Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-28
IS H R w SBU RY"
BY STANLEY j. wEYMAN.

Copyrighted. 1897. by Stanley ]. weyman.)
Written for The Evening Star.
Continued from last Saturdays Star.
Chapter XVIII.
believe that 1t Is one thing to confront
with cslmness a death that Is known to
be inevitable. and quite another and a far
more difficult thing to assume the same
brow where hope and chance remain.
am not greatly ashamed therefore. tina. in
crisis which amply justified all the horror
and repugnance which mortals feel at the
prospect of sudden and violent dissolution.
fell below the heroic standard, and said
and did thirgs, miles impair Achilli.
Nevertheless 1t is with no good will
dwell on the matter; in writing. as In life,
there are decencies and indecancies; things
to be told and others to be implied. Let
few words then suffice, alike for the mo
ment when Charnock, holding back the
others. wrung from me. half swooning as
I was. the admission that I had been to
Kensington. and that the sentry was not
mistaken: and for those minutes of fren-
zied terror which followed. when screaming
and struggling in their grasp, now trying to
fling myself down and now shrieking pray
FOR mercy. i was dragged to spot
below the hook. and held there by relent-
from the next room. / had no vision, as
have read some have, Of the things done in
my life. but the set dark faces that
hemmed be in under the light, the grim
looks of one. and the scared pallor of an
other. even Ferguson's hideous visage he
lowered in the background. biting his nails
between terror and exultaI.on-an these.
even enlarged and multiplied, / saw with
a dreadful clearness. and a keenness Of
vision that of itself was torture.
20. Godr' I cried. 20. Godr' I felt that
i could leap out of myself with terror-with
terror of what was to come: yet from man
/ could see no help.
LAY. man. pray said Charnock inexora-
bly,. pray. for you must die We will
give you one minute Here comes the rope
Who will fasten it?''
"A fool cried hard, gibing voice, from
somewhere beyond the circle. mo other"
I started convulsvely. I had forgotten
conspirators. for at the sound they turned
quickly toward her: and. the ring of men
opening out in the movement. she became,
visible to me- She stood confronting all.
daring all. Her lips red her face white as
paper. her eyes glittering with a strange
wild ferceness. Long afterward she told
me that the sound of my shrieks and cries
ringing in her ears had been almost more
than she could bear; that as scream arose
on scream she had driven the nails into
her palms until her hands bled, and SO.
and only had been able to restrain her
self. knowing well that if she would inter-
vene to the purpose her time was not yet.
Now that 1t had come, nothing could
exceed the mockery and scorn that rang
In her tone. "A fool she cried strident-
iy. has fetched it, and fool will fasten
It! And, let who hang. they will hang.
And two of you, aye, you at the back
there. will hang them. Why, You are
FOOLS. you are all fools, or you would take
care that every man among you put his
hand to the job. and was as deep as anoth-
er. Or, If you like precedence, and it is a
question of fastening-for the man who
fat bod hA iS DIV Lat
the hand that wove the moose tie it, Let
that man tie it, And with pitiless finger
she pointed to the old plotter. who, sneak
ing and crinSfng in the background. had al
ready his eye on the door. and his mind on
retreat Let him tie it, she repeated.
You slut.' he roared. his eyes squirting.
his face livid with fury. your tongue
shall be slit To your garnet, vixen"
But the others, as was not unnatural,
saw the matter in different light. by
=. the wench is rightr cried Cassel. and
keyes saying the same and another back
ing him. there was general chorus of
..Ay. the girl is right The girl is rghtr'
AT that the man who had brought the
rope threw it down. There's for me-" he
said sloomily, and with an ugly CLEAN
in his eyes. Let the old devil take it up.
It is his job. not mine. and II 1 swing he
shall swing too" u. q ,..rfI-
Fair cried ALL THAT is fairr' And
That is fair. Mr.. Ferguson" said Char
noe, noek: 81, DO you put the rope round his
under his wig. Il1
Yes. you,'' the man who had brought
the rope retorted with violence "Youi
Ana why not, I'd like to know, my gem
tleman%'
II am no hangmanr' cried the plotter
with miserable assumption of dignity.
But the words and the evasion only in
Tanned the general rage. And are we?'
Cassel roared. with a voiley of oaths
You covenanting. psalm-singing. tub
humping old quill driver" he continued
DO you think that We are here to do your
dirty work and squeeze threats at your
bidding Peste! For gill of hollands /
would split your tongue for you. That
and your pen have done too much harm
already
Peace" Charneck said Go SOFTLY
man And do you Mr. Ferguson, take ED
the rope and do your part. Otherwise
We shall have strange thoughts of VOL
Ihere nave been things said before and
II were well you gave no color to them
cannot believe that even l. wrfthing az
few minutes before 1 had writhed in their
hands, and screaming and begging for life
Could have presented a more pitiable spec
tacle than Ferguson exhibited. thus
brought to book All the base and craven
instincts of low and cowardly nature
brought to the surface by the challenge
thus flung in his face. he quailed and cow
cred before the men; and, shifting his feet