Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1908-07-17
CHATTER xyI--continued.


INK commonplace. / took the sack and
slipped my hand through a we'll known
slit in the lining. Yes. the letter | had
left there vas still there--the lt"er to
Mistress Clarence. / drew it out. The
corners of the little packet were frayed,
and the parchment was stained and
discolored, no doubt by the damp which
had penetrated to II. But the seal was
whole. j placed 1t, as IL was, in Master
Iindstrom's hands.
GIVE It," / said, ito the duchess aft
erward. 1t concerns her. You have
heard US talk about 1t. Bid her make
what Use she pleases OF It,"
i turned away then and sat down.
Feeling a trifle lurried and excited, as
one o TO start upon a journey
might feel--not afraid nor exceedingly
depressed, but braced up 10 make a
brave show and hide what sadness /
did feel by the knowledge that many
eyes were upon me. and that more
would be watching me presently. At
the far end OF the room a number OF
people had now gathered and were con-
versing together. Among them were
not only my jailers of the night. but
w or three officers, a priest who had
come TO offer me his services and some
fnulisitive gazers who had obtained adj
mission. Their curiosity. however, did
not distress me. on the contrary, was
glad TO hear the stir and murmur of life
about me to the last.
! VIII not set down the letter / wrote
10 the duchess, though it were easy for
me To do so, seeing hat her son has il
now. 1T contains some things very
proper to be said by q dying man. of
which | am not ashamed-God Forbid
nut which IL would not be meet for me
TO repeat here. Enough that / told her
an a few words who j was and entreated
her In the name of whatever services
! had rendered her to let Petronilla and
sir Anthony know how / had died, and
l added something which would, L
rhought, comfort her and her husband
namely. that l was not afraid or I'm
any suffering OF mind or body.
The writing of this shook my com
posture a little, but as / laid down the
pen and looked up and found that the
1lme was come when / Dol courage in
" marvellous The captain of
the guard think that out of a COM
passionate desire not to interrupt me
they had allowed me some minutes of
Hrace-came to me, leaving the group
M n other end. and told me grayely
mat i was waited for. / rose at once
and gave the letter to Master Lind
sstrom. with some message In which
Iymphna and Anne were not forgotten,
and then, with a smlle-for felt under
all those eyes as If I were coins into
battle-I said: Gentlemen, / am ready
II you are. il Is a fine day to die. You
KNOW" / added gayly, .'in nglan we
nave q proverb, the better the day the
better the deed!' So Ii Is well to have
- good day 70 have a good death, sir
captain"
"A soldiers death. sir. is a good
death he answered ~gravely, speaking
in spanish and bowling.
Z IUen he pointed to the door.
AS l walked toward IL / paused mo-
mentarily by the window and looked
out on the crowd below. 1t filed the
sunlit street, save where a little raised
platform strewn with rushes protruded
itBelf-with heads from wall to wall,
with faces al turned one way-toward
me. It was a silent crowd, standing
hushed awe and expectation. the con-
seriousness OF which sent a sudden chill
no my heart, blanching my cheek and
making my blood run slow for a mo-
ment. The next I moved on to the
door. and bowling ito the spectators as
they stood aside began TO descend the
narrow staircase.
There were guards going down before
me: behind me were Master Lindstrom
and more guards. The Dutchman
reached forward in the gloom and
my hand, holding 1t as we went
ia a Arm, strong grip.
Newer fear, said ta h.:; cheeriiy.
hooking back. 1T is all right"
lille answered in words which l will
az write here. not wishing, as / have
said, to make certain things
/ suppose the doorway at the bottom
was accidentally blocked, for q few
steps short Of 1t the same momen /
started, despite myself, on hearing a
sudden clarnor and 9 roar OF many
what Is it?' asked tho Dutch
man.
lis III the duke of Gloves arriving,
Il expect" he whispered. He comes
Ia by the other gate
n moment later he moved on and
passed out into the light, the soldiers
before me stepping on either side 10
give me place, This sunshine for an
instant dazzled me. and | lowered my
eyes. AS | gradually raised them
again / saw before me n short lane
formed by two rows OF spectators kept
back by guards, and at the end OF this
two or three rought wooden steps lead
ing to a platformon which We're stand
Yng a nnber OF people, and above and
beyond all only the bright blue sky,
the roofs and gables OF the nearer
houses showing dark against Ii.
4 advanced steadily along the path
left for me and would have assembled
the steps. but at the foot OF them /
came to a standstill and looked around
Tor guidance. The persons on the
$raffold all had their backs turned to
rne and did not make way, while the
shouting and uproar hindered them
from hearing that we had come out.
Then Ii struck me. seeing that the peo-
pie at the windows were also gazing
away and taking no heed OF me, that
the duke was passing the farther end
sof the street. and a sharp pang of an
CRY palm shot through me. | had come
out to die. but that which was all TO
ms was SO little to these people tina
they turned away to see q fellow NOR
tal ride by.
Presently. as we stood there, In q
pit, as II were, getting no view. / felt
Master Lindstrom's hand, which still
clasped mine. to begin to shake. and
turning to him / found that his face
mad changed 10 a deep red. and that
his eyes were protruding with d kind
OF convulsive eagerness which Instant
nv infected me.
What Is IT." l stammered. I began
40 tremble also. The air rang, 1t
seemed 10 me, with one word. which Il
thousand tongues took up and reiter-
ated- Rut It was a German word, and
Il did not understand 1t.
Walt wait" Master Lindstrom ex-
claimed pray God II be truei"
He seized my other hand and held II
an though he would protect me from
Something. Az the same Van
Tree pushed past me. n bounding IN
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