The sunny South. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1875-1907, November 20, 1875, Image 1

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& w remits VOL. i. JOHNfi. SEALS, j i^iopRxKTOi? ATLANTA, GA., SATURDAY, NOV. 20. 1875. r FF , 'R\f^ i * 3 R ER ANNUM, 1 Tilt, Alb, \ IN ADVANCE. XO. 27. [For The Sunny South.] l SILVER LIXIVG. BY JAY. I am blind!— I am bliud! I thought it at first a terrible doom,— Deemed the Master unkiud, And prayed for the tomb, Where earth’s beauty and bloom From my vision were vailed; But light gleams thro" the gloom— Light that never has failed. In my sun-brightened youth, I pressed stoutly on thro’ the surging throng, Feeling nothing of ruth, * Thinking nothing of wrong, Though the weak met the strong, To be pushed from the road Already too long For such limbs and such load. But He tenders the wind; And since the Good Shepherd has darkened my sight. I find every one kind. This compensative light Silvers all the sad night; And I walk on the flowers, And feel their rich dowers Of beauty and bloom In their souls of perfume. [Written for The Sunny South.] WHITTEN IN BLOOD; OR. The Midnight Fledge. -1 Story of' the Lost Xapoleon’s lteiijn. B V M. (U’AD. CHAPTER VII. Walter drew his revolver, Imt realizing the hopelessness of attempting to light his way out, he restored the weapon to his pocket. The four men advanced until they stood close beside mm. lour more villainous laces coaid not have heen selected from any prison in the world. “What are you doing here?’' demanded the leader, after a moment. “I am a stranger, an American,” answered the young man. “I was fastened into the back yard and could not escape. I was seeking to reach the street by this route.” “You are one of the Americans who had the fight in the t'afe Imperial the other night?” queried the man. “Yes.” “And you had an adventure with assassins on the street a few hours ago?” “Yes. I dodged into the yard to escape them; the gate locked itself, and I could not get out.” “He speaks the truth,” said one of the others, “for I saw his friend at the hotel an hour ago, and heard him relating the adventure.” “All I ask is that you will guide me to the street,” replied Walter as there was a pause. The nu n consulted together, and then the leader said: “We cannot let you go; you have seen too much. It would be offering our heads to the guillotine.” “Rut I have seen nothing,” replied the young man: “I came in here only a moment ago, and could not remember your face if I were to see you again to-morrow. 1 care not wlio you are or what the object of your meeting here; 1 desire to reach my hotel as soon as possible, and we shall leave Paris within three or four days.” The men consulted again, and the leader said: “We will see about it by and by. Follow me.” He led the way down the hall and through several rooms and passages, and Walter followed. He believed that after further interrogation they would permit him to depart, as they must l»e convinced of the truth of his assertions, and he therefore felt less alarm than at first. The guide halted in a room about forty feet square. It was a conical chamber, dimly lighted by lamps. In the centre was a raised platform and a desk, and behind the desk sat tin* person who was acting as chairman or president of the meeting. The basement windows had been boarded over so that no ray of light could be seen from the inside, and the floor was covered deep with saw-dust, so that moving feet made no noise. Seated around the room were upwards of thirty persons. Some of them had a respectable, intel ligent look, and others were undoubtedly rob bers and ruffians. Not a word was said as Walter was conducted into the room. Three of the men sat down, and the fourth stood beside him in front of the desk. The silence was deep and impressive. Walter saw that every man in the room was looking at him, and it was only by a strong effort that he shook off a feeling of fear anil awe. “Does any one prefer clmrges against Walter Travelick?” asked the president at last, in a low' voice. “I do,” answered the man beside him. The American started as he heard his name spoken. He had entered it on the hotel regis ter, but lie did not suppose that a single inhab itant of Paris knew him. “What are the charges?” demanded the pres ident. “Seeking to steal the secrets of the Red Rand of Paris,” replied the accuser. “Walter Travelick, you hear the charges; are you guilty or not guilty?” inquired the pres ident. Walter’s surprise and amazement were great, but he replied that he was not guilty. “Have you witnesses?” asked the president of the accuser. “I have,” he answered, and he beckoned for the three men who had heen with him in the hall to come forward. I Each one was sworn, and their testimony was /alike. The guard at the door had heard the “Prisoner, last night yon were sentenced to die ! You have spent the day hoping that, your iriends would rescue you, but it was a vain hope. V lien the Red Rand marks a victim for death, he cannot escape !” I here was a pause for a moment, unbroken by any sound, then the president continued: “Prisoner, you are under sentence of death! In a ijnart'T of