The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1908-07-16
CHAPTER xvI-continued.

"dS u strange way OF reCoVefln,
ones property-strange that the euem,
sshould have helped one to it. But Their,
ARE tirnes-and this to me was one
@nen the strange seems the ordinar.
ana commonplace. l took the sack ant
sslioped my hand through a well know
slit I'm the lining. Yes, the letter l hat
left there was Still there-the lCAter t.
Mistress Clarence. / drew 1t out. The
corners OF the little packet We're frayed
aAIru the parchment was stained ant
aisScoiored, no doubt by the damp which
mad penetrated to it. But the seal was
whole. I placed 1T, as 1t was. in Mastel
IArndstrom's hands.
Give It," ! said, ito the duchess aft.
onward. 1t concerns her. You have
a'eard us talk about it. Bid her make
what use h pleases of it,
away then and sat down
feeling n trife Hurried and excited, as
one ahout to start upon a journey
might fcel-not afraid nor exceedingly
depressed, but braced up to make a
brave show and hide what sadness /
aid feel by the knowledge that many
eeyes were upon me, and that more
Monid be watching me presently. Il
N Tar n of the room a number of
people bad now gathered and were con
VefsfnE together. Among them were
snot only my %jailers of the night, but
TWO or three officers, q priest who had
sc1Tne 10 offer me his services and some
CSHNt - ~ iItld ttd-
mfissfon. Their curiosity, however, did
mot distress me. On the contrary. was
grad to hear the stir and murnur Of life
about me to the last.
4 VIII not set down the letter I wrote
40 the duchess, though 1t were EASY for
gne to do SO, seeing that her son has II
now 1t contains some things very
fssroper to be said by a dying man. of
.s4hich l am not ashamed-God forbid!-
.ooS when 1T would not be meet for me
% repeat here. Enough that I told her
I'm q rev words who l was and entreated
assr In the name of whatever services
4 mad RENDERED her to let Petronilla and
S5tT Anthony know how I had died. and
q something which would. /
comfort her and her husband
-nAInely that | was not afraid or in
any suffering of mind or body.
Ibe writing of his shook NV com
pusure a little, but as l nc down the
Zen n hooked up and found that the
eimo WAS come when I took courage in
= marvellous manner The captain of
lit think that out of a COM
iyaa0aonate desire not to interrupt me
aney mad allowed me some minutes of
Ha0Ns-came to me, leaving the group
" THO other end. n told me grayely
natl was waited for. / rose at once
- save the letter to Master Lind
s1PyIsIrsina and Anne were not forgotten
! = ti'ts1, with a smile-for I felt under
,Sa these eyes as If / were going into
t.attlaI tald: Gentlemen. I am ready
sf you sise- It Is a fine day to die. You
know, ! added gayly, "in England we
better the deed!' So 1t Is well to have
= FOOD day to have a good death, sir
IN soldiers death, sir, is a good
lear, ne answered gravely. speaking
q Spanish and bowling.
T. 1ILncn he pointed to the door.
fA5 j walked toward it i paused mo-
xHenfHr1y by the window and looked
Uut TN he GROVE below. 1t filed the
sunlit street, save where a little raised
DaMIIorm strewn with ruslles protruded
GtSelf-with heads from wall to vail
vRsih faces all turned one way-toward
nc It was a silent crowd, standing
I'M hushed awe n expectation, the con-
9c60usieSs of which sent q sudden chill
stD my heart, blanching my cheek and
snzharg my blood run slow for a mo-
door. and bowling to the spectators As
they stood aside began to descend the
ezlaFE0w staircase.
There were guards going down before
ane:: behind me We're Master Lindstrom
more guards. The Dutchman
Reached forward in the gloom and
sEaasped my hand. holding 1t as we went
sAoYym IN q firm, strong grip.
Never fear,'sI said to him cheerily,
hooking back. Tits all right"
{ He sansHered in words which / will
not write here. not wishing. as / have
ss1Id. sp nake certain things common.
y EupposesatEa doorway at the bottom
was accidentally blocked, for a few
atepS short gpfxi the same moment /
started, despite myself, on hearing a
sudden ciamors n a roar of many
voices outside.
What IS it?s asked tho Dutch
man, =,
rs IS the duke Of Cloves arriving,
4 expect he whispered. He comes
by the other gata.s
"A moillent later he moved on and
Yoasscd out into the light, the soldiers
'1e1Oge Iae stepping on either side to
s8ive me place. This sunshine for d Il
dazzled ms. and / lowered my
AS gradually raised them
ssza1n I saw before me a short lane
FORMED by two rows of spectators kept
0nEk by guards, and at the end OF this
9spu or three rought wooden steps lead
ang to piatfornon which we're stand
ser1g - gnrnber Of people, and above and
sHSny1xRA all only the bright blue sky.
szh0 roofs and gables OF the nearer
ks1oslees showing lark against 1t.
y advanced steadily along the path
syeft Tor me and would have assembled
the steps. but at the foot of them 4
same to a standstill Ind looked around
Gur guidance. The persons on the
acnnold MI had their backs turned to
- md did not make way, while the
1a1e1ting and uproar hindered them
GNosn hearing that we had come out.
A1san Il struck me. seeing that the peo-
10 ~ \ windows were also gazing
49, n taking no heed OF me. that
se1se dukc was passing the farther end
- tho street, n sharp pang OF an
skxy rain shot through me ] had come
~ die, but that which was all to
- 0naa So lftflaS#fo fhaca pncxxI~g 49,.