The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1910-04-22
A Vision
3, F. A. Mitchell
Copyright, 1910. BY American Press
Association

I looked up dazed. I made no reply
for I was engaged In getting my bear
ings.
..This Is the TowerY' asked pres
emily.
Eyes, sir"
I was sitting on a bench in an oper
court In the Tower Of London. Before
me was a piece of pavement different
from the rest, some fifteen or twenty
feet square and In its center plate
on which was an inscription. l re-
membered being the evening before
in the quarters Of one of the Tower
officials, and that was all. How J
came; to be seated on the bench in the
early morning have never to this
day fully determined. At II had
started for my lodgings in Oxford
street, but could not remember going
there. One of the Tower attendants
commonly called ''beefeaters." had
reused me.
IfShow came to be there Is q mys
terry. what saw there Is a still greater
one. ! had been sitting long while
OF that ! was fully conscious. Whether
It was night or day have no recoilec
ton: but the scene witnessed seems
to ne to have been enacted In the day
My ..frst remembrance Is hearing
shouts Of "Long live Queen Mary" but
they seemed to come from without the
Enclosure. Within q few persons hur
ried2 by silently, as II in preparation
fot some momentous event. They were
all serious. and one or two of them
were In tears.
Then was conscious Of number
Of persons sitting with me about the
square bit Of pavement. though the
seatl on which they sat were Of rough
hewn wood. The men wore trunks,
hose, doublets and hats decorated with
feathers. the women stomachers and
large rufHed collars. Covering the
squsrs place on the pavement have
mentioned was q platform on which
rested q rectangular block of wood
about two feet high and followed at
the top on both sides. Beside 1t, lean
ing on huge AZ. was tall figure In
tight nttlng costume. Those about the
platform. which was plainly scafold,
wore serious countenances. Without
the Tower Enclosure heard sounds In.
dicatihg connection: 1.-THE dukes I'm
ished; death to all traitors!' A man
sitting next me whispered to another.
"It6sall over I'D on the hill"
a horror crept over me. ! would
gladly have gone away. but had no
power to move. Looking down toward
the other end Of the court where there
wer5 buildings for dwelling purposes.
] saw . lovely apparition at window.
. young girl apparently from seven
teen to twenty years old. At the
same time l heard the rumbling Of z
cart. Two young girls attendant on
the one ut the window tried to draw
her away. but she would not 60.
ut y the body Of her husband" J
heard some one say. Hes been exc.
cuted on Tower hill"
when. the cart had passed there
was. IN interval that my memory fails
to mn but the next scene was the
opening OF the door under the window
at which the young lady had appeared
and she came out with an officer. at
tended BY the two girls l had seer
with her and priest. She came to
ward the sca6old reading from bool
and praying. When she reached the
sca6old she ascended the steps Will
- much composure as u she were
going to her chamber and stood wait
ing for silence. When It came sht
spoke to the people. but have NJ
remembrance of what she said. Their,
she fknelt. prayed and asked permits
sion Of the priest to say psalm.
These religious features ended. sh
took Oh her gloves and her kerchief
which she handed to one of her maids
and 'loosened her gown. The execu
toner kneit before her and asked for
giyeness for what he was about to do
The girl then tied a handkerchief owe
her eyes with her own hands. Crop
Ing for the block. she asked. .Wher
u III? Guided to It. she knelt and lai,
her neck on It. saying, Lord. into TIL
hands / commend my spirit" The las
] remember was the N swinging owe
her.
Have you been sitting here a
night. sirr' asked the attendant.
.'lsdon't know. have Z vague reco
lection gradually coming back to me q
having followed last night when