The Van Buren press., 1899-01-07

iaFdHfDNdHs measure AAtI abAA0
thou and thine are condemned to death;
not one Of thy rebellious tribe shall $
cape his doomI"
as God wills It; our lives are in
your hands,
The popuIaee crowded to witness the
executions Brancovan looked calmly
down on the multitude; amongst them
he recognized the princess. his wife.
and their daughter Roxandra, whom
the Turks in their refinement of savage
cruelty had compelled to witness the
! terrible spectacle The princes face
darkened as the MueHn--or Turkish
priest-advaneed, and after making he
usual three salaams, thus addressed
him.
MY master, we have an ancient Gus
tom here, to the effect that a con
demned prisoner may be pardoned Il he
be willing to change his religion, and
embrace our holy Mahomedan faith"
Then the sultan called in loud voice
"Braneovan, renounee thy dog-Hke
Christian belief, thou and thy sons, EN-
brace that Of our own, and then shall
ye all go forth free!"
Better that my race should perish,
than that we should deny our sacred
religion" was the undaunted reply.
Then must ye all prepare for death,
said the sultan, frowning, and gave
orders that Vacarescu should be the
| first on whom the soldiers should lay
their hands.
Become one OF our followers, for
sake thy master, live, be rich and hap
py," said the Muezin to him.
"a Vacarescu does not betray his
prince or his church!" said the ex-min-
lister proudly, and, bowling his head, he
was instantly recapitated.
/ The officials then seized on the third
son OF the prince, naughty youth,
with eyes full of fire and hair black
as the ravens wing.
DENY thy faith, and I will spare
thee" said the sultan.
"Do not insult me by speaking thus, .
said the boy, and kneeling down, lif
head was severed from his body, and
4 IOlleu 10 MS lhintF Ieel4
The old man sighed heavily, and his
long beard trembled, as he said; Lord,
thy will be donel"
The sultan then pointed to the sec
ond son, who fell imploringly at his
I fathers feet The prince grew pale
with fear, lest his son should fail him.
but the latter, blushing, raised his
penetrating eyes to those of his IA
ther and said;
81, alone, Of all thy children, have
caused thee trouble and vexation
through my wayward heart and my
quick blood, I cannot go to sleep, the
sleep of eternity without kissing thy
hand, and craving thy pardon!"
The old mans face again grew placid,
and fervently blessing his kneeling son.
he said:
"At this very hour every fault is ex-
plated! thou art going to God" The
young man barred his neck before the
yataghan Of the executioner. while he
eldest son. whose manly face WAS set
Oft by a heavy beard. looked at his
brothers corpse. and burst into violent
tears.
On perceiving this the sultan cried:
'Forsake thy religionl see that life
Is sweet to thee, embrace our faith, be
free, he huppyl"
The young Brancovan did not seem
to hear these words. but took from his
vest an Icoana-a sacred image-which
he wore next TO his heart, and holding
Il out said:
"If any among ye here have pity upon
me, let him send this holy Icoana to
my dear young wife. Ii will be a conso-
lntion to her until the hour OF her
death"
Not a hand was raised TO take the
holy jewel, and casting IL on the
/ ground, and crushing il with his foot.
be exclaimed. $50 sanctified a relic
shall not be defled by your Pagan
toucbl"
Kneeling down he kissed the rem
nauts Of the broken Icoana. and signed
10 the executioner to do his work
Prince Braneovan sighed once more
deeply. but said again: Good Lord.
Thy viii be donei"
Then the sultan called;
"Brancovan. a single child now only
remains 10 iheei Reflect before thou
sacrifices him alsoi"
The prince looked on the form Of his
delicate boy. on his wife below, who
had tainted ana was hannffx stsU IN.