Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-01-21

many eyes invisible to me A broad
 beam of bright light shot through the
 gloom, resting full upon my face.
 started back upon the strong hands
 behind me. Then l felt my muscles tighten as l began to measure the fall
 and to wonder if could clear the
 bayonets. had no doubt l was to
 die shortly, and it mattered not to
 me how. bound as was. so that it
 came soon. For breath of silence my
 soul went up to the feet of God for
 help and hope. Then l bent my, knees and leaped. saw much as my body
 went rushing through the air an
 empty grave, it's heap of earth be-
 side it, an island of light, walled
 With candles. in a sea of gloom,
 faces showing dimly in the edge
 Of the darkness. Thank God!
 l shall clear the bayonets," thought, and struck heavily on a soft mat. covered over with green turf, a little beyond that bristling bed. I staggered backward. falling upon it. To my surprise, it bent beneath me. They were no bayonets, but only shells of painted paper. got to my feet none the worse for jumping, and as dumfounded as ever a man could be- I stood on lot of broken turf with which a wide floor had been overlaid Boards and timbers were cut away, and the grave dug beneath them. I saw one face among others in the gloom beyond the candle rows-that of his lordship. He was coming up a little flight of stairs to where I stood. He moved the candles. making a small passage. and came up to me.
 You're a brave man." said he, in that low, careless tone of his.
 And you a coward" was my an- swer, for the sight of him had made me burn with anger.
 Don't commit yourself on point like that" said he, quickly, flor, you know. we are not well acquainted. like your pluck. and I offer you what is given to few here-an explanation"
 He paused, lighting a cigarette. stood looking at him. The cold po- liteness of manner with which he had taken my taunt, his perfect self-mas- tery, filled me with wonder He was no callow youth. that man, whoever he might be. He was boring at the floor with the end of Timber cane as he continued to address me
 Now, look here" he went on, with little gesture of his left hand, be. tween the fingers of which a cigarette was burning. You are now in the temple of patriotic society acting with no letters patent, but in the good cause of his Most Excellent Majesty King George IT,, to whom be health and happiness"
 As he spoke the name he raised his hat, and a cheer came from all sides of us.
 Tt is gathered this night" he con- tinued, "to avenge the death of Lord Ronley, friend of his Majesty. and of many here present. and an honored member of this order For his death you, and you alone, are responsible, and, we suspect, under circumstances of no credit to your sword. Many of our people have been cut off from their comrades and slain by cowardly stealth, have been led into ambush and crlelly cun.to nleces by overwhelming number, have been shut in prison and done to death by starvation or by stabs of a knife there in your country. Not content with the weapons of . soldier, you have even resorted to the barbarity of the poison-wasp. Par. don me. but you Yankees do not seem to have any mercy or fairness for a foe. We shall give you better treat- ment You shall not be killed like . rat in trap. You shall have chance for your life. Had you halted, had you been coward. you would not have been worthy to fight in this arena. You would not have come where you are standing, and possibly even now your grave would have been filled. If you survive the ordeal that is to come, l hope it will prove an example to you of the honor that is due to bravery, hn fn;, f1o