an hoar from now yon icill he a corpse!” repeated every WALTER TRAVELICK BROUGHT BEFORE THE TRIBUNAL OF THE RED BAND. American moving down the hall, and had called them out of the council ehamuer to assist in his capture. “Prisoner, you may speak,” said the president when the witnesses had been sworn. Everything had turned so suddenly that Wal ter could hardly realize liis situation. It was evi dent that he was in the midst of one of the numer ous political hands of conspirators which infected every city of France during the reign of the last Napoleon, and it was also evident that they were all desperate men. and would show him little favor if he were convicted of having played the part of a spy. It was the work of the police to hunt out and break up such bands, and the Emperor visited terrible punishment on those captured^ Each conspirator was in daily dread of the guillotine, and he would go to any length to secure revenge on any one who had attempted to give him up to the police. ••I have but few words to say,” commenced Walter in reply, “and it will be easy to show that I speak nothing but the truth.” He then went on and related the incidents already known to the reader, except that lie sup pressed tlie fact that lie had seen five of the conspirators enter at the alley gate. They had not seen him, and the president might infer that the young man had not left the gate by which lie had entered. “Prisoner, you are adjudged innocent of the charges brought against you,” said the presi dent, in reply to the statement. Walter's heart grew lighter. “Rut,” continued the official, “you are now possessed of our secret. You know why we gather here, or at least suspect, and we must either regard you as an enemy or as a friend and brother. •*I am an American; I have no interest, pecu niary or political in France; I care not whether Napoleon reigns or a republic is founded, and it would be no object for me to betray you,” an swered Travelick. “That is true, in a measure,” answered the president: “but the police may see you when you leave here: they may catch a look or a word, and they would dog and press you until they learned more. They are sharp, keen fellows, and only such men as feel, in imagination, the sharp knife of the guillotine on their necks will be prudent and discreet. “I will take a solemn oath never to betray you by word or sign,” said Walter. “That is not sufficient,” was the answer; “you must join us and work with us. You are young— we know you are brave, and we shall welcome you as a brother.” “Rut I am to leave Paris in a day or two with my friend, perhaps never to return,” answered Travelick. “Fate is a greater master and a more power- \ ful tyrant than will,” answered the president. “I do not wish to plot against the govern ment, neither do I care to uphold it,” continued j Walter. “I shall soon return to America.” “You have your choice,” was the answer. “If you do not become a brother, we shall consider you as an enemy.” It was a strange position to be placed in, and for two or three minutes there was a silence so deep that the ticking of the president’s watch was plainly heard. .“ 1 will not join you,” said Walter at last, in a . decided voice. “Then lead him to the dungeon, and at this hour to-morrow night he shall die," answered the president. Three men rose up, and one of them beckoned to the American to follow. CHAPTER VIII. For an instant Walter was determined to re sist. He had one of the famous American six- shooters lmndy to his grasp, and lie hud the courage to make a brave tight. " The prisoner will follow,” said the president in the same tone of voice lie had used all along. The American looked around him. Nearly forty faces were turned toward him, and there was not a whisper to break the awful silence as lie stood there and waited. If there had been shouting and excitement, he would have fought the Red Rand without thinking of consequences. They maintained silence, and they looked at him so sternly and with sueli menace that liis determination to resist soon vanished. There was the same deep silence as lie left the room behind liis guides. They knew he was armed, but they did not even care to deprive him of his weapon. The guides passed out of the room by a side-door, along a ball, narrow and chilly, and at the further end they swung back an iron door and stepped aside for him to pass in. Y'ou can retain your pistol,” said one of the men as Walter passed them. “Sometimes a brave man prefers to be liis own executioner. If we should find you dead when we open the door again, it would be sent to your friend at the hotel. ” The young man's cheeks were very pale as the Walter judged that the block of houses was empty, or rented by some one in sympathy with the conspirators. The police might discover this fact, and make a descent. The shrewdness of Colonel Rurton might solve the mystery, or perhaps the fellows only meant to frighten him, and then let him go, trusting in liis solemn promise not to betray them. There was hope, and Travelick would not allow himself to be cast down in spirit. It might as well have been night outside for ever ’’ Die daylight which could reach the