Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-02-19

Of the laws; exhorting the authorities at
the same time to show clemency and mercy
toward the unhappy wretches, and If they
must suffer death, that at all events it
might be without the splitting Of blood"
What mockery was this apparent interces.
sion not to shed blood, when, to comply
with their request, they substituted tho
torment and agony Of the stalker
Anime was the last who was led for
one Of the massive columns Of the center
aisle, close to the throne by the grand in
quisitor. You, Anime Vanderdeoken, 7"
cried the public accuser. At this moment
an unusual hustle was heard in the crowd
under the pulpit, there was struggling
and expostulation, and the officers raised
their wands for silence and decorum-but
1t continued.
"You, Amino Vanderdeoken, being 90.
oused"-
Another violent struggle, and from the
crowd darted q young man, who rushed to
where Anime was standing, and caught
her in his arms.
philip! Philip" screamed Anime, fall
Ing on his bosom. AS he caught her the
cap Of flames fell of her head and rolled
along the marble pavement "My Anime
my wife-my adored one-is 1t thus we
meetP My lord, she is innocent. Stand
off, men," continued he to the officers of
the inquisition, who would have torn him
asunder; stand off, or your lives shall
answer for it,
This threat to the officers, and the def
ancs Of all rules, were not to be borne;
the whole cathedral was in state of COM
motion, and the solemnity Of the cere-
mony was about to be compromised. The
viceroy and his followers had risen from
their chairs to observe what was passing,
and the crowd was pressing on, when the
grand tnquisitor gave his directions, and
other officers FASTENED to the assistance Of
tho two who had led Anime forward, and
proceeded to disengage her from Philips
arms. The struggle was severe. Philip
appeared to be imbued with the strength
OF 90 men; and it was some minutes before
they could succeed in separating him, and
when they had so done, his struggles were
dreadful.
Anime, also, held by two of the Famil-
lars, shrieked as she attempted once more,
but in vain, to rush into her husbands
arms. At last, by a tremendous effort,
Philip released himself; but as soon as he
was released, he sunk down helpless on
the pavement; the exsrtion had caused the
bursting of a blood vessel, and he lay
without motion.
"Oh, Godl oh, God! they have killed
him! Monsters-murderers let me en-
brace him but once morel'' cried Anime,
frantically.
A priest now stepped forward-it was
Father Mathias-with sorrow in his coun-
tenance; he desired some of the bystanders
to carry out Philip Vanderdecken, and
Philip, in q state of insensibility, was
borne away from the sight of Anime, the
blood streaming from his mouth
Amine's sentence was ead-she heard
1t not, her brain was bewildered. She was
led back to her seat, and then it was that
all her courage, all her consistency and for
titude gave way; and during the remain
der of the ceremony she filled the cathedral
with her wild, hysterical sobbing, all en-
treaties or threats being wholly lost upon
her.
All was now over, except the last and
most tragical scene Of the drama. The
culprits who had been spared were led
back to the inquisition by their godfa-
theirs, and those who had been sentenced
were taken down to the banks of the river
to suffer. 1t was on a largo open space,
on the left of the custom house, that this
ceremony was to be gone through. AS in
the cathedral, raised thrones were prepared
for the grand inquisitor and the viceroy,
who, in state, headed the procession, fol-
lowed by an immense concourse of people
Thirteen stakes had been set up, eight FOR
the living, five for the dead The execu-
TONERS were sitting on, or standing by,
the piles of wood and fagots, waiting for
their victims. Anime could not walk; she
was at first supported by the Familiars
and then CARRIED by them to the stake
which had been assigned for her. When
they put her on her feet opposite to it, her
courage appeared to revive; she walked
boldly up, folded her arms, and leaned
against It,
The executioners now commenced their
office; the chains were passed round
Amine's body-the wood and fagots piled
around her. The same preparations had
been made with all the other culprits, and
the confessors stood by the side of each
victim. Anime waived her hand indig.
nantly to those who approached her, when
ath nj III do
his appearance from the crowd, through
which he had forced his way.
canine erdecker-unhappy WON
an! had you been counseled by me this
would not have been. Now it is too late,
but not too late to save your soul. Away
then with this obstinacy-this hardness OF
heart; call upon the blessed Saviour, that
he may receive your spirit--call upon his
wounds for mercy. 1t is the eleventh hour,
but not too late. Anime" continued the
old man, with tears, 81 implore you,
conjure you. At least may this load Of
trouble be taken from my heart"
Unhappy woman! you say9" replied
she, "say rather, unhappy priest:' 70,
Amine's sufferings will soon be over
while you must still endure the torments
of the damned. Unhappy was the day
when my husband rescued you from death
Still more unhappy the compassion which
prompted him to offer you an asylum ant
arefuge. Unhappy the knowledge Of yor
from the first day to the last 1 leave you
to your conscience-if conscience you re
tatn-nor would change this cruel deatl
for the pangs which you in future will