Nebraska advertiser. [volume] (Brownville, Nemaha County, N.T. [Neb.]) 1856-1882, 1868-03-19
"Tben, lead on; I'll go and submit. to
be blindfOlded, too"

/ - his way tlcAs 10 4l6 CdOs
Saying which, the stranger hastily led
the old man to the vehicle, showed him
in, then entering himself, closed the door,
and fastening il on the inside, gave the
word to the driver, and away they went.
9Now father" continued he." hold
your head down." with which be drew
from his pocket a handkerchief, folded
it neatly upon his knee; and bound il
firmly over theclosed eyes Of the old man,
who submitted to all in perfect silence ;
and then again the stranger spoke:
"And now, most holy father, you must
submit to another indignity-if so you
call n!'
b Sand wha. is that, my sonl"
"This. You must swear that you will
never divulge one word, look, or gesture
you may see or hear during your present
adventure. Do you understand and con-
sent!r
81 do, but Will not. / am willing TO
comply with everything / conceive 10 be
essential to the happiness of my children;
but in this neither see reason nor nee
essity, and therefore prefer to use my
own discretion IN the matter"
"But you have no choice, father, in this
casel"
Il will exercise one, nevertheless
II mean" returned the stranger. in
the same deep determined tone of voice,
"If you insist on my being more explicit,
that viii not permit you to exercise any
choicer'
but | will, in this respect. for in these
matters / am not only accountable TO my
God, but also to my church, my son"
With this. the stranger paused for
while, as If in deep thought, and then, a.
if having come to some definite resolve,
replied
"Well, well, suppose in this matter
you may have your own way but if you
dare diVulge a word out side of your
sanctuary, you die! Do you hear, most
holy father?"
Il do"
Sand. further, even if you do, {, will
avail you naught, for these very precau
tons will render you harmless,
"True, true" muttered the old man !;
with which both relapsed into silence,
while the carriage went rumbling aud
rolling along, The rain suII came down
in torrents, while ever and anon deep
peal of thunder made everything trembie
again.
"All things temporal must have an
end" thought the padre, 'and SO must
this ride eventually"
Al this moment. and as if in cOn6rma-
uon Of his soliloqoy- the carriage did stop
but where be was, Of course, quite unable
to Judge. Ai
@Prepare to alight. father said the
stranger.
i am ready my, SON."
Come, then. :"
Saying which the stranger. still hood
ed took the priest by the arm, aud thus
helped him to descend ;; then led hlm
across the sloue paved walk, by which
our friend (who was now keenly alive 10
every sign that would indicate his where
abouls) at once conjecur d that he wa
YET within The precincts of Paris-and b.
was right; rhence. up huge pair Of stone
Steps, hen through a door-vhicl waS
immediately closed by the person who
admitted hem.
Noihlng further passed between them
as they lhus went ~ and out, up and
down through the house, dI presently
they halted before door, and Ia low
voioe the stranger SAID:
Il am now about TO admit you to the
presence Of the invalid When you hear
the door shut, take off the bandage:
when you get through, ring the little bell
you will fnd on the table, and / VIII come
Now, father 90 in;' saying which. The
mask opeped the door. showed our oil
friend in, and then hastily, but safely
closed il and was gone.
Now comes the singular part of our
story No sooner did the priest fad
that the door was closed, than be hastily
slipped the handkerchief off, and attempt
ed to gaze around, but The efecl Of the
light was too powerful for few seconds
and he wa 5 compelled TO cover them
again. out of sheer pain. Gradually,
however, bis eyes became accustomed 20
natural light, and they opened vide in
indeed with surprise. when they beheld
the spleDder Of the apartment be was in
The furniture and decorations W ere of
the most superb and costly kind while
the most refined taste, and scrupu ou>
care was manifested 10 the order aud
arrangement of each and every artlcle.
Presently his gaze turned 10 p4rt Of
the room be had not examined, and as
he naturally enough supposed, there
stood splendid ebony wood bed stead
inlaid with pearl, and covered wih
counterpane of white silk of tbp mosl
elaborate manufacture, beneath whi,h
between sheets Of the fnest linen WI
head bolslered up with pillows Of down,
recined the form Of as fair a creature
as had ever delighted he old mans gaze
She bent upon hnn long and pen, i've
glance, which appealed at once 10 the
cid prelate's heart; but finding at length
that she did not intend to speak first, he
lightly approached her side, saying il
subdued tone
.,Madam. / am the priest, come TO con-
fess you, aud give you absolution. through
the mercy Of Jesus Christ. and bis apostle
Peter Madam. are you ready con
Hnusd be. while bending upon her
booked Of mingled surprise and Peneua-
iiUn--' bui you sureiy are not going 10
die II must be a mislake-you srlI bfsaT
the bloom o. health IN your cheek, your