close, o ult. An hour or so after being locked lip, ti.e young man heard a movement outside, and placing liis ear to the air-hole in the dooij lie made out that the conspirators were leaving the building. It was three o'clock in the morning, he judged, and he realized that the long hours which must pass before another mid night would seem like weeks to him. Deep silenee reigned as soon as the movement of feet subsided, and then he knew that he was alone. He sat down again and pondered over tlie inci dents of the night, and the solemn stillness un strung liis nerves more than the threats uttered by the president of the council. Computing time as best lie could, Travelick finally decided that it was morning. He could hear a faint rumble, as of vehicles passing along the street, but he could hear no movement around the building. The police should be dungeon-door shut up on him, and left liim in * 1 searching for him by this time, and perhaps lie midnight darkness. He stood in liis tracks had tlie means of attracting their attention, until the sound of their retiring footsteps had Placing the muzzle of his revolver at the air- died away, and then lie groped around to ascer tain what kind of a place lie had been confined in. The dungeon was no more nor less than a vault, constructed for the use of some one who had owned or occupied the house at some time. hole of tlie door, he fired the whole six bullets down the hall. The reports sounded like shocks of thunder, and tlie smoke came floating back until he was nearly stilled. Such a roar- ini; must be heard for a whole blocks around, lie It was seven or eight feet long, about five feet thought, and he trembled with expectation as he wide, and tlie shelves and hooks were proof that put liis ear to the door and listened, it had been used tor the storage of valuables. heard outside, or. if heard, had not been traced. He had no more cartridges with liim, and if the it The walls were of brick, solid as the walls of the building, and but for » hole in the door, the vault would have been as close as a grave. Es cape from such a prison was simply impossible. Walter's coolness had not entirely deserted pistol reports had not been heard outside, him at any point in the whole affair, and when would be useless for liim to raise liis voice, he had investigated liis prison, he sat down on ~ the door and considered what had occurred. What had transpired in the council chamber seemed like a dream, and it was difficult to re alize liis situation. Why had lie not chosen the CHAPTER IX. "In a quarter of an hour!’ voice in the room in chorus. Walter did not know wliat to say. as no more questions were asked, and he passed his eyfes ' around on the collection of evil faces. The gas was turned only part way on, and thus every face was darkened, and the dim light served to increase the burden of awe which the prisoner could not help but feel. Did they mean to mur- : der him in cold blood ? “Prisoner, in ten minutes more you will be a corpse!” said the president. “In ten minutes more!” was repeated by the band. There was something so solemn and awe-in spiring in the situation that Walter felt the per spiration start on his forehead, and he found himself trembling. He counted the band, and ; he counted just seventy-two. Then, turning to the president, he asked : “Do you mean to murder me in cold blood?” There was no reply, and the silence was more terrible than before. ; “ I give you my word of honor that I will never betray your secret!” continued Travelick. Not a man even moved to break the awful silence, which lasted for a few minutes. Then the president said : “Prisoner, in five minutes more you will he a 1 corpse !” “Five minutes more !” answered every voice. “ Would you murder me—a stranger to all- one who only discovered your meeting by acci dent?” demanded Walter, advancing a step toward the president. Silence alone answered ! “You shall answer me!” shouted Travelick, becoming desperate and shaking his fist at one | and another, i Silence yet ! " Some of you shall pay dearly for my blood !” | he exclaimed, feeling that desperation wnioii comes from dark despair. There was a stout chair near him, and lie j seized it and retreated back to the partition wall, | so that they could not surround him. Not a ? man moved—not a whisper was to lie heard ! There was something awful in the silence ! Walter knew that they would kill him, but he would tight them and die fighting ! The silence grew more impressive as the last ■ moment drew nigh. Walter grasped his chair as he saw that the president was about to speak, and at that instant the tinkle of a bell was heard. The band looked from one to another, and signs of excitement were plain to be seen in every part of the room. Three of the band left the room on tip-toes, and the president rose and said in a low voice : “ Let every brother be prepared for the worst!” They gave Walter no further attention, and he wondered what was about to take place. The band were excited and alarmed, and pistols and knives were to be counted by tlie score. There was another moment of suspense, and then a second bell tinkled loud and clear. “ It