Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-11-13

i VIII UOG EeC QOWu til5 lcuteE i WTOt0
to the duchess, though it were easy for me
to do so, seeing that her son has it now.
1t contains some things very proper to be
said by dying man, of which l am not
ashamed-God forbid!-but which it
would not be meet for me to repeat here.
Enough that | told her in a few words
who was and entreated her in the name
Of whatever services had rendered her to
let Petronilla and Sir Anthony know how
l had died, and added something which
would, / thought, comfort her and her
Overwhelmingly, that was not afraid
or in any suffering of mind or body.
The writing of this shook my compo-
sure little, but as l laid down the pen
and looked up and found that the time
was come took courage in marvellous
manner. The captain of the guard.
think that out OF compassionate desire
not to interrupt me they had allowed me
some minutes of grace-came to me, leav-
ing tho group at the other end, and told
me gravely that was waited for. yose
at once and gave the letter to Master Lind
strom, with some messages in which
Dymphna and Anne were not forgotten,
and then, with q smile-for felt under
all those eyes as if 1 were going into bait
tle-I said: Gentlemen, am ready if you
are. 1t is fine day to die. You know"
/ added gayly, s.in England we have q
proverb, The better the day the better the
deed' So it is well to have good day to
have good death, Sir Captain
A soldiers death, sir, is a good death, I"
he answered grayely, speaking in Spanish
and bowling.
Then he pointed to the door.
] AS walked toward it paused momen.
tarily by the window and looked ols on
the crowd below. 1t filed the sunlit
street, savo where little raised platform
strewn with rushes protruded itself-with
heads from wall to wall, with faces all
turned one way-toward me- 1t was a
silent crowd, standing in hushed awe and
expectation, the consciousness Of which
sent a sudden chill to my heart, blanchiny
my cheek and making my blood run slow
for d moment. The next moved on to-
the door, and bowling to the spectators as
| they stood aside began to descend the mar
row staircase.
There were guards going down before
me, and behind me were Master Lindstrom
and more guards The Dutchman reached
forward in the gloon and clasped my
hand, holding it as we went down in
firm, strong grip.
Never fear" said to him cheerily,
looking back. ''It is all right"
He answered in words which will not
write here, not wishing, as have said, to
make certain things common.
I suppose the doorway ut the bottom
was accidentally blocked, for few steps
short OF it we came to n standstill, and al
most at the same moment started, de-
spite myself, on hearing sudden clamof
md a ro,r ~ ,,,opv vnicac rrfcide
what is it?' l asked the Dutchman.
''It is the Duke of Cleves arriving, Tex
pect, he whispered. "He comes in by tho
other gate. -
4 A moment later we moved on and passed
out into the light, the soldiers before me
stepping on either side to give me place.
/ The sunshine for an instant dazzled me,
and lowered my eyes. AS I gradually
raised them again saw before me short
lime formed by two rows of spectators
kept back by guards, and at the end OF
this two or three rough wooden steps lead
I ing to platform on which were standing
number of people, and above and beyond
all only the bright blue sky. the roofs and
gables of the nearer houses showing dark
against 1t.
advanced steadily along the path left
4 for me and would have assembled the steps,
but at the foot of them came to q stand
still and looked round for guidance. The
persons on the scaffold all had their backs
turned to me and did not make way.
4 while the shouting and uproar hindered
them from hearing that we bad como out.
Then it struck me, seeing that the people
at the windows were also gazing away
and taking no heed OF me, that the duke
was passing the farther end of the street,
and sharp pang Of angry pain shos
through me. / had come out to die, but
that which was all to me was SO little to
these people that they turned away to SEQ
fellow mortal ride byi
Presently, as we stood there, In pit, as
it wcrc getting no view, felt Master
Lindstron's hand, which still clasped
mine, begin to shake, and turning to hin
/ found that his face had changed to .
! deep red, and that his eyes were protrnd-
ing with kind Of convulsive easerness
which instantly infected me-
What is it2" stnmmered began to 5
tremble ALSO The air rang, 1t seemed TO
me, with ono word, which q thousand
/ tongues took up and reiterated. But u
was German word, and ! did not UNDER
stand it.
''Wait, waltz Master Lindstrom ex-
claimed Pray God it be true!"
He seized my other hnnd and held 1t az
though he would protect me from some-
thing. At tho same moment Van Tree
pushed past me, and bounding up the
steps thrust his way through the officials
on the ecaffold, causing more than ere
fur robcd citizen near the edge to lose lis
balance and come down as best he could
ON the shoulders of the guards.
what is TT" cried. s'What is IT."
cried inSimpatient wonder.
..Oh, my lad, my ladl'' Master Lind
strom answered, his face close to mine and
the tears running down his cheeks II
is cruel If it be not truel Cruell They
cry pardonp
| "a pardons" echoed.
AYE, lad, pardon. But 1t may not b
true, he said, putting his arm about my
shoulder. do not make too sure Of it.
1t is only the mob cry 1t cut"
| Ny heart made great bound and
seemed to stand still. There was loud
surging in my brain, and mist rose be-
fore my eyes and hid everything. The
clamor and shouting Of the street passed
away and sounded vague and distant.
The next instant, it is true, was myself
again, but my knees we're trembling un-
der me, and I stood faccid and unnerveds
| leaning on my friend.
s'Well." said family.
ssPatiencei Patience awhile, ladl" h0
answered
| pnt thank heaven. had not loru IN