The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-07-17
cHAPrER xv1--contlnued.

should have helped one to 1t. But there
are times-and this to me was one
when the strange seems the ordinary
md conmonplace; ! took the saek ane
slit i'm the lining. Yes. the letter l hac
left there was still there-the letter tc
Mistress Clarence. ] drew it out. The
corners of the little packet We're frayed
and the parchment WAS stained ans
dad penetrated to it. But the seal was
whole. l placed 1t, as 1t was. in Maste,
bindstrom's hands.
Give It," 1 said. ITO the duchess aft.
erward. 1t concerns her. You have
what use she pleases OF it."
I turned away then az, sat down
Feeling a tribe Hurried and excited. as
pne about to start upon a journey
might feel-not afraid nor exceedingly
depressed, but braced up to make a
hid feel by the knowledge hat 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 NJ were con-
wersing together. Among them were
two or three Jfncers. q priest Who had
come TO offer me his services and some
tnquisltive gazers who had obtained ad
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.
I Will not set down the letter I wrote
TO the duchess. though 1t were easy for
me to do so, seeing that her son has 1t
now. 1t contains some things very
prope to be said by a dying man. OF
which / am not a~shamed-God forbid!-
but which 1t would not be meet for me
to repeat here. Enough that 1 told her
IN a few words who I was and entreated
her IN the name of whatever services
had rendered her to let Petronilla and
Pr Anthony know how I had died. and
! something which would, ]
thought. comfort her and her husband
namely. that I was not afraid or ir
m suffering OF mind or body.
The writing of this shook my com
posure a little, but as 1 laid down the
Pen n looked up and found hat the
Time was come when I took courage In
g marvellous manner. h captain OF
the guard think the out Of a com.
passionate desire not to interrupt me
they had allowed me some minutes OF
srace-came to me. leaving the group
That I was waited for. I rose at once
and gave the letter to Master Lind.
etron. with some message in which
Dympmn and Anne were not forgotten
md then. with a smile-for I felt under
81 Ihose ayes as II | were going into
S%SAo. l. LII TSduy
II you are. It ls q fine day to die. You
know" l added gayly. "in England we
have a proverb. the better the day the
better the deed!' So 1T is we'll to have
p good day to have a good death, ST,
"a soldiers DEATH. sir. is a good
death" he answered gravely, speaking
IN Spanish and bowling.
Then he pointed to the door.
AS Ilevalked toward it I paused mo.
mentaflly by the window and looked
put on the crowd below. 1t filled the
aunlit street, save where a little raised
platform strewn with rushes protruded
btself-with heads from wall to wall
with faces all turned one way-toward
me, It was a silent crowd, standing
m hushed awe and expectation. the con.
of which sent a sudden chill
20 my heart. branching my cheek and
making my blood run slow for a mo-
ment. The next I moved on to the
door. and bowling to the spectators as
they stood aside began to descend the
marrow staircase.
z There We're guards going Down before
me: behind me were Master Lindstrom
and more guards. The Dutchmar
reeached Forward in the gloom and
clasped my hand. holding 1T as we weni
down in q f1rla, strong grip;
looking back st is all right
He answered in words which I will
not write here. not wishing, as I have
said. to make certain things common
I suppose the doorway at the bottom
was accidentally blocked. for a few
steps short Of 1t the same moment
started, despite myself. on hearing {
sudden clamor and q roar of man,
voices outside.
What is it7" asked the Dutch.
man.
rs ia h duke of cleves arriving
ovnock - o,o rynNurocol err ..-.~
in by the other gate"
A moment later he moved on ant
passed out into the light, the soldier.
before me stepping on either side tt
give me place. This sunshine for al
instant dazzled me, n I lowered m,
again l saw before me a short Ian,
formed by two rows OF spectators KEEP
back by guards, and at the end Of thi
two or three rought wooden steps lead
ing to a platformon which were stand
Ing q nmber Of people, and above an,
the roofs m gables of the neare
houses showing dark against 1t.
I advanced steadily along the patl
left for me and would nave ascende,
the steps. but at the foot of them
game to q standstill n looked aroun,
bcaffold ell had their backs turned t
me and did not make way. while tn
shouting and uproar hindered Their
From hearing that we had come GU,
Then 1t struck me. seeing that the PEG
pie at the windows were also gain
AWAY and taking nj heed Of me, tina
the duke was passing the farther en-
of the street. and a sharp pang Of an
cry pain shot through me. I had com
5iout to die. but that which was all I
me was SO little to these people tina
they turned awayrto see a fellow NOR
Hal ride by.
Presently. as we stood there. in
pit. as It were. getting no view. I fel
Master Lindstrom's hand. which sti
clasped mine to begin to shake. an
turning to him I found that his fac
had changed to a deep red. and tina
his eyes were protruding with a kin
of convulsive eagerness which instant
~ infected me.
What is it?" I stammered. I bega
to tremble also. The air rang
seemed to me. with word. which
Thousand tongues took up and reitcr
,ated. But 1t was a German word. an
Ibid not understand 1t.
swat. watt" Master Lindstrom en-
claimed. pray God it be true!"
He seized my other hand and held
- though he would protect me frol
something. At the same moment Va
Tree pushed past me. and bounding u