Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-06-10
A Id f LA.

0ilSiS Vi itSS MANY Of the victims were de-
nOuneed by the priests as much for their suspec-
ted heresy, rs their reasonable practices
Father Don AlveZ was particularly active in
this piOuS work" He was Younger member
OF Castilian house, and had been bred in the
strletest discipline of the Jesuts. He had
spent life IN penances and intrigues; the
former, presume, to give him a keener relish
for the latter, and the latter to compensate the
tedium Of the former At the time | knew
him, he was past the middle age; his features
were already wrinkled with years. but marked
by that naughty and cruel expression So apt to
be produced by the indulgence of arbitrary
power tie had come To Naples with high rec
concentrations to the court to assist in purvinp
the city of the dIsahected. His diligence in
this pursuit was truly beyond all parallel |
am yet unable To conceive by what process he
became 20 minutely conversant with the pre-
ylOus history of such an immense number of per-
sOns In so short n time. His information was
never at fault, and his measures very rarely
thwarted by mlscalculation either in design or
execution. As soon he had made himself
master OF suspected person, he did not ut once
act upon his evidence to bring about an instant
Intlctlon OF punishment, but used to give the
prisoner the benefit Of 4 dogmatcal exposition
OF what he called = the salvation of tie holy
church If this had the desired effect after
little longer confinement the captive was lib
Grated on bis good behaviour. But if the here
tic persevered in his rejection of the prescribed
headsmAn
The society in which moved made me ac-
quslnted with Father Don Alyez. / was then
young and fond of adventure, and very natu-
rally conceived strong desire of visiting. with
him. some OF the unfOrtunates whom the pOlice
were constantly arresting by his orders By
practising some courteous assduities, "a well
a. little ha;tery, L mgr 3tiated myself with
hlm, and obtained permission to accompany
him on his dismal visits to the prson
Aftor visiting one or two cells, in which we
found inmates quite willing to believe ANYTHING
and everything, which my guide thought prop
er 10 PROFOUND, we entered a narrow dismal
hole surrounded by walls, down which the damp
trlckled almost In a stream, and with a floor
composed OF pieces of granite Of uneven surface
and sharp edges. The torch carried by our al
tendant discovered a bundle of straw in the
corner turthest from the door, and resting upon
II young girl. Don Alyez mOtioned the tailor
to withdraw. The creaking of the hinges dis
turbed the prisoner. She started from her re-
cumbent posture, but her eyes had been too
long accustomed TO darkness to endure the
glare of the torch-light She arranged her
dlsOrdered hair and clothing a. fast and COM
pletely aS she could; and when at length she
yentured to scrutinize her visitors | marked
the deep crimson that sutfused her face and
bosom.
had been accustomed TO behold tbeexceed
Ing beauty of the women Of Spain and Italy
but when saw this unfortunate captive, felt
at once that had never met with any one
whose lOvellneSs was so perfect. When I say
that she was Greek, and bore in every linea-
nent the impress of her cline and nation. I
heed not attempt a description
Don Alyez hss told me- previous to entering
the cell, that 1t contained a hereto who had
been some time under confinement and appear
ed resolved To reject every chance Of saliva
ton This, be added, 90 is the last Oppor-
tunity Of repentance l shall give her
These words still echoed in my cara os I
contemplated the stern front of the Jesuit and
the pensive innocence Of the Greek maiden.
- Perverse child - commenced Don AIyez.
have once more come TO offer the liberty
anu the favor Of the Virgin, If thou wilt en-
brace the holy faith -
Adela so the jailOr had whispered me she
was called had now sat down on her coarse
bed and, with her hands folded on her bosom
seemed prepared for any calamity which might
await her. She returned no answer to the
priests observation.
" hat continued he, "dost thou treat
with contempt the servant Of the church, Mark
Inc, perverse infdel, Thy fate is in thine
own hands Thy death, [ swear by oil tho
blessed saints, shall be the penalty, if thou
Perslstest IN thy unbelief; but if thou wilt
listen to the truth, not q hair Of thy head shall
be injured. How sayest thou1 Canst thou en-
dure death; or wilt thou liYel'
- am needless Ofmy fate" replied Adela
IN tone Of melancholy which pierced INV
heart Still, not needless she added with
animation, = so long as | know not the fate Of
Conrade Tell me, priest, Iconjurc thee, is he
In thy pOwerI'
Why Is the fate Of that young man So dear
10 thee, replied Don Alvez, =. that it is prefer
Ted 10 thine own salvation
Adela met the lock Of the Jesuits with
cailnn and penetrating glance. Thou may
est De learned IN thy faith she said . but
thou arta novice hsrs laying her hand upon
her heartl, If thou knowest not that woman's
loEe, III doting upon Its object, forgets all other
interests"
Then it is sinful, and deserves perlition," f"
replied the priest.
Then il is impossible that ran bo savel -
quietly rejOined the young Greek.
nat II tell thee, after pause, said Ddn
ALVeE, . that COnrdde IL not in nv bower but
la. left Naples with another paramount"
Adela blood mounted 10 her checks with in
diSnatOn, a. she exclaimed: Then tell thee
thou art liar. "a well Us a barbarian, Not
Tor moment will believe so base a calumny "
lnsOlent hereto - replied my companion
Will for the last time inquire-dost thou re-
fdse the mercy Of the church -
DO refuse the mercy Of the church !'' said
Adela Why wretch, dOst thOu call these
b1lts and bars, this dungeon. this darkness INV
long imprisonment, my wasted health nv tor
tured mind my almost broken heart-dost tbou
call these mercy / know not what is meant
by Thy church, and l care not; | despise and
ieJect ooth IL ana thee lou dragged Inc hither
because worshipPed according TO the customs
OF my fathers and my nation and YOU would
nave dragged hither also another being for the
same Ofence-One who was too noble too gen
eTOus, all too worthy to commit the smallest
wrong But be has escaped-thank Heaven.
he has escaped, Oh. COnrade 80 she exclaimed.
clasPing her hands; "who shall love thee when
Adela IS gone" For short time sobs con-
Vulsed her beautiful form she soon recovered
ana then added, with an emphasis shall never
iorget; " do reject thee, thy mercy, and thy
church; l cannot believe that truth il allied
with cruelty, that Heaven has given Won au-
thorIty 10 destroy its own creatures / know
mol VINO Is your god, but feel that the great
and god intelligence who rules the worlf will
not punish NE for serving him ~ / have been
taught Tor believing my simple reason die
tAtes and above all, for rejecting your creed.
80 Hull OF cruelty, blOodshed and oppression.