Evening star., 1898-05-14

fair cheek On her open palm and, standing
tnus IN the darkness she talked to me in
Whispers. We talked and talked engaged
III that sweet. endless conversation that
HuTFlurs IN subdued tone round the world
DelnS duplicated that moment at who
KNOWS now many places. Absorbed as I
was IN listening. at last there crept into
my my CONSCIOUSNESS the fact that the sand in
tHe upper bulb was not diminishing as fa st
as it should This knowledge was fully in
my mind for some time before | realized it's
fearful sigriticance. Suddenly the dim
f. fhno"!edse 'onk an actually. l sprang
from the door Intel, saying:
Good heavens the sand in the hour glass
| has stopped running!"
l remained there motionJess all aot,on
struck from my rigid limbs. gazing at the
hour glass on the table. Grettlich. peerinp
IN al the doorway, and looking at the
hour glass and not at me, having no sus-
plclon OF the ruin involved in the stopnapa
or that miniature sand storm, said pres.
emily:
On. yes; l forgot to tell you it does that
glass; "''"Ae 'he
,ha she bent bent forward as if to do this, when
the ieaden windows shuddered. and the
mouse itself trembled with the sharn crash
CT our light cannon, followed almost ;mrna
alateiy by the deeper detonation of the
he rod
sand in the glass began to fall again and
us iperatlon seemed to unfetter nv nara
| ,yzed limbs. Bareheaded as l was / rushed
ike IKE one frantic along the passage and down
.he STAIRS. Ihe air was resonant with the
quick following reports of the canno, and
the long. narrow street was fitfuIly lit IN
as II by quick flashes of summer I9btninG
NY men were still standing where | had
pidceu them Giving quick word of COM
mand, marched them down the street and
out INTO the square, where I met Gen IRE
iaWny coming back from his futile assauIt
n.hi. LII hSSei1. h; ne was bareheaded. and his
"nite mar br1stled with rage His military
countenanee was begrmed with powder
smoke, but he spoke to me with no trace Of
anger in his voice. 'e VI
Lieutenant Sentore" he said ..diu
your men,"
gave the word to disband my men
ana then stood at attention before him.
Lieutenant Sentore" he said. in the
same level voice, return to your ouarters
and consider yourself under arrest Await
my coming there" i turned and obeve6
his orders. 1t seemed Incredible that fhe
sand should still be running in the hour
glass, for ages had passed over INV heod
since last / was in that room 7 J.naced m
and down awaiting the coming of my CHIEF.
ieelinG neither fear nor regret hut rather
dcnn despair In few minutes his heavy
tread was on. the STAIR followed nv the
measured tramp of file of men, He came
into the room and with him were n sergeant
and four soldiers, fully armed The pen-
la was PcihDiifiS with rage, but held
strong control over himself az was bis
haDit on serious occasions "I.ieutenanf
oentore, he said. why were you not at
your post?" Ho' a.
Ire running sand in the hour glass, IT
hardiy recognized my own voice on hear
ing ~ stopped when but half exhausted
l did not notice its interruption until ii was
! too late" oS
The general glanced grimly at the hour
glass The last sands were falling taroueh h
10 the lower bulb. / saw thae he did not
| believe my explanation o'
1t seems now to be in perfect WORKING
| ORDER he said at last
He strode up TO 1t and reversed IT. watch
ing the sand pour for few moments.
! then he spoke abruptly:
Lieutenant Sentore. your swor,l."
l handed my weapon to him without n
word Turning to the sergeant. he said.
Lieutenant Sentore is sentenced In
death He has an hour for whatever prem
arations he chooses to make Allow him
to dispose of that hour as he chooses 80
| long as he remains within this room and
holds converse with no one whatever.
When the last sands of this hour glass are
run. Lieutenant Sentore will stand at the
| other end of this room and meet the death
| merited by traitors, 1aggards or towards.
Do you understand your duty. sergeant?"
'sYes. general"
| General Treiawny abruptly left the room.
| and we heard his heavy steps echofng