Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-05-24

occupied his attention so completely at one
minute, that he ceased to observe whittier
he was going, and following mechanically
in the track of many persons who were on
the way before him, was aroused by finding
himself in blaze of light.
He had entered church. That too was
funny. He wondered how long it had been
since he was in such place before, and
determined that he might as we'll look about
him there little, as it would be long e.
nough before he met with such another op-
portunity. He stared about, and saw what
is usually to be seen at the hour OF Bene-
diction, an altar lighted, priest officiating
and kneeling congregation, mostly made
up of women.
1t was the church belonging to convent
Of the nuns of st. Mary Ann. These nuns
cultivate music, and are often skilled in it;
50 much so that they sometimes teach sing
ing. They form an unseen choir III their
own public services. While Betram was
gazing carelessly around, the temper of bis
mind corresponding to the grin upon his
countenance, the choir of nuns began to
sing the Salve Regina. He was impressed
by the effect Of the music, and sat down to
enjoy more at his ease, for the first time
after very many years, the harmony OF
treble voices. BY degrees he ceased to
know that he was listening. He was re-
ceiving the sounds passively, giving him
self up wholly to the new and exquisite sem
sation.
After little while he had forgotten all
that was about him; he saw nothing. The
music had become his atmosphere, in which
he seemed to be alone with something pure
and powerful. Its power was put forth
more and more strongly, his heart was
strangely Stirred, his brain was full of Wis.
ions. 1t was all involuntary. The refine
ment Of his early training perhaps made
him capable of being overcome by the su-
preme power of sweet sounds. / do not
know, but tell you what is true, though l
envelope truth within mystery Of vain
and foolish names, Betram de- Medici saw
the history of his own life, from youth up
wards, floating upon the chant. He shud-
dered at the memory of things over which,
in the acting, he had been Indifferent or e.
ven pleased. The realities of his whole life
seemed to be loathsome. For the first time
he saw them as they looked in contrast
with ideal purity. Plunged thus into con-
temptation, he was left unconscious Of the
ceasing of the music, and did not know
what other portions of the service followed
it, how long the whole lasted, or when all
was at an end. He did not know that the
lights were all out, and that the church
doors were about to be closed, when the
sacrlstian found him, still kneelIng, weep
ing on the pavement.
II was not till the next morning that the
convict thought Of his unfulflled engage
nent at the theatre. He made several eff
forts to bring back his old feelings, to re-
store his pride in his own evil. They were
varl, for the music held him fast. He walk
ed ont 20 reflect. His new feelings wonld
not be pelled-they seemed to have be-
come pa,t of his nature and at length he
Yielded Willingly to their dominion. Be-
fore he return. ed 10 the house, he had sought
counsel of priest. and had delivered into
the hands of the Mayor the letter of intro
rduction, which at o.lce placed him in his
true position.
1t may be supposed, that the Office which
had been SO eagerly accepleF by De- Me-
| dici, became afterwards an occasion OF ex-
treme distress but there was left to him no
possibility of an exchange; he must 60
through with what he had begun. Tie is
now, therefore, the headsman at Dam burg
vile, in which town he leads an exeml'la-
ry life.