Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1856-05-24

lie kneit down and prayed with stream
ing eyes, that some obstacle mi iyl.. pre-
sen, itself to turn back he, steps. lie
! had scarcely concluded when huge dog
rushed out from thickrt, overturned
the basket Of provisions which Uca was
bringing for her husband, and forced her
to so back to prepare new meal.
Manoli rej,iced, and continued to look
towards the silent and motion!ess East
Suddenly the form Of a woman again
APPEARED. lie strained his eyes beneath
his broad hard hand, leaning forward so
that he nearly topped over, and To his
,iiSmay saw that i, was tca again. The
good housewife had returned to her
home, had repIepishol her basket, and
now not walking, but running, lest her
husband might suffer fy the delay
ManoIi resortel to prayer once more. a.
though he believed it WAS almost I'M
pipus thus to strive with fate. This time
caunt Volt staIllvd forth from beneath
he trees, and Cca again lied back to her
! dwelling.
Mauo'i returned thanks in a passion Of
! Joy. and re.na;ncd ior the whole day still
! looking anxiousi : oUt. The sun had
gone uown beneath the long black hori'
z0n behind him; the trees had melted
INTO a dim shadow; the course of the
s:nam could no longer be traced the
| flocks on toe hill sides faded from sight.
though their monotonous hIeating and
the shouting Of the shepherds could still
be heard.
AlanoI began to believe that the
Church was destined never to be finished
and resolved to share It's destruction.
Suddenly, near at hand. quite among the
workmen. he heheId the i,lomitable Uca,
with tli1d basket Of provisions OF one
arm. and her babe upon the other. She
locked around for her husband, eager to
explain the cause Of her delay, and to
Justify herself. He WAS soon in her pres,
ence. Looking on by the worFman's
torches. which were already lighted, she
wondered at the solemnity of his aspect
He did not shed many tears: for he be-
Iieved that he was obeyinc the thrice
EXPRESSED will of heaven. He kissed his
wife tenderly, putting aside the hands OF
the little child which endeavored to clasp
| his neck-tor how could he have resisted
that &ares ?-and then. in loud husky
voice. ordered the two victims to be Ell
closed in the central pillar OF the great
aisle. They wondered and murmured
but they obeyed-and the shrleks ol
despair that thrilled at first through the
darkness were soon drowned in the noise
of hammers, chisels and plckaxes'-
ManoIi looked stern|y on until the pale
face Of lis wife had disappeared; and
then he went apart, and throwing hun
self on the ground, spent the night IN
despair, which no consolation came to
visit. ,e~ ..#as fm
Shortly afterwards the church was
| finished, and all the country round came
to shower praises on the architect. But
some say envy, and some say injured
affection was on the watch. The most
probable story is that the father of I ca,
a master workman, silently excited his
comraIs against ManoI. One day when
he had ascended to the highest tower to
see that all was right, they drew away
the ladder and called out to him taunt-
inclv to come down if he could. The
unhappy man shr;eked aloud, endeavor
ing to justify himself. He had obeyed
the orders Of heaven, given through the
anchori,e of the cell. They replied that
the auchorite had died the day before
his last visit, and that he had been de-
|uded by a fiend in human shape. His
despair then became overwhelming. But
love of life is strong. He was great
mecharician, and endeavored, they say
to fabricate pair Of wings, by which
he might fly down from that 'mmencs
height.
lie dared not implore the succor Of
heaven, and he leaped with mad courage
Down he came. The wings, shattered
hy the first shock, beat uselessly round
him during that terrible drive. lie was
seen to descend like an arrow and they
say the earth opened like water to re
ceive him and closed again over his head
The legend asserts that ever since at the
hour Of midnight, rlaintive woman:
voice is always heard murmurlnS through
the church, imploring Manol' to release
her and her child.
The present inhabitant Of the ruined
Arc;s has never heard these words; lo'
he has never been present at the hou'
when they are uttered. But ne Know ;,
ha can do SO when he will. MeanwhHe