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Article THE DOOMED ONE AND THE EXECUTIONER. ← Page 7 of 9 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Doomed One And The Executioner.
its victims , and yet his abhorrence of this alternative failed to rouse in him that moral courage which could alone save him from the toils of the cunning headsman—want of firmness and decision were the curse ofhis character , and he fell their victim . Three months had elapsed since the first interview between Florian and the executioner , during which time the former had become an inmate of his house , and in that secure asylum escaped the fears which "
haunted him . The old man ' s daughter , whom , on his first introduction , the fugitive recollected to have been of the passengers in the diligence on his flight from the university , was beautiful and accomplished ; the crafty father silently watched their growing intelligence , and crowed in secret over the success of his scheme . " I think it high time , my son , " said the old man , one morning , " that we should proceed to business . Come with me to my workshop . "
Florian looked at him in silent wonder , and followed him into the capacious cellar of his old house ; unlocking a door which his guest had never before observed , he entered with his conductor , but started back in dismay , on observing a number of executioners' swords and axes hanging round the walls of a low vaulted room , in the centre of which stood a figure with a jointed movable head ; the old man took one of the swords from the wall , and carefully wiing the glittering
p blade , offered it to Florian . "Now , my son , " he exclaimed , "try your strength upon this figure—it is easy work , and requires nothing but a steady hand . " " Gracious heaven ! you cannot be in earnest , " said the terrorstricken youth , retreating from him in deadly terror . " Not in earnest , " replied the old man , sternly ; " I consider your compliance as a matter of course . You love my daughter have
, you won her affections , and surely you are not the man to play her false . " " Heaven forbid 1 " said Florian , " I love her dearly ; for her gentle sake am willing to renounce the world and its prejudices ; but I am young , father , and industrious , possess valuable knowledge , and can easily maintain a wife and family ; do , my kind father , relinquish this dreadful vocation . "
"And my daughter ! ' exclaimed the headsman , with a loud and bitter emphasis . " What is to become of her?—if , even you could step back within the pale of society , she is for ever excluded ? But you have neither moral courage , or animal bravery enough for any worldly pursuit ; your station in society is gone—suspicion hangs over you , and , if you leave this safe asylum , the sword of justice will face you at every turn . There , read that paper , its contents will , I trust , bring you
to your senses . " With these words , which struck a chill to the heart of Florian , he took a paper from his pocket ; it was a judicial summons from the police , seeking intelligence of a student who had disappeared from the university : his name , with an accurate description of his dress and person followed . The headsman saw his advantage , but content with the impression he had made upon his victim , he ceased to press for an immediate decisiontold him to consider his proposaland left him to
, , regain his composure in the society of his lovely daughter , Madelon , whose influence over him hourly increased ; and , at length he became the willing , if not the happy , husband of the executioner ' s daughter . One morning , shortly after his marriage , his father-in-law received an order from the authorities of the town to proceed to a small burgh on the following day , and there to behead a criminal , whose execution had
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Doomed One And The Executioner.
its victims , and yet his abhorrence of this alternative failed to rouse in him that moral courage which could alone save him from the toils of the cunning headsman—want of firmness and decision were the curse ofhis character , and he fell their victim . Three months had elapsed since the first interview between Florian and the executioner , during which time the former had become an inmate of his house , and in that secure asylum escaped the fears which "
haunted him . The old man ' s daughter , whom , on his first introduction , the fugitive recollected to have been of the passengers in the diligence on his flight from the university , was beautiful and accomplished ; the crafty father silently watched their growing intelligence , and crowed in secret over the success of his scheme . " I think it high time , my son , " said the old man , one morning , " that we should proceed to business . Come with me to my workshop . "
Florian looked at him in silent wonder , and followed him into the capacious cellar of his old house ; unlocking a door which his guest had never before observed , he entered with his conductor , but started back in dismay , on observing a number of executioners' swords and axes hanging round the walls of a low vaulted room , in the centre of which stood a figure with a jointed movable head ; the old man took one of the swords from the wall , and carefully wiing the glittering
p blade , offered it to Florian . "Now , my son , " he exclaimed , "try your strength upon this figure—it is easy work , and requires nothing but a steady hand . " " Gracious heaven ! you cannot be in earnest , " said the terrorstricken youth , retreating from him in deadly terror . " Not in earnest , " replied the old man , sternly ; " I consider your compliance as a matter of course . You love my daughter have
, you won her affections , and surely you are not the man to play her false . " " Heaven forbid 1 " said Florian , " I love her dearly ; for her gentle sake am willing to renounce the world and its prejudices ; but I am young , father , and industrious , possess valuable knowledge , and can easily maintain a wife and family ; do , my kind father , relinquish this dreadful vocation . "
"And my daughter ! ' exclaimed the headsman , with a loud and bitter emphasis . " What is to become of her?—if , even you could step back within the pale of society , she is for ever excluded ? But you have neither moral courage , or animal bravery enough for any worldly pursuit ; your station in society is gone—suspicion hangs over you , and , if you leave this safe asylum , the sword of justice will face you at every turn . There , read that paper , its contents will , I trust , bring you
to your senses . " With these words , which struck a chill to the heart of Florian , he took a paper from his pocket ; it was a judicial summons from the police , seeking intelligence of a student who had disappeared from the university : his name , with an accurate description of his dress and person followed . The headsman saw his advantage , but content with the impression he had made upon his victim , he ceased to press for an immediate decisiontold him to consider his proposaland left him to
, , regain his composure in the society of his lovely daughter , Madelon , whose influence over him hourly increased ; and , at length he became the willing , if not the happy , husband of the executioner ' s daughter . One morning , shortly after his marriage , his father-in-law received an order from the authorities of the town to proceed to a small burgh on the following day , and there to behead a criminal , whose execution had