The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1899-04-13

rightful place,
which I've heard whispered, should be
over the head of that doomed wretch,
Count Emile, he called himself. Par
bleau. but wei soon let out of his
delicate veins the aristCcratic blood of
which he boasted" and with loud
laugh the man turned his leering eyes
around the crowd, demanding ap-
plause for his jest
Men, boys and creatures in the like
ness of womanhood, but changed to de-
mons by the maddening taste of blood,
greeted the speech with loud laughter,
and hundred voices rose shrilly, de-
handing If the aristOcrats had yet been
tracked TO their hiding place.
| "Ah, Hugo" said another, II Won
dered where you were. Your uncle,
citizen Jean. is our orator tonight.
What pale face stripping have you
| there? Tut, boy, get thee to bed, If
such brave sights as these fright the
| blood from your cheeks.
Bernard replied with a light jest,
and drew on with his trembling COM
panion nearer to the avenue. Sud-
denly, however, AT the entrance gates,
went up a shrill cry Of rejoicing.
They are taken! they are brought
back, German and Beauvais-all are
here. Now for our turn. Let us show
them who are lords nowr'
iolante frightened her hold of her
companions arm. but only the dilated,
horror frozen eyes betrayed her emo
ton. and every eye in the crowd was
directed TO the avenue, along which,
pushed forward by the bayonets of
jeering body OF new made soldiers,
were the frightened, discomfited group,
who had so lately fed from the chap
ell. The Countess German, with Won
derful courage, held up her head proud
ly-neither looked to the right or left.
One bold ruffian reached forward,
and tearing off her mantle, seized the
jeweled bandeau that encircled the
countess head, and flung it into.
crowd of braZen faced women, who
clapped their hands in applause.
The resolute woman never flinched,
and not tremOr betrayed agitation
or fear. Her husbands head was bow
ed upon his breast in utter prostration
Of energy and manhood. 1t was, easy
to see the contempt she felt for him,
by the cold sheer upon her face, when,
at the insolent demand of a stout yeo-
man, he handed over his watch with
its massive chain of gemmed gold. For
herself, she never replied to or obeyed
a single command, and they were
many, addressed to her; so it was by
brute force that left her throat and
fair arms bruised and wounded, her
remaining jewels were torn from her,
trampled contemptuously under the
feet of their own peasansry, as shey
shouted,
Their sparkle was bought by cur
hard earnings, the accused things
robbed our children of brsad, away
with Them
A pair OF begrimed hands had seiz-
ed the gold collar upon Count Emile's
coat, when with an oath the count lev
eled a pistol he had hitherto concealed
and fired. The man fell MORALLY
wounded. K was a rash, suicidal act,
but it was like the young counts I'M
governable temper. In an instant arose
a yell of demoniac rage Count Emile
was seized. his rich clothing shred into
a thousand pieces, and the vary silken
sash he wore was knotted around his
throat, while IN moment abnger his
lifeless body dangled from the Dough
of the nearest tree. Then for the first
time the fortitude of the countess gave
way, and with one wild cry sf moth
er's intense agony she felF forward
senseless. At the same moment the
crowd, maddened into frenzy, shouted:
Let the others follow. short shuift
for those who have had NO pity for
u.s."
Bernard knew from the way Violante
leaned against him, her nerves could
bear no more yet hel. hel he could
not. The dense mass of human beings
wedged them In like a vice, and the
slightest movement mighs arouse sus-
p'con. whereupon, he felt, while an
icy shudder ran through his heart, in
the present excited tide of rage, there
was not the slightest doubt her slen-
der, graceful form woHld swing beside
the lifeiess body Of him who so brief
time before had stood with her be-
fore the altar, in the bloom of health
and strength. All he could do was to
shield her so that she could not see
the fierce hands that were grasping
her fathers throat. Suddenly voice
rang out clear and maanding like
bugle notes in the tumult of battle A
small, spare man. with huge masses OF
raven black hair, tossed away from 2
forehead so high and broad it seemed
half of his face. with eagle eyes that