The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-05-29

what was being done in the Pied
montese valleys, travelled but slowly
to other parts of Switzerland, and to
the almost inaccessible Businesses of
the Bernese Oberland. At length,
the news came, and different views
were expressed by the brethren about
these deeds of violence and blood.
About this time, o poor wandering
traveller was found nearly frozen to
death, outside the walls of the monas-
terry. 1t was the custom then, as
now, for the monks to extend q help
ing hand to wayfarers of this kind.
The man was brought inside these
walls, from which he was destined
never again to depart alive. Every
restorative was applied to him; he
was kindly and carefully tended, till
health and strength returned No
one knew who he was; he avoided
carefully giving any information
about himself, but he appeared very
unwilling to leave such comfortable
quarters.
At length, one of the monks, Bro
ther Ambrose, discovered from few
words dropped inadvertently, that
the stranger was Vaudois pastor,
who had thus far evaded the fury of
his prosecutors, and had nearly
perished upon this Alpine height.
Brother Ambrose concealed the tri-
umphant rage with which this Disco
very filed him, and, upon the poor
man (horror-stricken at the secret
being known) throwing himself upon
his mercy, the periured wretch pro-
missed not to betray him. Brother
Ambrose was o furious bigot. Here
was an opportunity of finishing the
career, and that speedily, of this poor
hunted one. He had always longed
to be engaged in the glorious work
of despatching heretics.
Upon extorting all he conld out
of the poor pastor by cajolery md
fiattery, he went and repeated all to
the pious Father Jerome.
Fortunately for the Vaudois, Father
Jerome was merciful man, and
though annoyed at harboring q here
tic, he began to take an interest in
the poor wayfarer. He cast about
in his mind how to reconcile his duty
to his church, and his desire to be
compassionate to the guest whom
he had protected. He desired to
prevent the Vaudois going at large,
which was to insure his destruction,
while he punished his heresy in
some way. After revolving the sub
ject q great deal in his mind, he hit
upon plan which was forthwith put
into execution, with the consent of
all the monks in full conclave, with,
indeed, the feigned consent of Bro
ther Ambrose. The Vaudois was
incarcerated in the turret chamber of
the North tower, and forbidden to
leave it upon any pretext whatever.
The spring-door would effectually
preclude his escape, even if he felt
inclined to make the attempt; but he
was not very likely to be anxious to
leave so safe and quiet retreat. In
that cell some weeks glided by. The
monks took it by turns to wait upon
him; all were mercifully inclined to-
ward him, excepting Brother Am
brose. He was the Judas of the
band, and this mild treatment of the
Vaudois pastor filled him with rage
and bitter spite. Having no means
of communicating with the perse-
cutors of the Waldenses, he resolved
to take the matter into his own
hands, and to wreak his vengeance
upon his unoffending victim.
One day, when it was his turn to
attend upon the prisoner, he murder
ed him in his cell, then dragged the
body down the long passage, which
has been described, through the first
chamber, along the gallery into the
garden. buried it in a deep grave at
the bottom of the fosse, then dry as
it is now, and where the remains
were discovered long years after
wards. No one suspected him of
such murderous intent; the deed was
done at night, cleverly planned, and
skillfnlly executed. He returned to
the empty cell, removed all traces of
his guilt, excepting o few spots of
blood which still remain. He then
gave out that tie Vaudois had es-
capped, the spring-door having mad
vertently been left open. The story
was too unlikely to be believed; but,
though Brother Ambrose was sus-
pected of foul play, his guilt could
not be proved. Deeds of violence
were more common in those days
than now, and no strict search or in
Quiry was made into the matter