Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1904-10-15
CHAPTER XII.

N
large and rambling structure
Ell two stories in height for the
most part, although in some
places it rose to three. as in others il
subsidized into one. 1t was built partly
OF stone. partly of brick and partly OF
timber and plaster, with many gables
and picturesque windows in the wide
extending roof. Each of its owners
had added to it as his needs required
or his taste dictated, and now it was
composed Of many styles Of architec-
ture. but the tumble, as whole, was
beautiful rather than homogeneous. as
might have been expected.
AS evening drew on the thin crescent
of new moon shed faint, mysteri-
Gus light over the scene, as if it were
a white sickle hung up in the sky, use
less because there was no harvest in
England to reap save that of DEATH
The dim luster outlined the mansion,
and the aspect was one of peace,
scarcely troubled by the football of a
sentinel slOuching along the grass in
front. carelessly trailing his pike, with
nothing Of alert military manner about
him.
The sentinel stopped in his walk and
stood for a moment by the battered
sEndial, listening. Family in the still
night air came to him across the fields
the beating of horses hoofs on the
hard road. Striding athwart the bro
a<nf1 la fn lion door no SYpnfH
1t with the butt of his pike, crying:
"Peace within there. The general is
coming"
There was an instant hushing of the
coarse song. then a laugh, and when
some one III nasal tones raised the slow
tune Of hymn the laughter became
more uproarious, subsiding gradually.
however as voice after voice joined
the drone. The sentinel now walked
over to the main entrance and said to
some one within the hall:
81 think tie general is coming"
The Waterman now resumed his
promenade. but he shouldered his
weapon and marched more like a man
on guard. Several officers came out Of
the hall and stood listening on the
broken sward. From the darkness
emerged three horsemen, two follow
ing leader, thickset man, who came |
somewhat stiffy to the ground, as if |
fatigued with hard riding. To the one
who sprang to the bride he said CURLY, |
"See the horse well rubbed down, and |!
In half an hour feed him with corn"
Then to his two followers: Look to !
your horses first, and to yourselves !
afterward. Be ready in an hour"
The chief officer now stepped for
ward and said:
'You will surely stop the night, ex-
cellency? Everything is prepared"
<'''No. Did my order to stay the exc
cution Of Wentworth reach you in time.
Colonel Porlock?" .-----'
Yes, excellency. l would not have
Tentured to execute him without your
sanction although the death sentence
was this unanimous finding of the
court MARTIAL
- 1.-The sentence was just. 1t may yet
be carried out, or it may prove that
the Lord has other use for him. Lead
the way within" ---'--'>'sa''ss".~~-----
General Cromwell gave no greeting
to the different groups as he passed
them, his heavy riding boots swish
smashing against each other as he fol-
lowed Colonel Porlock into the hall.
He STROBE awkwardly. like man more
accustomed to a horses back than a
1n6 Tha Id
the great dining room, one end of
which was occupied by a shattered
Windows while the other was crossed
by gallery. and above all, very dim
in the feeble illumination Of two can
dies and some smoky torches, could
be distinguished the knobs and projec-
tons Of timbered roof.
The vast room was almost complete
ly bare Of furniture, with the excep-
bon of high backed carved chair, !
which doubtless belonged to it, and a
stout oaken table taken from some
other part Of the house, replacing the
long hospitable board that had wit
messed many festive gathering, but
which had been used for firewood by
the troopers. The general gazed about
the ample apartment for a moment, as
one who had never seen it before, esti-
mating his bearings with the shrewd
sye of practiced soldier: then he
pushed the table until it stood length
wise with the room. instead of across,
Is before; glanced ut the gallery and
able, as if making some computation
'egarding their relative positions. drew
lp the chair and seated himself, setting
he two candles by the edge farthest
rom him.
HAS Captain Bent arrived with his
,r1soner?
"'Yes. excellency. He came at sum
Ct"
lis he sure of his manT'
ale appears to be so, sir"
~Were any papers found on him?"
''Yes, excellency."
s0Tf,o cfhor nrisoDop Wnpfxunrfh 10 !