Clarksville evening chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn) 1886-1890, 1888-10-29


that you have good appetite, father; and
by Our Lady Of Atochal / wish you an ex-
cellent one. You shall have some breakfast
brought you from my lords own kitcnan."
Dom Francesca awaited the officers return.
few minutes afterward the worthy BEN
edictine reentered Masaniello's room with q
large slice Of roast beef, game pasty, and a
bottle Of wine.
4 "Eat, my son" be said TO him, ''and re-
fresh your shattered strength. You have
: Just escaped death. Tell me, with your hand
upon your heart, whether you were prepared
/ to appear before the never erring Judge who
rewards or Furnishes usfn
~ have been fearfuIly guilty. l know, re-
F, piled the fisherman. "As late as yesterday
horrible thought condemned to execu-
ton But was mad. Dom Francesca; my
reason had deserted me- Father, what is this
horrible complaint, these changes from furi-
Gus passion to the most dreadful state Of
prostitution, from which you have cured met"
"You shall know. We have no time to
lose, unfortunate youth. Take little OF
this food; this, at least, contains no poison"
be added, in low voice to himself.
The fisherman obeyed Dom Francescos di-
rectiona
As he devoured the slice of beef and Inn
bibed the generous liquor, which had been
given as an aims to the Benedictine, Masa-
niello felt his strength return.
Then rising and running TO Venetian mir
ror, he exclaimed:
II am once more strong, full Of health,
vigor and couragel Come to me. honor,
glory-and you, oh, future, with your de-
licious promisesl Come to me, my be-
trothedi | shall soon lead you to the atari"
Dom Francesca looked on the fisherman
with smile of pity
"And your brothers Of Naplesl Have you
forgotten them, Masaniellor' said he to him
''What have they to ask from meF' in
quired the young man. "Have my edicts
been violatedP'
"Oh, no-not yet" replied the monk in a
sad voice.
~ would sacrifice my life in their defense!"
"Ay--if between this and tomorrow you do
not fall victim to some ambuscade-if you
are not strangled like slave, or poisoned in
some silent chamber of this palacer'
"Who would dare to do thisT
"Who would darel Is it possible that you
believe in the sincerity of the homage paid
you by these great mobiles, who take of their
plumed hats to greet your
'If they hate me they fear me still more
They know that have tho whole population
at my back"
"AlasI pity you, poor Masaniello, II for
your defense you reckon on the peoples riS-
ing at present"
"Whatl would they not do SO even if in
voked their aidr'
'No, not even il you invoked their aid:
How can you suppose that they will recog-
nize their fisherman in that Masaniello who
has become the husband of Isabella-in that
Masaniello who has been ennobled by the
viceroy-in that Masaniello who parades our
public streets in a court dress, aud who
hangs his brethren for n seditious cryl You
were once everything in the eyes of the peo
p!o-now you arc nothingW -
but, father, cannot live at tho court of
tie Duke Of ARGOS in the costume of u
fisherman"
"And why notl Do yea think that the
heart beats less nobly beneath your common
fsherman's clothes than it does under the
splendid dress of a noblef | understand,
Masaniello; you love Isabella, and this young
girl must have husband covered with lace
and ribbon. Yet it was man of the people,
a poor monk, who, when you were abandoned
by all, came to your dying bed to save you"
II know it, father; and my gratitude will
DO eternal. Yes, your love for me is sim
cere."
''Then fly from this cursed abode, where
you can meet with nothing but death and
perditionr
Dom Francesca, what you require Of me
Is impossible. | love Isabella, and cannot
bear the thought Of being separated from
her,"
well, then, shall tell you," added Dom
francesca, approaching the fisherman, what
was the cause of that horrible act of madness
which urged you to immediate your brothers
yesterday Shall tell you what caused the
dreadful suffering to which you nearly sue
cumbedp
Masaniello experienced presentiment of
some fatal revelation. He was motioness.
"Who gave you those howersf asked the
Benedictine.
isabella"
Then learn that they vero poisoaed!"
Tho young man staggered to tho wall, and
remained for an instant resting motionIess
against it; his eye was haggard, and his
hands wero tightly clinched together.
"Isabella's flowers poisonedl" murmured
he at last, stopping at each syllable. Dom
Francesca, is it possibeF'
"Was it who saved you7"
"Ohl ycs-you must be right--he who can
find the remedy must know tho cause of tho
disease. Oh, Heavenl is it possible for the
damned to suffer more than have suffered
for the last few daysF
"Come, my son, let us away"
Tho fisherman hesitated. He passed his
hand across his forehead, and seemed to be
collecting his thoughts.
ut was Don Juan Fernandez who gave
Isabella this bouquet to offer me-" said he.
"Nol will not CO." added no. "Ohl Fer
nandez, you have not yet seized your prey.
Masaniello lvesl Masaniello has o sword
which he knows how to useI To obtain |
Isabella you must first pass over my body.
Adieul father, adieul"
And the young man ran to the door.
At the same instant some one knocked.
Everything had been prepared, so that
tho terrible drama which was that night |
played at the Vicaria might end in proper
Though informed of Masaniello'5 hopeless !
state, and even certain Of being able to get |
rid of him without the intervention of Cor.
cell, Fernandez and tho Duke of ARGOS had
none the less continued the preparations for
the nuptial fete. All the court were about
to assemble in the state chamber of tho pal
nra md the viceroy sent his cham barloin tn