Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-10-18
DAILY SHORT STORY
On the Steps of the ScaffoId.
TOriginall

the roofs of London. The day had been
a holiday, for King Henry VIII. had
| divorced his queen, Anne Boleyn, not
by process of law, but by the AK. And
now from many a chimney smoke rose
on the still air while housewives be-
meath were preparing the evening meal.
All London had attended the execu-
ton, and all London was hungry
The young Earl of Emberton. who
since childhood had been in France.
had just returned and was passing
over Tower hill. Before him against
| the yellow strip doomed the silhouette
scaffold, the sinking moon at the mo-
ment standing above it, it's lower horn
seeming to rest upon the block where
that day had been bowed the head of
the young queen.
singular" muttered the earl. that
the red crescent should be in that posi-
| ton"
As he drew near the scaffold he
heard low moan and then noticed for
the first time. seated on the lowest
step, a woman, her head bent to her
knees. her face buried in her hands.
Madam" he said, greatly surprised,
Il marvel to find you in this grewsOme
place ut such an hour. How came you
| here!"
The woman raised her head, and En-
bertOn saw that she was young and
comely. She was not weeping, Yet on
her face was IL strange distress. Her
costume was rich. denoting that she
was of high degree, her robe being of
silk, though without any adornment
whatever. Around her neck was n
broad black velvet band, but even from
this no jewel or trinket was suspended.
"Oh, sir" she said, take me away!
l was here with the crowd today, and
| when it was over all went TO their
homes but l. 1t was cruel to- leave me
here alone"
But your menials? If your friends
deserted you, surely those dependent
upon your bounty
''They all went together, and l,
dazed by the multitude. the solemn
words of the man of God, the grim
figure of the execution. the glitter of
the aX in the sun. must have fallen
into Il swoon. for l have only just now
come to consciousness"
Il cannot imagine" said the earl.
pcTpltAtu. NOW your lIlcnuS anu
servants could have been so brutal"
Brutal, Can you expect tenderness
from people whose kings divorces
are written in blood?"
Come away" said the young man.
You are trembling; you are faint.
Your mind must be diverted ut once
from this bitter experience"
Where shall go?" she asked, fixing
despairing eyes upon him.
ITO your people,
'Oh. my people!" she said, a wall in
her voice. DO you think that they
would welcome me after what occur
red today"
Then you must come with me-" said
the earl. To stay here another hour
would drive you to a madhouSe."
In Emberton's heart suddenly, with
out requiring time to develop, there
was born n great love for this desolate
being who had passed through so
strange an ordeal. Since she did not
move he sat down beside her. \
chill wind made her shiver, and he
folded his cloak around her, leaving
his arms about the cloak. His eyes
fell upon the band at her neck and as
his hand rested upon her shoulder he
took the ribbon in his fingers and
moved it just so far that in the dim
light he saw what he thought was
fine red line. She drew his hand away
Hers was as cold as ice.
"Ge with me-" he pleaded. you are
cold and desolate. l will warm your
heart with mine. l will make you for
get this dreadful place 1 will take you
to ENf.on
not fit for one so delicate, so sensitive
In France there are no troubles. The
court and the mobiles live in bright Par
is. with its gardens, while the peasants
tread the purple grapes in the wine
watts, singing gayly. l came from there
only today. We will go back together"
She turned her eyes upon his and
seemed to drink in every word. He
fancied n color coming into the pale
cheek; that the icy hand he held in his
was less cold.
Il will go with you," she said, land
love you forever, but first let me take
one last look at the block
mo, no." he cried; mo more of
death! Come rather into life"
Despite his pleadings she moved up
the steps, looking back at him wistful-
ly. He held her hand, but it seemed to
slip from his as if it were unreal. He
caught at her robe, but it was flutter-
ing in the wind and eluded his grasp.
Listen" she said, pausing.
1t seemed that he could hear a low
murmuring of many voices. Then all
was still
She moved OH. mounting each step
heavily, as if weighted with lead. till
she had reached the platform. Then.
waving her hand to him as if in adieu.
she kneeled and placed her head upon
the block.
Emberton fancied he heard some
thing moving swiftly through the air,
q thud as of steel entering wood.
The next morning at daylight as the
watch moved across Tower hill he dis