three rough wooden steps lead
ing to platform on which were standing
number Of people, and above and beyond
all only the bright blue sky, the roofs and
| gables of the nearer houses showing dark
| against it.
| advanced steadily along the path left
for me and would have assembled the steps,
but ut the foot of them camc to a stand
still and looked round for guidance The
persons on theBcatTold all had their backs
turned to Inc and did not make way,
while the shouting and uproar hindered
them from hearing that we had come out
Then 1t struck me, seeing that the people
| at the windows were also gazing away
and taking no heed of me- that the duke
Was passing the farther end Of the street,
and sharp pang of angry pain shot
through Inc. l had como out to die, but
that which was oil to mo was SO little to
these people that they turned away TO SEQ
fellow mortal ride by!
Presently, as we stood there, in a pit, MS
1t were, getting no view, felt Master
Ltndstrom's hand, which still claspcd
mine, begin to shake, ana turning to him
J. found that his face had changed to a
uecp red, and that his eyes were protrud-
ing with Kind of convulsive eagcrness
which instantly infected me.
what is itA' i stamnered began to
trcmblc also. The air rang, it seemed to
me, with one word, which a thousand
tongues took up ard reiterated. But it
was German word, and did not under:
stand it,
Walt, wait!" Master Lindstrom ex-
claimed. Pray God it bc trucr'
He seized my other hand and held 1t as
though ho would protect no from some
thing. At tho same moment Van Tree
pushed pnst me, and bounding up the
steps thrust his way through tho officials
on the scaffold, causing more than one
FUR robcd citizen near the edge to lose his
balance and come down as best he could
on the shoulders of the guards
What is It?'' cried. What is it?'' 1
cried in impatient wonder.
oh, my lad, my ladl' Master Lind
strom answered, his face close to mine and
the tears running down his checks. 1t
Is cruel If it DO not true! Cruel! They
cry u pardonr'
"A pGrdon:' echoed
Aye, lad, pardon. But it may not he
true" he said, putting his arm about my
shoulder do not make too sure of it,
1t is only The mob cry it out
My heart made IL great bound and
seemed to stand still. There was a loud
surging in my brain, and mist rosc be-
fore my eyes and HID everything. The
clamor and shouting Of the street passed
away and sounded vague and distant.
The ncxt instant, it is true, was myself
again, but my knees were trembling un-
der me, and stood Gaccid and unnerycd.
leaning Oh my friend.
''Wcllf" said family.
Patience! Patience awhile. Iadru ba
answered.
But, thank heaven, l had not long to
walt. Tho words were scarcely off his
tongue when another hand sought mine
and shook it wildly, and saw Van Tree
before mo, his face radiant with Joy, while
n man whom he had knocked down in his
hasty leap from the scafTold was rising
beside me with good natured smile. AS
II mt u signal, every face now turned to-
ward me. dozen friendly hands passed
mo up the steps amid Is fresh outburst of
cheering. Tho throng on the scaffold
opened somehow, and found myself in a
second, rs 1t seemed, face to face with the
PRESIDENT OF the court. He smiled on me
gravcly and kindly-what smiles there
seemed to be on all those faccs.-and held
out n paper.
In the name CT the dukeI' lie said,
speaking In Spanish in a clear loud voice.
"A pardon!'
1 muttcrcd something, know not what.
hor uiu IL matter, Tor IL was lost in u burst
of cheering. When this was over and ST
!encc obtained, the magistrate continued:
: or are required, however to attend the
duke at the courthouse, whittier we had
better proceed at once
Il am ready, sir, l muttered.
y road was made for us to descend. and
walking in kind OF beautiful dream l
passed slowly up the street by the side of
tho magistrate, the crowd everywhere will
ingly standing aside for US do not |
Know whether all those thousands of faces
really looked Juyfully and kindly ON me |
as passed or whether the deep thankful |
ness winch chokod me and brought the |
tears continually To my eyes TRANSFORMED |
them ana gave them a generous charm |
not their own. But this do know-;I,nt |
tho sunshine seemed brighter and the air |
softer than ever before; that the clouds |
trailing across the blue expause were |
things OF beauty such as had never met |
before; that TO draw breath was n low and |
10 move delight, and that only when the |
dark valley was left behind did compre- |
bend its full gloom-by heavens mercy.
20 may 1t be with all,
AT the door of the courthouse whittier |
numbers Of the people had already run. |
the press was SD great that we came to n |
and were much buffeto,l nbout.
though in all good humor before. even |
With the aid Of the soldiers. we could be
got through the throng. When I at last |
found myself again before tho |
able and saw-but only dimly, for the |
light now fell through the stained window
directly on my head-a commanding figure |
behind ii. Then strange thing
Awoman passed swiftly round
he table and came to me and flung her
irms round my neck and kissed me. 1t
Vas the duchess, and for u moment She
lunv up,n mo xypenipy hefcy., ,io,,,