Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-05-15

velvet and blazoned with the arms of
the kingdom, was occupied Ivy the en-
tire court, and faced q staging upon
which were the orchestra and the sing
ers.
At the moment BaptistO and Pietro
found q nook for themselves the organ
burst forth with the opening harmonies
of the ''Kyrie Eleison.: From that in
slant Baptisto was as motionless as the
pillar against which he had placed his
back; he had forgotten all his fatigue.
All the external pomp Of the divine SER
vice had vanished from his eyes; he had
only, so to speak, u single sense-hear-
ing; and while his companions curious
glanccs travelled from the choir, brilliant
with candles, to the royal gallery, Bap-
tisto saw nothing, and heard but the
music and the chant. He was so alb
sorbed that, when the priest elevated
the host, he forgot to kneel, as every
body else had done simultaneously, %
piece Of negligence which brought upon
him the rcprOaches of an old woman by
his side.
In vain did Pietro nudge him with
his elbow to call his attention to the
great personages in the galleries. He
gave no heed to him, that he might not
lose a note of the sacred harmony, the
sounds of which gradually died away.
Finally the Office was finished, the music
had ceased, the crowd had begun to 60
out; but, still leaning against the pillar,
upright and motionlessas statue, Bap
tisto listened yet. Pietro was forced to
pull him briskly by the arm to make
him understand that they would soon
be the only occupants of the church, and
that it was time to return to Casoria.
Baptisto started to follow his com.
panion: but, as he turned from the tenn
t pie, he suddenly shivcrcd from head t.
: foot.
81 feel very cold" said he, in teebl,
/: voice, to Pictro.
Lets run, then; that will warm yo,
!: up"
G "No, cannot. am all OF tremble
= let me sit down here q little while OF
this step, in the sun
And he sat down, but the shiycrinf
! increased; his teeth began to chatter
with such violence, and his face grew 81
pale that Pietro, growing alarmed, ask
cd the people who were coming from
mass for help.
Acrowd gathered about the two chill
dren, and some kind persons were pre-
y pairing to take Baptisto home with then
to care for him, when man, pushing
through the throng, came straight t.
Pietro, and taking him by the ear, salt
to him in a rough tone:
What are yon doing there, You littl
, rascal ?"
1t was Pictrss father. who had rccog
4 nized his son, and who thus prcluded
q paternal correction.
. The poor child, donbly terrified, di'
>, not think the moment well chosen 70
4 entering upon the details Of his csca
pade; instead, he directed his father
, attention to Baptisto, who still sat o
-" the step, as white as q sheet.
- Papa" said he, ''pleasc do somethin
:, for Baptisto-he is dying"
~ "Good gracious" said the tathel
~ "Why, to be sure! know the little lac
- he is my neighbours nephew; and he does
:. indeed, look very sick. Wait an insta'
- for me, Pictro."
And he went away to return almo'
~ Immediately with his carriage. He pu
~ the two children in it, and whipped u
his horse, which trottcd off on the rOa
to CasOria.
That evening Baptisto was again
NJ the little bed from which he had escape
70 in the morning. At his pillow was sea
. ed his thoronghly-alarmed aunt,
whom the doctor was saying:
~ Madame, this sickness will pro,
10 more dangerous than the first; yo'
III nephew's imprudence has brought on
violent attack OF pleurisy. Howcve
~ with great care, We can. perhaps, So
nj him. But listen to what he says"
ng Baptisto was delirious, and was spea
lis ing alond, in broken sentences; his au
al and the doctor, leaning over his be
ng heard him murmur kind of chant, Il
motives of which were interrupted
M this exclamation, often repeated:
st! "My God! how beautiful it is"
at What the lad thought so beautiful W
the music of Palestrina, which he hea
nc at Naples, where they had perform
ed the famous mass of that master know
luz by the name of 'P0pe Marcers Mas,