Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-07-18

it deserves to be.
Frenchmen, over whom the great revo-
luton of '93 passed like a hurricane, and
carried off most of their belief in its san
culinary cloak, may smile with pity and
regard as a fanatic remainder of another
age this custom of placing the condemned
in chapel. Among US, it is true, matters
are managed much more simply; a man,
when condemned by the law, eats, drinks
and remains alone in his cell. If he de-
sire it he is visited by the chaplain, whom
he is at liberty to converse with, II he
likes; if not, he remains perfectly quiet,
and nobody pays any attention to him,
during a period more or less long, and de-
termined by the rejection of his appeal.
Then, one fine morning, when he is least
thinking of it, the governor of the prison
announces to him, when he wakes, as the
most simple thing in the world, that he
is to be executed that same day, and
only an hour is granted him to recon-
mend his soul to the divine clemency. The
fatal toilet is made by the executioner
and his assistant, the condemned man is
placed in a close carriage, conveyed to
the place of execution, and in a twinkling
launched into eternity, before he has had
a moment to look round him.
When a man is condemned to death
from that moment he is. de facto, cut off
from that society to which he no longer
belongs, through the sentence passed on
him; he is consequently separated from
his fellow men.
He is shut up in a room, at one end OF
1Ehi oh i. II,
in black drapery, studded with silver
tears, and here and there mourning in
scriptions, drawn from Holy Writ. Near
his bed is placed the coffin in which his
body is to be deposited after execution,
while two priests, who relieve each 9th
er, but of whom one constantly remains in
the room, say mass in turn, and eXhort
the criminal to repent of his crimes, and
implore Divine clemency. This custom,
which, if carried TO an extreme, would
appear in our country before all, bar
barous and cruel, perfectly agrees with
Spanish manners. and the thoroughly be-
lieving spirit of this impressionable ma
ton; it is intended to draw the culprit
back to pious thought, and rarely fails to
produce the desired effect upon him.
The general was, therefore, placed in
capilla, and two monks belonging to the
order of st. Francis, the most respected
and, in fact, respectable in Mexico, en-
tered it with him.
The first hours he passed there were
terrible; this proud mind, this powerful
organization, revolted against adversely
and would not accept defeat. Gloomy and
silent, with frowning brows, and fists
cienched on his bosom, the general sought
shelter like wild beast in corner OF
the room, recalling his whole life, and
seeing with starts of terror the bloody
victims scattered along his path, and sac
riiced in turn to his devouring ambition
sadly defile before him.
Then he reverted to his early years
When residing at the Palmar, his mag
niticent family hacienda, his life passed
away calm, pure, gentle and tranquil,
without regrets, and without desires,
among his faithful servants. Then he
was so glad to be nothing, and to wish
to be nothing.
By degrees his thoughts followed the
bias of his recollections; the present was
effaced; his contracted features grew soft
er, and two burning tears, the first per-
haps this man of iron had ever shed
coursed slowly down his cheeks, which
grief had followed. He fell into the
arms open to receive him, exclaiming
with an expression of desperate grief
impossible to render:
Have mercy, heaven; have mercy :"
The struggle had been short but terri
BILE; faith had conquered doubt, and hui
mainly had regained its rights
The general then had with the monks
a conversation, protracted far into the
night, in which he confessed all his
crimes and sins, and humbly asked par.
don of God whom he had outraged. and
before whom he was about to appear.
The next day, little after sunrise
one of the monks, who had been absent
about an hour, returned, bringing with
him the generals capataz. 1t had only
been with extreme reluctance that Car
nero had consented to come, for he Justly
dreaded his old masters reproaches. His
surprise was therefore extreme at being
received with a smile. and kindly. and
on finding that the general did not make
the slightest allusion to his treacherv
1r.
tial had fully revealed.
Carnero looked inquiringly at the two
monks, for he did not dare put faith If
his masters words, and each moment ex
pected TO hear him burst out into re
proacheS. But to his amazement nothins
of the sort took place; the general con
tinued the conversation as he had begun
it, speaking to him gently and kindly.
At the moment when the capataz wa,
about to withdraw, the general stopped
him.
"One moment" he said to him; "yor
know Don Valentine, the French hunter
for whom l so long cherished an insen
safe hatred?"
Yes" Carnero stammered.
BE kind enough to ask him to gran
me the favor of short visit: he is ,
noble-hearted man, and l am convinced
that he will not refuse to come. l SHOULD
be glad if he consented to bring with hin
Don Martial. the Tigrero, who has S,
much cause to complain of me, as wei
as my niece, Dona Anita de Torres. Wa
you undertake this commission. the las
l shall doubtless give you?"
Yes, general" the capataz answered
affected in spite of himself by such gen
tleneSs.
Now go; be happy and pray for me
| for we shall never meet again"
The capataz went out in a very differ
ent frame of mind from that in whicl
he had entered the capilla, and hastene,
off to Valentine
! I will CO." said Valentine simply
| and he dismissed him.
Curumilla was at once sent off to NJ
| Rallier's Quinta with letter. and durin
| his absence Valentine had long CONVEX
sation with Belhumeur and Black Eli
| AT about in the evening carriage en-
| tered the courtyard of Valentines hous
! at gallop; it contained NJ. Rallier
Dona Anita and Don Martial
Thanks !" he said on seeing them.
You ordered me to come, so l obeye
as usual" the Tigrero answered.
You were right. my friend
And now what do you want of u.s."
THAT you should accompany me t
| The place whittier / am going at this me
nent."
| Would it be indiscreet to ask you?
''Where?" the hunter interrupted hin
| with a laugh Not at all: | am goin