was a false alarm, brothers !” said tlie pres ident, seeming greatly relieved; and all faces were turned toward tlie door. Steps and whispers were heard, and when tlie door opened Walter beheld a female, who was followed by the three guards. The entire band sprang to their feet, waved their hats, and in hoarse whispers shouted: " Hurrah ! hurrah ! hurrah !” The lady bowed in acknowledgment, and as she walked to tlie centre of the room, Travelick saw that she had a face surpassingly beautiful, a graceful form and a commanding demeanor. “I am glad to see the full band here to-night,” she said, in a sweet voice, as she looked around her. “Our cause is prospering, and recruits will soon dock to us by hundreds !” The president had abdicated liis seat in her favor, and she was about to accept it when she for the first time caught sight of the American, who was in tlie shadow. “ Ah ! who is this ? What does it mean ?” slie asked. It is an American who stumbled in upon ns The minutes passed away until it bad been long half hour since lie fired the first shot, and last night, and lie would not join the band,” re- then lie knew that tlie sounds had not been plied the president. “ He has onr secret, is bold and reckless, and I had condemned him to death.” «She approached Travelick and peered into his face. After a brief look she drew back and said to the band: *• Proceed with the regular order of business ! One of the guides had hinted at suicide. YVal- ter was not deprived of tlie means of taking his life, for lie had liis pocket-knife left, but he I will speak with the prisoner and see if I can would not even entertain the idea. He was now not induce liim to become a brother! ’ as anxious to live as he had been once to die. Walter had heard that voice before, but he other alternative, and by that means saved liis When assured of the fact that the pistol reports could not tell when nor where. He was looking life, if gaining nothing more ? He had made liis had failed to excite a search, he sat down on the down upon her in astonishment, when slie beck- choice after deliberate thought, and lie was not floor and did not move again for hours. Onee oned him to follow and led the way out ot the sorry, although he had every reason to believe lie fell asleep, but awoke with a start, and lie room by a door which he hail not before ob- that lie would not live beyond a few hours. He could not tell whether he had slept for a moment served. * As they entered a smaller room, slie had no sympathy with the motive which in- or for hours. He was growing desperate under motioned toward a chair and turned up the gas. duced the ruffians and plotters to league to- the awful stillness, when lie heard footsteps in Walter had never seen her before, though he getlier. Their object was insurrection andmur- the hall, and before lie could rise up the door was certain of the voice. She took a chair near der, and he would not uphold it. The look of of the vault swung open. him, and as he caught a fair view ot her face, ho each stamped him as an outcast from society, Travelick’s thought that friends had come to could not conceal his astonishment and admira- and the American would not submit to the deg- rescue him was dispelled at once. The three tion. radation of associating with them when he had men whom he had followed from the council nothing to gain. He knew wliat the brave old chamber the previous night stood before him. Colonel would do under like circumstances, and j “Come forth !” said one of them, as Walter he would do the same—die ! ; stood up. And yet there was a faint hope. IMace a man He followed them down the hall and into the “You would not heed the warnings!” she said, dropping her eyes before liis earnest gaze. “ I have the secret!” lie exclaimed, springing from his chair. “You are the one who warned me. Y'ou are Queen Imogene, and this is your in the middle of the ocean, with only a broken chamber. His eyes had looked upon the intense , Red Rand !” oar to cling to. and he will hope. The Colonel darkness so long that when he entered the “Hush ! do not speak so loud . she continued, must have missed him, or lie would not have lighted room he could not for a moment tell and at the same time motioning for him to re- wlieeled round and fired into the crowd. Bur- whether it was occupied or not. After a mo- suine his seat. _ ton would either suspect that Traveiick had been i ment, he looked around and saw that the cham- i “Y'ou warned me at the jeweler s wirdow— captured and murdered by the assassins, or that , her contained sixty or seventy men. The presi- you sent me the note in the theatre ! he contin- he had dodged in somewhere to escape them, dent sat at the desk, as before, and the crowd of ued, in a whisper. In either case he would bestir himself. If the men made no more noise than men of stone. “It is true,” $he answered, police were put on search at the spot where the As the American and one of his guides were “And you claimed that it was on account of van broke down, they would be apt to make left standing before the president, that official : friendship !” some discovery to benefit the prisoner. said: i “It was.”