The state herald., 1897-11-26

conversation; the priest therefore
handed his breviary to the King. and
pointed out appropriate psalms. which
the King read devoutly and with per-
feet calmness, to the evident astontsh-
ment OF the gendarmes. The shops
were shut along the way, and crowds
OF armed citizens stood on the pave
ment as the coach. preceded and fol-
lowed by cavalry and artillery. went
slowly through the streets, where all
the windows were closed. Lines OF
troops stood on each side, while drums
beat solemnly, as II for military fun
eral
AS the coach passed along the Boul-
evards near the Porte st. Denis. a few
young men rushed forward. waving
swords and crying loudly: Come. all
who would save the King!" There
was no response. and they were oblig-
~ to flee for their own lives. They
were pursued. and several were ar
rested. with fatal consequences. The
King. absorbed in prayer and relig-
ious meditation, had not even perceiv-
ed the vain attempt to effect his deliv-
erance
The coach had at last reached the
Rue Royale and the Place de la Revo-
luton, where the crowd was immense.
The scaffold stood little to the left
ot the Place, where the Obelisk now
stands, but nearer the Champs Ely
sees, toward which the guillotine was
turned. A mass OF troops formed a
square around the fatal spot. The
coach stopped at a distance OF few
PAGES. The King. feeling that the mo-
tion had ceased. looked up from his
prayer-book, saying quietly: I'VE have
reached the place. think"
One OF the executioner's assistants
opened the door. The King earnestly
commended the priest who accompan-
led him to the care Of the gendarmes,
and then stepped from the coach.
Three men surrounded him and tried
to take off his coat. He calmly pushed
them back and removed It himself,
opening his shirt-collar and preparing
his neck for the AK. The executioners
who seemed at first disconnected and
almost awed. then again came around
him. holding rope.
The King drew back quickly, ex-
claiming:
What do you want to do?"
TO tie your hands,
The King exclaimed Indignantly.
Tie my hands, No. l will not submit
to this. DO your duty. but do not n, =
| tempt to tie me: you shall not do itv'
The executioners persisted, and
spoke loudly. The King looked to-
ward the Able Edgcworth, who at one,
saw the impOssibility of resistance,
and said gently: Sire. this last In
suit will only provide fresh point of
resemblance between Your Majesty
and the God who will be your recon-
pense."
The King looked up to heaven. AS
snredly His example alone could in
duce me to submit to such an indig-
nifty" Then holding out his hands:
DO as you please: will drink the
cup to the dregs.'
His hands were tied. and with the
assistance OF his confessor he ascend
ed the steps OF the scaffold. which
were very steep. When he reached the
top he broke away from the Able.
walked firmly across the scafYold, 81
fenced the drums by a glance OF au-
thority. and then in voice SO loud
that II was audible on the opposite
side OF the Place de Ia Revolution. he
uttered these words:
IL die innocent of all the crimes i'm
puted to me. forgive those who have
caused my death. and pray God that
the blood you are about to shed may
never fall on France"
There was shudder that ran
through the crowd like a great wave
but at the word OF command the drums
beat a prolonged roll. and the voice
could no longer be heard. The King.
seeing that all further address to the
crowd would be fruitless. turned to the
guIllotine and calmly took his place on
the fatal plank. to which he was fast
ened. The apparatus turned over. and
the ax fell. II was then quarter
past ten o'clock n. m. Of the 2ist OF
January. 1898. The cxecutloner held
up the severed head. turning as he did
no TO the four sides OF the Place.
The King OF France was dead.
lie roi est mor,''
But no one dared to cry the tradl-
tional response. "Viye 10 roi.'
lie roll" The heir to the once glo.
rious title was now a poor little child
weeping bitterly In a prison by the side
Of his widowed mother.