Year: 1875

THE FAMILY CELL.


1t was about midnight when poor
Van Baerle was locked up in the prison
of the Buitenhof.


What Rosa fol osaw had come to pass.
On finding the cell of Cornelius De
WItte empty, the wrath OF the people
ran very high, and had Gryphus fallen
into the hands of those madmen, he
would certainly have had to pay with
his life for the prisoner


But this fury had vented itself most
amply on the two brothers when they
were overtaken by the Murderers, thanks
to the precaution which William the
man of precautions-had taken in having
the gates of the city closed


A momentary lull had therefore set
in, whilst tine prison was empty, and
Rosa availed herself of this favorable
moment to come forth from her hiding
place, which she also induced her father
to leave.


The prison was therefore completely
deserted. Why should people remain
in Jail, whilst murder was going on at
the Tol HEX?


Gryphus came forth trembling behind
the courageous Rosa. They went to close
the great gate, at least as well as it
would close, considering that it was halt
demolished 1t was easy to see that a
hurricane of mighty fury had passed
here


About four O'Clock return Of the
noise was heard, but of no threatening
character to Gryphus and his daughter
The people were only dragging in the
two corpses, which they came back to
gibbet at the usual place of execution.


Rosa hid herself this time also. but
only that she might not see the ghastly
spectacle.


At midnight, people again knocked at
the gate of the jail; or rather at the
barricade which served in its stead: il
was Cornelius Van B1erle whom they
were bringing.


When the jailer received this new in
mate, and saw from the warrant the
name and station of his prisoner, he
muttered with his turnkey smile


"Godson of Cornelius De White
Well, young man, we have just here the
family cell, and we shall give it to You.


And quite enchanted with his joke
the ferocious Orangeman took his cresse
and his keys TO conduct Cornelius to thu
cell. which, on that very morning, Cor
nelius De Witte had left to go into exile
or what, in revolutionary times, is mean
instead by those sublime philosophers
who lay it down as an axiom of high pol
icy, :'It is the dead only who do not re-
turn"


Ga the way which the despairing flo
rist had to traverse to reach that cell
he heard nothing bnt the barking of {
dog, and saw nothing but the face of &
young girl.


The dog rushed forth from niche in
the wall, shaking his heavy chain, anC
shifting all round Cornelius in order sc
much the better TO recognize him ii
|, case be should be ordered 10 pounct
upon him.


The young girl. whilst the prisone
was mounting the staircase, appeared a
the narrow door of her chamber, whicl
opened on that very flight Of steps; an,
holding the lamp in her right hand, sh
at the same time lit up her pretty bloom
ing face, surrounded by a protusion
rich wavy golden locks. whilst with he
left she held her white night~dress closel
over her breast. having been rouse
from her first slumber by the unexpecte
arrival of Van Baerle.


, 1t would have made a fine picture
worthy of Rembrandt, the gloomy wind
ing stairs Illuminated by the reddis
! ! glare of the cresset Of Gryphus, with hi
e scowling jailers countenance at the tol


the melancholy figure of Cornelius bend
4 ing over the banister, to look down upo
a the sweet face of Rosa. standing, as
: were, in the bright frame Of the door
e her chamber, with hurriel men at bein
e thus seen by stranger.
# And at the bottom, quite in the 81 al
[ where the details are absorbed in I'll


obscurity, the mastiff, with his eyes eli
a tening like carbuncles, and shaking h
?. chain, on which the double light fro


the lamp of Rosa, and cresset of Cir,
# phus threw brilliant glitter.
:, The sublime master would, howeve
n have been altogether unable to rend
h the sorrow expressed in the face of Ros
g when she saw this pale, handsome your


man, slowly climbing the stairs al
j. thought Of the full import Of the wort