Clarksville evening chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn) 1886-1890, 1888-10-29
CHAPTER XXI.
MURDER AT THE ALTAR,


The day at last arrived on which Masa.
niello was to marry Isabella, on which he
was to contract, in the presence Of the Arch
bishop of Naples, and in the chapel of the
castle itself, the happy alliance which realized
all his dreams and crowned all his hopes
and on this day AIasaniello was dyinGl The
poison he had absorbed by smelling the per-
fume Of lsabella's bouquet had worked since
the night before with frightfu activity upon
his feverish and passionate organization. The
fisherman experienced moments of ecstasy,
Of furious delrium, Of such profound pros.
tration and of such complete humiliation
Of all his faculties, that he seemed to have
reached his last hour.
The sanctuary was being decked out, and
the altar covered with flowers and golden
reliquaries; the happy Isabella was trying on
her marriage dress; in n word, nil the
preparations for the union were on tho point
of completion when Masaniello, after most
violent crisis, felt that the hour OF his death
agony was come
Tho officers who served him FASTENED to
acquaint the viceroy with the fact and sent
for Dom Francesca to attend tho dying man.
The Benedictine made all possible haste to
reach his bedside.
He remained for some timc standing near
the bed of suffering on which tho inanmato
body of his adopted son lay stretched; he
took the latter's hands in his own and wiped
away the cold perspiration which wetted his
forehead; twenty times, too, did he call on
him in his most tender and persuasive voice.
The fisherman at last opened his Dyes.
"Father-l am dyingl" Re murmured
He could say no more, but lay motionless
on his couch
"Oh, heavenl heaven! they havo poisoned
him!" exclaimed the Denedictinc, horror
struck.
Dom Francesca was skilled in medicine; he
had long studied botany, and had particu-
larly devo:ed himself to the investigation Of
those numerous and subtle poisons of which
the Italian arstocracy had preserved the re-
cipes ever since the horrible times Of tho
Borga and the Medici. He looked for the
traces of crime in Masaniello's apartment,
and recognized them in faded bouquet that
had fallen from the uncertain grasp of tho
dying man on to the floor. He gathered up
the last portions of these fatal flowers and
plucked them leaf by leaf to pieces; thNn
hiding them under his robc lie called ono of
Masaniello's officers
"This young man is dying" he said to him.
"Alas! he is still very Young to finish q career
which he has succeeded in rendering so glo-
rious, The emotions Of these few last days
have killed him."
The officer an old Spaniard, devoted to the
Duke of ARGOS, made no reply.
II will run to tho Church del Carnine and
fetch the last sacranents," added the Bene-
dictine. "Do not quit the room in my alb
sencen
Dom Francesca Immediately got into q
caeSSino, drove in q few minutes over the
distance that separated him from his monas-
terry, and taking little glass vial out of his
cell returned with it in all haste to the palace
Of the Duke of ARGOS
The monk gently opened tho flsherman's
lips and poured few drops of the cordial
into his mouth.
Under the influence Of the generous LIQUOR
Masaniello experienced q nervous feeling of
shiyerng, raised his trembling frame and
looked round him with an air of alright.
Tho monk dipped tho end of pieco of
linen in tho vial and rubbed the palms of the
patients hands. rs well as his temples and
eyelids with it.
"Oh, father, father, what case you have
procured me-" said poor MaSaniello in q
tremulous voice, feeling new life as he spoke
Tho Benedictine continued his paternal as
sistance until lie had placed him out OF
danger.
Blu. the fisherman had lost ell his strength;
his head was weak, while strange noises rang
in MS ears, and the room seemed to be turn
ing round him.
Dom Francesca hnstened to the officer in
the Gute-chamber.
Brother" said he to him, ''you have for
gotten to bestow on me slight aims, which
the monks who pray at the pillow OF u dying
man always receive"
The officer felt for piece Of money in tho
pocket OF his doublet.
ut is not money that ask for, but to far
col=Zione," continued Dom Francesca, in an
Obsequious tone.