The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-08-12


had heard did oftentimes arise before
the eyes of those about to die. But
what struck him as most strange was
the fact that the hangman paused in
his CHASTITY work, and the very crowd
around his feet seemed to share his
delusion, for a mighty cheer arose from
beneath him-a cheer which shook the
platform on which with staring eyes
and open mouth and swelling veins
stood the governor.
Hurrahl" shouted the crowd.
Peneopel"
Penelope Paynep'
Yes, it was she. Finding the ship
becalmed upon the lower river, she had
taken horse, and outstripping those
who had rode with her, she had
reached the fatal spot in time, but with
not one moment TO spare. Flingiug
herself from the horse, which already
swayed this way and that, ready to sink
upon its bent knees, she waved white
packet above her head, and rushing up
the rude steps of the platform, fell on
her knees before the governor, crying:
"The kings pardonl In time, Thank
Godl"
Berkeley turned terrible ashen gray;
then pointing his rigid arm to the
shadow on the dial which marked three
minutes after twelve he gasped "Nay,
by God, tits not in time. Bid the hang
man do his Office ~
Never p' shouted the crowd, sud.
denly grown a menacing crowd.
"The kings pardon must be re-
spected, Your Excellency." said Sir
John Berry, courteously but firmly.
Berkeley stamped with fury. cit
came too late, say. But for the gap
ing and gazing of the hangman the
sentence would have been already ex-
ecuted when this wench arrived. If
need be, my own hand shall make fast
the rope. l am governor of this prov
ince, and l will be obeyed."
With trembling hand Penelope tore
open the breast of her gown, and,
drawing forth paper sealed with the
royal seal, she thrust it into Sir John
Berry's hands, crying out, close not
an instant, read read !"
The governor himself paused and
turned, spell-bound by the girls voice,
and the crowd waited in the hush born
of intense excitement. Sir John
glanced hastily, with ever-growing
amazement, at the paper, and then,
advancing to the edge of the platform,
he said aloud so that all could hear 81
do hold in my hand a communication
from our sovereign lord, the king.
Under any circumstances but the eX-
traordinary ones so existing, / should
deem it most uniting to make it pub
| lie till it had been first communicated
70 h MI
but in view of the great issue at stake,
do accept the heavy responsibility of
making it here known to the people of
Virginia."
Having 80 said, amid hush still as
death he spread out the sheet and
read
To Sir John Berry, Knight: - Trusty
and Well-beloved-We greet you well
Whereas, it hath come to our knowledge
that affairs in our province of Virginia are
gone sadly awry, it is our will that all be
investigated and thoroughly considered
and to this end we command Sir William
Berkeley, our trusty vice-gerent, to return
at once to England and we do hereby order
and decree that from the moment this paper
is placed in your hands, the powers anC
privileges of governor of the province be
lodged and vested in you until such time al
the acknowledgement, Sir Herbert JET
freys, can be proclaimed, in due form O.
law, governor in place of Sir William
Berkeley. And for the instant and full per
formance OF these our commands we rely
upon your well.approved loyalty.
CHARLES r.
Stiffness as deep as death fell on the
multitude. Then Sir John said sol
EMMY:
GAS my first official act in the kings
name, l bid yonder hangman remove
the rope from about the neck of Bryan
Fairfax, and l declare the prisoner
pardoned."
the power of my poor pen to set down
1t was as though in setting free of this
one the whole colony felt itself shaking
off the yoke of an intolerable tyranny
Men kissed and Rugged each other lik,
women. Women wept like infants
and children shouted as Justify as men
Two alone in that great throng stood a
if dazed, unable to comprehend tn,
event. Fairfax and Berkeley facet
each other, stiff and mute as statues
A moment only this mutual gaze lasted
for the feeling was too intense for Ions
endurance. AT the end of two minutes
the governor was seen TO sway TO ant
fro, and he would have fallen but 70
Sir John Berry, who caught him ant
laying him back in his chair called 70
some one to fetch water, which brok
the spell which had fallen on the Grove
and diverted their gaze from this grou]
upon the platform.
My God, it cannot bel' were tn
first words Berkeley uttered as he cam
to himself. Then as if the Who'll
weight of his misfortune fell on him a
once, he gave a mighty cry: "'Put no
thy trust in princes All, Strafford
twas we'll saidI"
"Nay, Your Excelency," said Lud
well, placing his arm over his shoulder
clay not the matter so to heartl May
hap the king doth but desire to max
inquiry into the matter, and hath sen
for thee to inform him further touch
ing the business. Didst thou not mar
how he spake of thee as his trusty ser
want? Another spring may see the
seated firmer in power than ever"