The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-17

preteuce OF getting prescription for a sick friend
secretly administered the Marchese and OF WHICH
he died In ag0nizng commissions.
Blanca being thus left ut the mercy OF her mother.
was ordered 70 accept Concini as her alianced hus
band without delay. This she refused 70 do. and
avowed her love Tor Angelo Capello. The enraged
Marchesa, utterly beside herself with Jury. locked
Blanca IN her room TO keep her close prisoner.
to her WILL al will nave her obedience her ife."
she Kissed, she turned the key on her child, ana
went TO prepare for the funeral obsequies OF her
murdered husband.
The last sad duties were performed. and all thas
remained OF the noble Marchese StrozA was lowered
into the dark vault beneath the church OF SANTA
ApOstoli.
dirges over the dcad-all but Fra Ignazl0 who. AZ
soon as the marble slab was placed over the dark
receptacle which received ms patron and friend.
left the altar as though his emotions were so over
powerng that even the duties OF his holy onlce
But it was for another and quite a different reason
that Fra lgnazlo abandoned his place among the az
In the vestry to which he retired TO lay aside his
robes he was met BY man OF tall, commanding
figure and Impressive features. who appeared In the
'oulck MaestroT' the latter said. not disdaining
to call this mortal by that exalted TITLE "Coms
quickly or we shall be too ate!''
Aye. l am ready, Ignazio," replied the other
The Necromancer followed Fra Ignazio to q GER
tain shrine situated in distant part OF the church.
vast edince to Overnowlng had already dispersed.
and except the few devotees who fingered around
By narrow passage lgnazlo and his companion
reached the poseror of the shrine, when the NEGRO
the guide.
they now laid aside the caution which had hither-
10 marked their movements and with mad n8st6
they lifted small section OF the marble pavement
beneath their feet, aud as they dld so a hight OF
narrow steps was discovered beneath the f10or
'NO one knows OF this descent except ourseives.n
whispered the Necr0mancer
difnculty and without some pain and great dan
ger OF discovering themselves they replaced the SLAB
above their heads, and cautiously descended the
The Necromancer paused when the last step was
robe, soon lighted IT, and by Its feeble rays their
further passage was guided.
'whiiher does this passage way lead usr' asked
| the priest.
"fo the cemetery beneath the chancel.r replied
| the Nccromancer, who ut length stopped before =
| low-browed door. which seemed to bar their fur
Their passage. But the man was prepared Tor every
MS robe, he soon turned the rusty lock and swung
the portal WIDE enough open to admit them. AS he
faces from the chamber into which the passage
opened A. the same moment also there el upon
their ears the muined SOUND OF chanting voices ana
1--WE snail soon be directly beneath the pavement
hold TINS door must not close behind US, else we
are surely LOST Tor there Is no opening Tor the KEY
Setting down his lantern the Necromancer drag
ged stone from It's place. mat 1t might hold the
the lantern he led the way. through avenues and
ases OF the dead OF bygone ages to the spot above
which Fra lgnazlo and his associate priests had
Tae choral melody had not yet ceased. and when
the Necromancer next spoke 1t was In carefully
AT tue same time he raised the lantern. and thus
revealed the CONN which contained the remains or
70 the surprise OF the confessor, the lid. which
| was securely fastened when the body was lowered
into the vault, was gOne ana the face aud form OF
the Governor were fully exposed.
FRA Ignazlo half turned his head TO ask the rea-
son OF this strange occurrence, when FiippO rose
from beside tue corpse.
How came filippo herer calculated tlle priest.
"irwas 1 who brought him here three hours
snce.n
''And Ihave obeycd your orders Maestro" the
bandit SAID. ''iOnder, beside that stone Sarcopha-
gus. 1 waited until the vault was opened from
above. Then, when the coffin waslowered, marked
slab was replaced above / hurried itner, and with
the implements you gave me removed the ia, 30
as ar msIs ,rac le 6e MarSScae ATM
lives. Help me- my comrades" said the Necroman-
Ger eve must remove the Marchese IRON his
bed and place MIN In more comfortable spot.
The noor Is too danp and GOLD, but yondet tablet
Will answer our purpose very well.'
Win some difficulty the three men very gently
raised the body OF the Marchesc from It's grim rest
aa S ruas S Sea es
n cordial 10 the iips OF the MarcheSe.
s,r ,,rci,v me- VIM Inn snor, t,mc SeIore seemeS
numbered Will. the dead rasei himself INTO u sit-
| ting posture anu looked about hun with inquiring
glanccs-
.wnat place - thlsr' he asked. "why am at
| tended b, the Marchcsa's pager
Ill.,
Ignazio. "iou have been very nj, ana we are here
! 10 Tor you. Lie down again. dear Signor, and
/ let your strength return ny degrees
/ The Marchese lay back and passed his hand sew.
era times across his forehead.
| "Ah, now remember he said 81 have been
lying In "A Kind vi trance for many hours. 1 recall
/ the mortal sickness winch seized me- the weeping
attendants, the priests last oiiices and taen the
the dreadful spasms winch contracted my frame
and the wce-l'ke grip mat seized my heart when
where are Marciiesa aud my beloved Biancar Why
are they also not here TO welcome me bacX 10
'Because the Marcnesa Is a traitress and muir
deress" SAID the the deep voice OF the Necromancer
Again the Marchese raised his head and looked IN
the direction whence the voice proceeded.
"Who spokcpp he asked. Those tones are not
famiar. Can the dead speak"
"iTwas I VINO spoken replied the Magician, ris.
Ing and coming forward 10 where the IIgnt could
sl upon MS Lace am Gained o ahe Sec zero,
natural power, aud ! use that power for the good,
And 'tis that power which has brough, the
none Marchese back 10 lie," SAID FiliDpo. with
ieIvor.
~ nave heard OF the Necromancer OF Monte Gar.
gano," inc Marchese said. put never before nave
seen him lace TO face thank tnee friend, II th0u
hast orougn. me oaes 20 ne o, usefulness; pat .s
vile. the mother OF my daughter, Is uallress and
.sYet 'us even so, Excelenza. Twas through her
Vaccinations taat the deadly poison admins.
tered. and but for Fra isnal.o's care 1t would have
The Necromancer then rapidly sketcncd the
events which had 50 recently TRANSFERRED. and c0U-
vinced the Marchese OF the truth Of hrs narrative.
The unhappy man bowed hts head upon his hands
and groaned Ia anguish OF spirit. Bur there was
time for the indulgence OF grief. The Necromancer,
al once proceeding 10 business, informed the
astounded Marcnese who the supposed Vito really
was. and then whispered something IN his tnat
seemed 10 give MN complete control over the
amazed Niccroy, VINO arose and said:-
let us hasten from this place. long TO return
20 the light OF day. tnat may save my poor daugh-
ter rom the fate which has been prepared for herr
filippo TOOK up the lantern. and placing himself
nj the mead OF the little procession, prepared 70
leave the vault.
Judge OF their SURPRISE however when. upon
reaching the Ittle door which admitted them " the
vault, they found n closed and last locked.
FRA lgnazio sprang forward, And with nercuiean
strength hung hrs iuli weight against the oaken
naF lleg arsft "A.