Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1874-04-01

"Count Louis" said the man. won
deringly.
"He had q brother?"
so, the brother, God rest his soul,
was killed in battle though some say,
added he, mysteriously 'the devil few
away with him.
Thestranger laughed harshly. Throw
ing the man some gold, he set spurs to
his horse, and galloped down the hill.
That night the monks in the neighbor-
ing monastry were reused by q loud
knocking at the gate. A strange voice
dem nded speech with their Abbot.
Bolts were drawn, bars unbarred. A
tired rorse was stabbed beside the
Abbot's well fed palfrey and q strange
guest at the Abbot's table. Midnight
had tolled long since, and still the
Abbot and his guest sat talking, in low,
earnest tones.
"And now, good father, for your
story" said the knight, lifting his fagon
of wine to his lips.
'If it would be your pleasure, my
lord, and the Abbot hesitated.
at is my pleasure" was the authori-
tative answer, and shading his face with
his mailed hand, he signed to the Abbot
to begin.
With a nervous tremor in his voice,
the churchman obeyed.
-Four years after you had left us, my
lord, there was q private marriage at
the chateau. How it came about, /
know not, but 30 it was. You were
gone, and the Lady Antoinette's memory
was short. Tidings of you came but
seldom. Occasionally some wandering
minstrels sung of daring deeds.
"'He will be killed, one day. said
your kinsman.
"a twelvemonth afterward o messen-
ger arrived. He bore tidings Of your
death. Count Louis commanded masses
to be said for your soul, and took pos
session of your lands.
Zone evening, lady, thickly yelled,
packet in my hands. BY the love you
bear Count Victor, send this to him.
Her voice trembled with emotion.
Lady said, gravely, does your
husband sanction this"
"She shuddered violently"
"YOu will keep my secret You loved
Count Victor-you are his kinsman-
for the love of God pray him 10 return.
81 sent the packet by the hand of a
wandering friar."
at never reached me-" said the
knight, hoarsely.
II guessed as much. Your cousin
died, died as he had lived" and the
Abbot crossed himself. The fearful
and appalled, Count Louis, as he is
called" and he looked deprecatingly at
his companion.
"Call him SO" said the knight with a
bitter smile.
He is haunted by the fear of your re-
turn. He has grown old before his
time. Three children have been born
to him two are dead. Life is burden,
and death is feared.
The knight sighed heavily.
care you fatigued, my lord" said
the Abbot kindly; remove that cum
brous armor."
"Good father, interrupted the knight.
81 made q vow to doff it not until /
enter my fathers halls. We shall not
part company for many long day, me-
thinks"
The Abbot started. "But, my lord,
bethink you"
81 have bethought me-" and he rose
as if to end the conference. 81 have
bethought me. The man yonder"
he shook his clenched hand toward the
chateau, whose walls rose faint and dim
in the gray of the morning, sis not kith
nor kin of mine, but can not bring
disgrace upon my fathers name"
Nothing more was heard of Count
Victor; but one day the Lady An
toinette found upon her table q blood
stained scarf, on which she traced the
word, ''Toujours.
When the leaves began to fall, ''a new
brother" was admitted to the Order of
st. Benedict.
The villagers around the chateau
whispered together, as the Iron Monk
strobe past their doors, his stern face
shaded by his cowl. And as ever and
anon they caught the glinmer of steel
beneath his flowing robe, the more fear
full they crossed themselves devoutly.
None questioned him. 81 have made q
vow," he said, simply, when any one
marveled at this strange attire. Fear
full tales we're told of crimes committed
in the Holy Land. When they reached
his ears he smiled scornfullv.
One day, pacing slowly up the dusty
village street, he saw q gay cavalcade
issue from the gates of the chateau.
Drawing his cowl further over his face,
he paused to let it pass. The eyes of
Count Louis turned curiously upon
him he, too, had heard of the Iron
Monk.
II pray your blessing, good Father,
he said, with q courteous smile.
"Benedicite," muttered the monk,
hoarsely; and the Counts cheek
blanched as those fierce eyes burned
upoH his face. Had he looked back, he
would have seen steel-gloved hand
clinched threateningly.
One day came the tidings that the
lord of the chateau was dying. His
confessor was absent. 81 will go, said
the Iron Monk.
The Abbot started, but said nothing.
Drawing his cowl over his face, the
monk followed the messenger. Enter
ing the room of the dying man, he
closed the door. What passed between
them, none knew. As he again crossed
the threshold, the Lady Antoinette
placed herself before him. He threw
back his cowl.
"Victor
He passed on but she flung herself
on her knees, and grasped his robe.
"victor. pardon r
"Woman, pray to God I" was the
stern answer.
She signed to an attendant, who
placed her baby in her arms.
"Victor. do not curse my child" she
said, pleadingly.
His face softened. Taking the infant
in his strong arms, he gazed long on
the tiny features. The baby opened its
blue eyes and smiled. Signing the
cross upon its forehead, he pressed his
lips to the sacred symbol, then gave
back the infant to its kneeling mother.
That night the death-bell tolled for