The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-26

breast after covering it with my kisses. OH
how those hours dragged But night came at
last after tho agony OF waiting. l Climbed
the rough high wall. It perfect night.
| The full moon poured silver glory over
the trembling leaves. The fountain FLASHED
soothingly into its marble basin. The breath OF
| flowers was strong upon the warm air. and the
nightingales were flooding that leafy covert with
palpitatiDg waves of song Nature seemed to
stand sponsor to my hearts desire. And into.
that Eden came my Eve with her starry eyes
and her small pearly teeth glistening through
her parted lips. My God, my God! is there
need to tell the heaven of that meetingl Father
these are strange words to fall from a monks
lips. But was monk then | wac strong
man with the blood coursing like lava through
my veins Coy and reluctant at first, Mar
gherita led me TO tell my love. At last. her
long willowy arms wound themselves slowly
around my neck. her fair head sank upon my
neck, our lips met-oh. God give me the grace
to recall that hour to regret it! The morning
light was whitening the sky when she forced me
TO leave her"
Padre Gennaio closed the paper and put it in
the breast of bis habit. Then he went up the
stairs and entered the cell of Fra AgostiDo. He
looked upon the cold form, upon the face set in
the majestic calm of death. the pathetic pa
thence of the eyes shut off from men with the
closed, white lids. and the lips resolved into the
acquiesce nce of untroubled peace. The whole
countenance as tranquil as the calyx of water
lily The prior thought of the burning words
he had in the breast of his habit, and of the
rugged penance of the novice. He sank slowly
upon his knees. and prayed that his soul which
had burned so fiercey with the fire of mortal
love- might be admitted into that supreme love
which knoweth ardor. but not passion, in the
prayed. the only sound in the still cell. Then
he returned to his room and finished the cons
fession of Brother Agostino.
"Father, hate to tell the rest. The next day
I received note from Mareherita She bitterly
reproached me for the rash madness OF that
night. You made me forget my name and posi-
will see you. hate and curse you for hum
bling my pride you have done. l will never
You again. Do not attempt to see me. but
go where there will be possibility of my look
have won the love of a -.
'sFather. the pain of that cruel note has never
left me. I had shrined her like goddess in my
soul, and to feel that with nought but the
frenzy of passion, coarse passion. she had met
and deceived me! left Rome at once. came to
Florence and asked admission of you here. Life
has been daily burden to me. and as 1 write
these lines with the certainty that it is rapidly
nearing its term / feel joy in my soul
Pray to God that he will grant me peace in
death.
sFather, I have not told you all. This
plague seemed be my salvation. 1t would
bring me release thought, while enabling me
to pour out nv life for the good Of unhappy
men. The first whom was sent to tend
was Msrgherita! She lay in a poor cot in the
remote part of the town. She was delirious and
wasted with the fever. In her rawlings heard
her curse me.
'sFor seven days hung over her couch doing
all that could be done ease her sufferines.
morning, and she turned her dark eye me
and knew me. She turned away her face, shud-
deringly. and uttered low moan Father, /
cannot tell you the relief it was to me- that she
did not curse me then 1 could hardly have en-
dured that She would at first, not listen
to me, but at last she began to understand
how /. had loved her She told me that the
servant had watched her that NIGHT. and after
wards, In fit of anger. had told all to tho
Prince. He cast his daughter from his house.
and she had come to Florence. Oh. my God!
While have been praying to God TO forgive me
my sin. the woman loved was in the city below
earning her bread by degradation!
Father, 1 pleaded with her until she made her
confession, and prepared her soul for death. 1t
was hard struggle to wrench her from her de-
spair. But she died in peace, and sorgave me-
fell sick the very day she died. I knew that it
was deaths hand that had grasped. not my body
but my soul Then they brought me here. and
when you read these sad words shall be dead
Father, pray for my soul, and for hers"
Fra Gennaio wiped his brow with his coarse
e-checked handkerchief, and held the paper
in his hand tightly. Then he mounted the stone
stairway again, and entered the dead monks
cell. He stood and gazed upon the quiet face
almost as if he expected the waxen lips to rise.
Then he put the paper in the fame of the tall
candle and held it until the slow blue fire had
eaten it into gray ashes. These he ground be-
meath his eandaled foot. Then he gazed upon
the worn placid face, gently pressed his hand
upon the cold brow, and sank upon his knees by
Fra Agostino's side. The gray of the morning
broke through the narrow window upon him
praying there.