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CATHARINE HOWARD.
17
It was now dark, and torches were called for to haste our task. Here an unseen hitch occurred; the headsman could not be found. Whether frightened by a Queen's death, he had slipped off, none could say. And now, there was much disputation, and we were like to have left off and to have led her in the Tower. A royal herald, mounting the scaffold, gave the news. There went up a great murmur from the crowd; some were for putting it off, some were for a new executioner, and some weeping like any woman. Yet she took it all in good part and turning to the priest said, "Father ! If they would kill me, I beseech you let it be now."
The matter settled; the herald, raising his staff, called for some citizen who would do the office. At this turn,
the crowd held quiet; and no response coming, the herald descended.
But fate willed that the spectacle should come to an ending. A voice was raised; and soon the crowd giving back, a tall man, closewrapped in a cloak, pushed his way forward. He wore no head-gear, nor badge of office, but his face was covered with a black mask. Ascending the scaffold, he fronted the Queen. She eyed him calmly, as had been her proceedings, and bade him hasten his task. He whispered something, and, drawing close, lifted his mask for her alone. She turned chalk white, and leaned against the stones. Then bending near him she half smiled.
"Duke Henry" she murmured "this were a sorry ending to our play."
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FATHER AND DAUGHTER, FROM "THE FISHING SMACK."