San Andreas independent., 1856-12-20

hind him; the trees had melted into dim
shadow; the course of the stream could
no longer be traced; the focks on the hill
sides faded from sight, though their mono
tonous bleating and the shouting of the
shepherds could still be heard Manoli
began to believe that the church was des-
tined never to be finished, and resolved to
share its destruction. Suddenly, near at
hand, quite among the workmen, he be-
held the indomitaole Uca, with a third
basket of provisions on one arm, and her
babe upon the other. She looked around
for her husband, eager to explain the
causes of her delay and to justify herself
He was soon in her presence. Looking on,
by the workmen's torches which were
already lighted, she wondered at the solem-
nifty of his aspect He did not shed many
tears for he believed that he was obeying
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-for how could he have
resisted that caress ?-and then in loud
husky voice, ordered the two victims to be
enclosed in the central pillar of the great
aisle. They wondered and murmured, =
but they obeyed and the shrieks Of de-
spair that thrilled at first through the
darkness were soon drowned in the noise
of hammers and chissels and pickaxes.-
Manoh looked sternly on until the pale
face of his wife had disappeared; and then
he went apart, and throwing himself on
the ground, spent the night in despair,
which no consolation came to visit.
Shortly afterwards, the church was fin
ished, and all the country round came to
shower praises on the architect Butsom
say envy, and some say injured affection,
was on the watch The most probable
story is that the father of Uca, master
workman, silently excited his comrades
against Manoli One day he had assembled
to the highest tower to see that all was
right, they drew away the ladder, and
called out to him tauntingly to come down
if ne could. The unhappy man shrieked
aloud, endeavoring to justify himself
He had obeyed the orders Of Heaven,
given through the anchorite of the cell.
They replied that the anchorite had died
the day after his last visit, and that he had
been deluded by fend in human shape.
His despair then became overwhelming
But love of life is strong He was great
mechanician, and endeavored, they say, to
fabricate a pair of wings, by which he
might fly down from the immense height
He dared not implore the succour OF
Heaven, and he leaped with mad courage
Down he came. The wings shattered by
the first shock, beat uselessly round him
during that terrible dive He was seen
to descend like an arrow; and they say
that the earth opened like water to receive
him, and closed again over his head The
legend asserts that ever since, at the hour
of midnight plaintive woman's voice is
always heard murmuring through the
church, imploring Manoli to release her
and her child.
The present inhabitant Of the ruined
Argis has neverheard these words; for he
has never been present at the hour when
they are uttered. But he knows that he
can do so when he will. Meanwhile he eneyer
wakes at midnight without offering up a
prayer for the soul of poor Uca, and even
for that of the unfortunate Manoli.
Dickens Z" Household Words"