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Literary
June 21, 1912
The Pascoag Herald
Pascoag, Burrillville, Providence County, Rhode Island
What is this article about?
The Earl of Emberton encounters the ghost of Anne Boleyn at the Tower Hill scaffold after her execution. He falls in love, pleads to take her to France, but she returns to the block for a final beheading. He collapses in stupor, suffers mental illness, and later obsesses over her portrait until death.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
her voice.
"Do you think that they would welcome me after what occurred today?"
"Then you must come with me," said the earl. "To stay here another hour would drive you to a madhouse."
In Emberton's heart suddenly, without requiring time to develop, there was born a great love for this desolate being who had passed through so strange an ordeal. Since she did not move he sat down beside her. A chill wind made her shiver, and he folded his cloak around her, leaving his arms about the cloak. His eyes fell upon the band at her neck, and as his hand rested upon her shoulder he took the ribbon in his fingers and moved it just so far that in the dim light he saw what he thought was a fine red line.
She drew his hand away. Hers was as cold as ice.
"Go with me," he pleaded. "You are cold and desolate. I will warm your heart with mine. I will make you forget this dreadful place. I will take you to sunny France. This dreary town is not fit for one so delicate, so sensitive. In France there are no troubles. The court and the nobles live in bright Paris, with its gardens, while the peasants tread the purple grapes in the wine vats, singing gayly. I came from there only today. We will go back together."
She turned her eyes upon his and seemed to drink in every word. He fancied a color coming into the pale cheek; that the icy hand he held in his was less cold.
"I will go with you," she said, "and love you forever, but first let me take one last look at the block."
"No, no," he cried; "no more of death! Come rather into life."
Despite his pleadings she moved up the steps, looking back at him wistfully. He held her hand, but it seemed to slip from his as if it were unreal. He caught at her robe, but it was fluttering in the wind and eluded his grasp.
"Listen," she said, pausing.
It seemed that he could hear a low murmuring of many voices. Then all was still.
She moved on, mounting each step heavily, as if weighted with lead, till she had reached the platform. Then, waving her hand to him as if in adieu, she kneeled and placed her head upon the block.
Emberton fancied he heard something moving swiftly through the air, a thud as of steel entering wood.
The next morning at daylight as the watch moved across Tower hill he discovered the Earl of Emberton lying in a stupor at the foot of the scaffold. He was taken to his home, where he lay for months with a diseased brain, and when his reason returned he left London forever. Even in his beloved France he found neither health nor happiness. No one save a menial was ever admitted to his bedroom, and after his death a portrait was discovered above his mantel—his sovereign's beheaded queen, Anne Boleyn.
"Do you think that they would welcome me after what occurred today?"
"Then you must come with me," said the earl. "To stay here another hour would drive you to a madhouse."
In Emberton's heart suddenly, without requiring time to develop, there was born a great love for this desolate being who had passed through so strange an ordeal. Since she did not move he sat down beside her. A chill wind made her shiver, and he folded his cloak around her, leaving his arms about the cloak. His eyes fell upon the band at her neck, and as his hand rested upon her shoulder he took the ribbon in his fingers and moved it just so far that in the dim light he saw what he thought was a fine red line.
She drew his hand away. Hers was as cold as ice.
"Go with me," he pleaded. "You are cold and desolate. I will warm your heart with mine. I will make you forget this dreadful place. I will take you to sunny France. This dreary town is not fit for one so delicate, so sensitive. In France there are no troubles. The court and the nobles live in bright Paris, with its gardens, while the peasants tread the purple grapes in the wine vats, singing gayly. I came from there only today. We will go back together."
She turned her eyes upon his and seemed to drink in every word. He fancied a color coming into the pale cheek; that the icy hand he held in his was less cold.
"I will go with you," she said, "and love you forever, but first let me take one last look at the block."
"No, no," he cried; "no more of death! Come rather into life."
Despite his pleadings she moved up the steps, looking back at him wistfully. He held her hand, but it seemed to slip from his as if it were unreal. He caught at her robe, but it was fluttering in the wind and eluded his grasp.
"Listen," she said, pausing.
It seemed that he could hear a low murmuring of many voices. Then all was still.
She moved on, mounting each step heavily, as if weighted with lead, till she had reached the platform. Then, waving her hand to him as if in adieu, she kneeled and placed her head upon the block.
Emberton fancied he heard something moving swiftly through the air, a thud as of steel entering wood.
The next morning at daylight as the watch moved across Tower hill he discovered the Earl of Emberton lying in a stupor at the foot of the scaffold. He was taken to his home, where he lay for months with a diseased brain, and when his reason returned he left London forever. Even in his beloved France he found neither health nor happiness. No one save a menial was ever admitted to his bedroom, and after his death a portrait was discovered above his mantel—his sovereign's beheaded queen, Anne Boleyn.
What sub-type of article is it?
Prose Fiction
What themes does it cover?
Death Mortality
Love Romance
Political
What keywords are associated?
Anne Boleyn
Earl Of Emberton
Ghost
Scaffold
Tower Hill
Execution
France
Literary Details
Key Lines
"I Will Go With You," She Said, "And Love You Forever, But First Let Me Take One Last Look At The Block."
Emberton Fancied He Heard Something Moving Swiftly Through The Air, A Thud As Of Steel Entering Wood.
The Next Morning At Daylight As The Watch Moved Across Tower Hill He Discovered The Earl Of Emberton Lying In A Stupor At The Foot Of The Scaffold.
No One Save A Menial Was Ever Admitted To His Bedroom, And After His Death A Portrait Was Discovered Above His Mantel—His Sovereign's Beheaded Queen, Anne Boleyn.