Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1895-12-06
THE END OF CAPTAIN FERGUSON,
"There are many people?N

TOWARDS Illt ttlilIt lltN oAhliu NlpoNA ~
close that man might walk from the
council. house to the fountain upon the
heads. They gather closest of all about
the scaifOld.'
"Aud why not? Nine men to die! It's
a brave sight" Ferguson leaned back
comfortably in his chair and put his feet
on neghboring stool; to see him you
scarcely would have suspected that he was
one of the nine mo common malefactors,
either, bu. some of the best swords in Boz
hemia, ay, or in Europe, too; officers of
the great generalissimo Waldstein himself,
curse him. Ferguson relapsed into his
native tongue and rolled off several hon
est Scotch oaths.
Dietrichstein faced about with his back
against the window: ave have been gal
liant followers of the duke, -eh, Ferguson?
We did not run away from the field of bat
tie: we were not condemned to death for
cowardice'
"Cowardice His grace the duke gal
loped from Lutzen as if the devil himself
were on his crupper He was here in
Prague good three hours before me-
The better for you, then" said Diet
rchstein mserably 81 could bear this
myself if | were guiltess. But IL was
coward: | have disgraced myself and the
blood from which spring; have betrayed
the cause of my Church and my Emper-
or"
An expression of amusement at this
novel manner of viewing the situation
passed over Ferguson hard face his lips
twitChed into a smile under his reddish
brown mustache. Dietrichstein's face
flushed. "You do not understand me, -
he said GLOW can you? A soldier of
fortune, mere hired sword
The stool went crashing to the floor as
Ferguson started to his feet. Now, by
the Lord that is too much, Albert Diet
trlchstein. Though there is not an hour s
life left me, | will have satisfaction for
those words.
The halberdier posted at the other end
of the long room came hurrying to the
spot behind him the priest, saying some
| thing about leaving the world at peace
with God and man. Ferguson sat down
| again sullenly; ii vexed him to hear the
man in the black robe talk of eternity.
| Evidently it affected Dietrichstein differ
emily, for he spoke out frankly: 81 am sor-
ry Ferguson; hardly knew what l said.
| What does it matter now, anyway
"A mans honor matters to him as long
as there is a breath of life in his body,
| muttered Ferguson.
Dietrichstein did not hear him: he was
standing side to the window once more
with his face pressed close against the lit
tie panes. They are bringing Nor
Kroneberg to the block he said, duly.
"The turn will soon come to us then,
said Ferguson, gazing curiously at his com
panion; something about the short, almost
boyish figure reminded him OF his frienC
Rupert Won Lobkowitz. A friend, in
deed Won Lobkowitz had not been neal
him for three days. Oh il was cautious
of the fellow: he might compromise him
self by showing interest in condemned
man. Yet Ferguson could not but thinl
he would not have treated Rupert so. Al
odd, choking sound startled him; Diet
richstein reeled in his place, clutchng a
the sill for support; his face was grayisl
white. as it over?' Ferguson asked.
Dietrichstein nodded, swallowed, ant
said, family at took five blows, five;
counted them
"The more fool you!' said Ferguson
roughly, because he felt just bit sick him
self. Dietrichstein stood there moment
moistening his dry lips with his tongue
then he staggered across the room anC
flung himself full length at the feet of tn,
priest, burying his face in his arms
MARY Mother, take pity on me- h,
groaned. The priest knet beside him
Ferguson jerked his chair around noisily
he wished TO see and hear nothing more OF
DietriChstein; he despised such snvellinl
knaves.
The wintry sunshine, streaming through
the window, threw a cheCkered patch o
light upon the dingy floor. Ferguson
vaiply cpuubt n ppupt tho litt1a aot,,rag
his thoughts would stray. So Fritz Vor
Kroneberg was dead, jolly bottle compan
ion though he was. Death and he seemed
incongruOus associates. Dead and don,
for now; and it took five blows. Ferguson
drew his hand slowly across the back o
his neck: that was where the axe woul,
strike; it would all be over soon: yet-fiy,
blows. He had planned quite differen
end, good, soldierly death on the BATH
field, or, better still, TO live and 90 back I,
his native town some day with his pocket
full of money. He doubted if his fathe
the dominic would be over-glad to see him
with his mother it was different. Iii
thoughts turned TO the good Cavinst Greco
in which she had instructed him. Scrap
and ends of that belief of his youth cam
drifting across his brain, lakes and pools o
fire and birthstone, wailing and gnashini
of teeth The black abyss of eternit
down which he was to plunge was al
alight he seemed to see the long, re
flames coiling in its depths. He though
of the witch they had burned at Dusselhaus
and how she had writhed and cried out il
the midst of the fire: must he suffer lik
that through a whole eternity? He fel
indignant against the saints; truly. the
ought to save him; he was fighting thei
battles. Perhaps they were angry becaus
of the silver candlesticks from the churc
at ROsendorf,- "a small thing to let a ma
be damned for. They had brought hiI
but a paltry hundred gulden, which II
had lent to Rupert Won LObkoWitz, an
now Rupert had deserted him. He bega
counting the squares on the floor again
! but the pain and fear of death and the Bit
terness at his friends desertion would nc
be driven from his mind. He felt it almos
relief when he looked up and saw tn
officer of the guard standing beside him.
Ferguson rose quickly, cast one las
, glance about him at the great, dim room
the patch of sunlight on the floor, an
, Dietrichstein's dark, motionless figure
then he followed the officer. "It will b
, over soon," he repeated TO himself, an
, peTsistently drove all other thought froI
his mind. In the next room was a doc
through which came the sunshine and til
subdued buzz of the many-voiced Grove
Ferguson hesitated a moment; then b
threw back his head and stepped firml
out upon the scaffold. The peaked ROOT
of the tall houses of the Crosse Ring wei
outlined sharply against the blue sky; til
Al Il. 81 A.