The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-12-10

"Forsake thy religion! 1see tha Ire
is sweet to thee, embrace u faith, be
free, be happy
The young Brancovan did moi seem
to hear these words, but took from his
vest an Icoana-a sacred image-which
he wore next to his heart, and holding
ii out said:
If any among We here have pity upon
me, let him send this holy Icoana to
my dear young wife. 1t will be Il conso-
lation 20 her until the hour of her
death"
Not a hand was raised to take the
holy jewel, and casting it on the
ground, and crushing it with his foot,
he exclaimed: so sanctified 4 relic
shall not be Gefiled by your Pagan
touch!"
kneeling down he kissed the rem
nants of the broken I~coana, and signed
10 the eNecutioner to do his work.
Prince Brancovan sighed once more
deeply, but said again: Good Lord,
Thy will be done"
Then the sultan called:
"Brancovan. Il single child nov only
remains &c thee, Reflect before thou
sacrifices him also"
The prince looked on the form of his
delicate boy. on his wife below, who
had tainted and was happily still in
sensible. on his beautiful daughter who
was choking with ~convulsive sobS. and
after making the sign of the cross
again said:
The Loru's Will be done"
Child" cried the sultan. "If thou
wilt embrace our faith. thou shalt live
and be happy"
The boys soft eyes sought these OF
his father. as if to gain strength and
courage.
Il die willingly. my father" he said,
in a firm tone 1T is true that l am
Young. but | am Of thy race"
And shortly his youthful head.
crowned with rich dark curls. was sev-
cred from his body.
Then, and then only. did the old
mans strength fail him. as he fell on
his knees and kissed the heddless
corpse.
At length he rose in great fury and
cursed his enemies. crying out: Pa
gars. you have slain my four sons.
May God destroy you and yours. may
He wipe you all from the tace of the
Garth. May you have no ground il
which TO be buried and may your soul:
never know peace or rest"
The sultan and his servants were Sc
highly iuceused at this anathema that
they tore OFF his vestments in shreGS-
it is even said that they tore the Skin
from his flesh. the while calling him:
"Ghiour. Dog Of Il ChristiaH,"
E~rancOvan raised his voice for the
last time:
You n cut my flesh into morselS
nevertheless Con>tautin Brancovar
dies a faithful Christian. Though for
saken. and abandoned by all, he viii.
rest in Christ Jesus"
The yataghan of the ~executioneI
closed his early career.
Then the g~raudchiid Of the old prince
who had hidden himself in Il woman's
skirts-was perceived by the execu.
toner. who caught him. and holding
him up by his hair. cried:
is this one to remain alive, or shall
he follow his eIders?"
At this moment 4 woman beat heI
way through the crowd. and holding UP
a child high in her arms. said: stay
your hand. that is my child, this one is
l~:rancovan's graEdsOn?"
1t was the nurse who heroically gave
her own offspring to save the last re,
naming princeiy heir. She witnessed
untlinchingly the sacrifice of her child
the other one to her breast and
vowing 4 holy VOW. she fed with him
After some time had elapsed the
widows of these unfortunate princes
were set at liberty. and withdrew tc
Venice. They did not return to their
own country for many years. One OF
daughters. Dominica Bal.
asha, was SO deeply impressed b.
their misfOrtuncs that she retired to { .
and would receive no part
Of her share of the vast inheritance
had produced such dire misfor
tune to her family.
she caused the fine Brancovan hos
pitaI at Bucharest to he erected and
almshouse for dccayed g~entiewom.
Ell, as well as a very beautiful church
to this day bears the name OF