Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-03-17
The -Adre,.f,tre Of a -Mason.
BY WASHINGTON IRVING.

There was upon time poor mason.
or bricklayer, in Granada, who kept a
the saints days and holidays, and Saint
Monday into the bargain, and, with all
his devotion, he grew poorer and poorer
and could scarcely earn bread for his nu
merous family. One night he was aroused
from his first sleep by knocking at his
door, He opened it, and beheld before,
him tall, meagre, cadaverous- looking
priest.
'.Hark ye, honest friend'' said the
stranger, II have observed that you are
good Christian, and one to be trusted; will
you undertake job this very night?'
''With all my heart, Senior Padre, on
condition that am paid accordingly"
s'That you shall be; but you must suf-
fer yourself to be blindfolded
To .his the mason made no objection 50
being hoodwinked, he was led by the
priest through various rough lanes and
winding passages, until they stopped be-
fore the portal Of house. The priest
then applied key, turned a creaking
| lock, and opened what sounded like a
ponderous door. They entered, the door
was closed and bolted, and the mason
! "e1o SoAANuStOA oil CCuOluS COZ
ridor and spacious hall, to an interior
part Of the building. Here the bandage
was removed from his eyes, and he
found himself in patio or court, dimly
lighted by single lamp. In the centre
was the dry basin OF an old Moorish
fountain: under which the priest request
ed him to form small vault, bricks and
mortar being at hand for the purpose.
He accordingly worked all night, but
without finishing the job. Just before
daybreak the priest put piece of gold
into his hand, and, having again blind
folded him, conducted him back to his
dwelling.
care you wiling" said he, ''to return
and complete your works" "Gladly, Sen
or Padre provided I'm SO we'll paid
"Well, then, tomorrow at midnight I viii
call again" He did so, and the vault
was completed. "Now," said the priest
''you must help me to bring forth tn,
bodies that are to be buried in thu
vault.
The poor mason's hair rose on his heac
at these words; he followed the priest
with trembling steps, into retired cham
Der of the mansion, expecting to behold
some CHASTITY spectacle Of death. but wa
relieved on perceiving three or four port
ly jars standing in one corner. They wer
evidently full of money, and it was witt
great labor that he and the priest carried
them forth and consigned them to thei1
tomb. The vault was then closed, tn,
+ pavement replaced, and all traces of tn,
, work obliterated. the mason was agai1
| hoodwinked and led forth bv arout
, different from that by which he ha,
come.
, After they had wandered for a lon
+ time through perplexed maze Of alleys
they halted. The priest then put tw
pieces at gold into his hand. "Wait here
| said he, until you hear the cathedra
bell toll for mathis. If you presume t
n uncover your eyes before that time, evi
r will befall you. So saying he departed
The mason waited faithfully, amusin
e himself by weighing the gold pieces i
his hand, and clinking them against eac
: other. The moment the chathedral bel
! rang tsmatin peal, he uncovered his eyes
] and found himself on the banks of til
q Xenil, from whence he made the best G
! his way home, and rcvelled with his fam
= lily for whole fortnight on the profits q
: his two nights work; after which he wa
, as poor as ever.
He continued to work little, and pra
= a good deal, AID keep Saints days an
. holidays, from year to year, while his fam
. lily grew up as gaunt and ragged as a ere,
a of gypsies. As he was seated one ever
: ing at the door of his hovel, he was az
! cnsted by rich old curmudgeon, VIII
was noted for owning many houses an
being a gripping landlord. The man {
money eyed him for moment from be
] meath pair of anxious, shagged eye
), brows.
! II am told, friend that you are yer
! poor"
There is no denying the fact, senior
. it speaks for itself.''
II presume, then, that you will be Ola
! OF a job, and will work cheap"
Gas cheap, my master, as any mason
! Granada"
'sThat's what I want. have an oil
house fallen into decay, that cost m
more money than it is worth to keep it i
repair, for nobody will live in it; SO
must contrive to patch it up and keep
together at as small expense as possible.
The mason was accordingly conducte
= to large deserted house that seemed &C
I ing to ruin. Passing through sewers
e empty halls and chambers, he entered a
4 inner court, where his eye was caught b
$ an old moorish fountain. He paused
moment, tor dreamy recollection of til
$ place came over him.
pray" said he, who occupied thi
. house fOrmerly?"
"a pest upon him. cried the landlor
0 "It was an old misery priest, who care
8 for nobody but himself. He was said t
t be immensely rich, and, having no rela
ton, it was thought he would leave al
his treasures to the Church. He die,
n suddenly, and the priests and friar
! thronged to take possession of his wealth
8 but nothing could they find but fey
ducats in leathern purse. The wors
J, luck has fallen on me, Tor, since his dealt
q the old fellow continues to occupy M
y house without paying rent, and there's n
e taxing the law on dead man. TIL
8 people pretend to hear the clinking Q
: gold all night in the chamber where tn
old priest slept, as if he were counting
4 over his money, and sometimes groan
ing andmoaning about the court. Whethe
s true OF false, these stories have brought
8 bad name on nv house and not tenon