Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1902-11-27
-,
On the Steps
Of the SCaffold
GOriginal.l

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 chimney smoke rose
on tfM 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 a low moan and then noticed for
the first time, seated on the lowest
knees, her face buried in her hands.
MADAM" he said. greatly surprised
81 marvel to find you in this grewsome
place at such an hour How came you
here?"
The woman raised her head, and EN-
berton saw that she was young and
comedy. She was not weeping, yet on
her face was a 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 a
broad black velvet band, but even from
this no jewel or trinket was suspended.
ooh, SIR" she said, take me away!
l was here with the crowd today, and
when it was over all went to their
homes but 1. 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 1,
dazed by the multitude, the solemn
words Of the man of God, the grim
figure of the execution, the glitter of
the ak in the sun, must have fallen
into swoon, for l have only just now
come to consciousness"
81 cannot imagine" said the earl,
perplexed. ''how your friends and
servants could have been so brutal"
Brutal! Can you expect tenderness
from a people whose kings divorces
are written in bIood?"
"Come away" said the young man
''You are trembling; you are faint
Your mind must be diverted at once
from this bitter experience"
"Where shall go?' she asked, fixing
despairing eyes upon him.
''To your people"
ooh, my peopler' she said, wall il
her voice. do you think that the!
would welcome me after what occur
red today?"
"Then you must come with me-" salt
the earl ITO stay here another hou
would drive you to madhouse.'
In Emberton's heart suddenly, with
out requiring time to develop. there
was born great love for this desolat
being who had passed through 81
strange an ordeal Since she did no
move he sat down beside her.
chill wind made her shiver, and h,
folded his cloak around her, leaving
his arms about the cloak. His eyes
fell upon the band at her neck, and a:
his hand rested upon her shoulder h
took the ribbon in his fingers ant
moved it Just so far that in the din
light he saw what he thought was {
fine red line She drew his hand away
Hers was as cold as ice.
"Gs with me-" he pleaded. You arr
cold and desolate. | will warm you,
heart with mine. l will make you for
get this dreadful place. will take yol
to sunny France. This dreary town il
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 it's gardens, while the peasants
tread the purple grapes in the wine
vats, singing gaYly. l came from there
only today. We will go back together.
She turned her eyes upon his ant
seemed to drink in every word. HI
fancied a color coming into the pail
cheek; that the icy hand he held in hi
was less cold.
81 will go with you," she said, "ant
love you forever, but first let me taxi
one last look at the block"
mo, no." he cried; mo more o.
death! Come rather into life"
Despite his pleadings she moved VI
the steps, looking back at him wistful
~. He held her hand, but it seemed t,
slip from his as If it were unreal. H.
caught at her robe, but it was f1utter
ing in the wind and eluded his grasp.
Listen" she said, pausing.
1t seemed that he could hear low
murmuring of many voices. Then al
was still.
She moved on, mounting each stel
heavily, as if weighted with lead, til
she had reached the platform. Then
waving her hand to him as if in adieu
she kneeled and placed her head upol
the block.
Emberton fancied he heard some
thing moving swiftly through the all
thud as of steel entering wood.
The next morning at daylight as tn
watch moved across Tower hill he dis