The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1876-01-09

beard gave more character to the shape of tn
| upper part of his head, on which bahitual All
ss;pence had stamped a strong expression O
| gravity. His sunken eyes were for the mos
part bent to the earth, but frightened at time
with unexpected vivacity, which he ever ap
| peared to endeavor to repress. His name be
fore entering the convent, had been Ludovco
he was the son of a merchant, who having &C
cumulated great wealth, had ounced trad
| in the latter part of his life, and having re
solved 70 live like a gentleman, he studiee
every means to cause his former mode of life
TO be forgotten by those around him. He
could not, however. forget it himself; the
shop, the goods. the day-hook, the yard
measure roee to his memory, like the shade Of
Bauquo TO Mac beth, amidst the pomp of the
table and the smiles of his parasites whose
continual effort it was to avoid any word
which might appear to allude to the former
condition of the host. Ludovico was his only
child he caused him to be nobly educat ed
as far as the laws and customs permi tied him
to do so and died, beq1eathiug him q splen.
habits and feelings of q gentleman, and the
hatterers who bad surrounded him from in
fancy had accustomed him to the greatest
Difference and respect. But he found the
scene changed when be attempted to mingle
with the nobility of the city and that in Or
der to live in their company he must school
himself to patience and submission, and bear
with contumely on every occasion. This agreed
neither with his education nor his disposition.
He retired from them in disgust. but unwiI
lingly, feeling that such should naturally have
been his companions !; he then resolved to out
do them in pomp and magnifcence, thereby
increasing the enmlty with which they had
already regarded him. His open and violent
nature soon engaged him in more serious
contests; he sincerely abhorred the extortions
and injuries committed by those to whom he
had opposed himself; he therefore habitually
took part with the weak against the powerful,
so that by degrees he had constituted himself
the defender of the oppressed and the vind
Gator of their wrongs. The office was enerons;
and fruitful in evil Thoughts, quarrels, and en-
mites against himself But, besides this ex-
ternal warfare, he perhaps suffered still more
IRON inward conf'cts for often. in order to
compass his objects, he was obi ged TO adopt
measures of circumyention aud violence
which his conscience disapproved. He was
under the painful necessity of keeping in pay
oana OF rnthans Tor his own security, as wei!
as to and hun in his enterprises and for these
purposes be was necessarily obliged to select
the boldest, that is, the viiest, and TO live with
from a love of justice so that dis
gusted with the world and its conflicts. he had
many times seriously thought OF entering some
III monastery, and retiring from it for ever. Such
Intentions were most strongly entertained on
the failure of some of his enterprises, or tn @
perception of his own danger, or tie anuov-
ance of his vicious associates and would
probably have still continued Intentions but
Tor one of the most serious and terrible events
Of his hazardous mode of life.
He was walking one day through the streets
Of the city, accompanied by former shopmau
who had been transformed by his father into a
steward, followed by two bravoes. The name
of the shopman was Christopher he was
man about fifty years of age, devoted to the
master whom he had tended in infancy, and
upon whose Iberality he supported himself,
his wife, and large family of children. Lndo
vlco saw a gentleman approaching at dis
lance. with whom he had never spoken in his
life, but whom he hated for his arrogance and
pride, which hatred the other cordially return
ed. He had III his train four bravoes he ad-
Vanced with hearty step, and an expression
of lnsoleuce and disdan on his countenance
1t was Ludovico's right, being on the left side,
to pass nearest the wall, according 60 the GUS
lom OF the day, and every one was tenacious of
this privilege. AS they met they stopped face
TO face like two figures on o bas-relief, neither
IF them being disposed to yield to the other
The gentleman, cycling Ludovico proudly and
mperlously, SAID, with a corresponding tone of
voice, Pass on the outside"
"Pass there Yourself" replied Ludovico, "the
treet is mine"
With persons of your condition the street is
'lways mine.
Yes, if your arrogance were a law to
thers."
The attendants of each stood still, with
heir hands ON their daggers, prepared for
'attle. The passers-by retreated to dis |
ance to watch the event.
Pass on, vile mechanic, or I will teach you
ne clvility due to gentleman"
fou lie am not vile"
"Ha Do you give me the lief If YOU
Tere a gentleman l would soon settle matters
With my sword"
you are a coward also, or yOu would not |
esitate TO support by deeds the insolence of
our words"
"Throw this rascal in the dirt, said the gen.
leman, turning to his followers.
Let US who will dare to do So" said |
'udovico, stepping back and laying his hand |
II his sword
Rash man." cried the other, unsheathipu
is own, 81 will break this in pieces when It |
hall have been stained with your base
lood."
They rushed violently on each other the
ervants of both sprang to the defence of their
lasters The combat was unequal in numbers,
I'D also unequal from Ludovico's desire to de-
snd himself rather than to wound his enemy:
'hilst the latter intended nothing else bnt
lurder. Ludovico was wardngOtf the dagger
one of the bravoes, after having received a
light scratch on the cheek when his enemy
lrust at him from behind CHRISTOPHER see
* his masters peril went to his assistance:
pom this the anger of the enraged cavalier
as turned against the shopmau, and he
irust hum through the heart with his sword
udovlco, as If beside himself at the sight
urled his weapon in the breast of the murde. |
'r, who fell almost at the same instant with
'e poo" Christopher The attendants of the
entleman, beholding him ON the ground, took
} flight; and LudovIco found himself alone, in
"A mi af nfa y-I fl