Year: 1875

| tone, WHICH occOfQeu Ill Will HIS SueIu
fearful phrase. "Your patient has
spoken her last word in this world. She
is doomed to die by q secret though
strictly Just tribunal, but we would tenn
per justice with mercy and spare her the
shame and public disgrace. You can
cause her to die easily and secretly
therefore we have brought you here. -


"If this lady has committed any crime
so great as to deserve DEATH" he an
swered, full of compassion for the un-
fortunate, "she must meet her punish
ment from the hands of the public exc
cutioner, not by mine"


"By yours, and yours only" said one
of his conductors, gravely. "There is
no time TO waste in mere words. She
knows she has deserved death, and she
knows that she must die"


"God forbid !" exclaimed the physi-
clan, frozen horror stealing over him.
The ominous stiffness, the grim aspects
of the terrible men, struck chill to his
heart. He realized all the horror of his
position.


GA doctor never travels without his
tools" resumed the stranger and as he
spoke he turned the lace back from the
tender throat, and, pointing TO it, added
significantly, "Open the jugular vein
it is the easiest and quickest way 10 die. "


My grandfather started back amazed
and horrOr-struck. These were the
very words he had uttered during one of
those pleasant gatherings at the house of
celebrated Neapolitan few days back.


"How dare you propose to me such a
crime Z" he exclaimed. {" / am an En-
glishman, and viii not commit murder. "


"Pshaw your nation produces as
many honorable criminals as any other.
To your work, sir, and quickly. If you
have conscientious scruples, remember
an enforced sin lies lightly on the con-
science lay that comfort to your soul.
No more words" he added peremptorily
-"not one this is the time for action.


81 refuse to obey your command,
Let me 60"


The man who had been writing, and
until now had taken 10 part whatever in
the scene that was passing round him,
then rose up and joined the group.
Laying his hand lightly on my grand
fathers shoulder, he said


There is no escape for you, Doctor !;
every moment You hesitate you prolong
that woman's pain. She must die and
you can dispatch her with painless
speed.


What if l refuse? You cannot force
me to commit so foul murder.


He pointed to two swartby figures
(either soldiers or liveried servants Of
some noble family-my grandfather
could not tell which, who had been stand
ing motionless by the couch, and an
swered


"Then those faithful fellows will dis
patch you, and afterward dispatch her !;
they are not professional, and their work
will be clumsily done. If the operation
be not performed upon your patient be-
fore the clock strikes you know your
fate if you are obdurate, remember you
throw away your own life without saving
hers. She is doomed no power on
earth can save her."


It was vain to speak or expostulate
with those fends in human form. He
felt they were as stern and memorable as
fate. II was as cruel as horrible and
cowardly. Five men assembled TO wit
ness the professional murder of young
and beautiful woman What had she
donel whom mad she offended
Some secret machinery was at work !;
these men were mere instruments in the
hands of higher power-they had owned
as much they had no personal interest
in the matter. They were there TO carry
out justice, they said-secretly, it was
true but the woman had been lawfully
condemned, and the sentence of the law
must be privately executed.


The woman's eyes were fixed upon
them throughout the whole of this con-
versation, and travelled from one face TO
the other in hopeless agony ; not word
passed her ears, and only the one des-
pairing, changless expression sat like a
seal upon her face. She knew there was
only the one question to be solved Was
she to die by the unwilling hand of a
pitying stranger, or be killed cruelty by
professional murderers What a world
of terror must have been compassed in
those few moments of her life as she lay
watching and waiting there


The clock began TO chime the quar-
ters it was about to strike. At given
signal the statue-like figure stepped TOR.
ward and rapidly uncoiled rope with a
moose already made they were about to
slip it over his head and hang him to a
beam which ran along the center of the
ceiling. The horror of facing sudden
and violent end seized him-his death
would avail her nothing for whom he
died His senses were in whirl !; he
threw up his hands and sprang forward


"I1l do it !" he exclaimed, and fell on
his knees beside her. "They CW have
your life, l cannot save you, child but
i can shield you from their rough, cruel
hands, and put you painlessly to rest.
Forgive me, forgive me, for it is in mercy
TO you / do this cruel deed"


The white hand went out 10 him and
closed over his in a soft, forgivipg clasp;
the agony died out of the sweet eyes as
they rested one moment on his face
then with low sigh she closed rhem
and turned away her head. In another
moment her young life was ebbing slowly
away. He remained by her side, hold
ing her hand in his and watching till all
was over. He would not for second
leave her with those stern men, lest a
wounding word or rough touch NIGH;
disturb her on her way from this world
TO the next. He was conducted from the