San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-09-10

cloak, as he graSped his friend heartily by
the hand, ''in times like these every man
belongs in his native town. So you see,
here l am, ready to offer my services to
the Signoria. But, may well ask, how
comes an epicurean like you in this city of
sorrow? thought you had long since fed
to the Mugello to carry out there, in one
of your villas, a new version of the De
cameron"
"What would you" answered Filippo;
"for twenty-five years l have worked at
the art of living, now l wish to die, if
necessary, artistically and with enjoyment.
l have ordered the plague to leave, and
shall see whether it will give way first or
!. But tell me, is it true that you think of
marrying one of the sisters of the StrozZis?"
Madonna Clarice is already my wife"
answered Alessandro, land l believe this
marriage will aid me to reach the highest
Offices"
81 beg of you not to talk politics to me-"
interrupted the other quickly; sit is not
worthy of the ambition of such brilliant
fellow, let alone a drop of your hearts
blood. Whether the pope or the emperor
sticks US in his pocket is all one, he will
find an empty city, for the grave digger is
now king in Florence"
TOO true, Filippo," said AIessandro; 81
no longer recognize my home; in the streets,
all is silent and dead; no gaping or noisy
crowds, no young people showing off their
fine clothes and their beauty, no merchants
crying their wares. Even on the Mercato,
no sound save the ringing of the plague
bell. At the Porta al Prato ! saw a single
vehicle coming toward me; two black
horses were harnessed in front. l thought
it was the litter of some matron. 1t was a
horrid sort of carnival which represented
the triumphant march of the plague; grave
diggers in fancy costumes danced alongside
the cart, clinking their gold and crying,
Long live the plagued / went through the
Lazaretto city and tried to count the num-
Der of huts which seem to have sprung up
out of the ground, one alongside of the
other; had reached 600 before l was tired
of counting"
The other shook his head and said fret
fully:
II have ordered my servants, under pen
atty of dismissal, not to speak to me of
sickness or of death. On the street turn
my head aside when hear the bell of the
corpse wagon, and would even if my father
lay in it. What devil drives you to HINT
up all these horrors?"
my sisters husband is dead, " continued
Alessandro, "and my sister has disappeared.
Perhaps she is in the Lazaretto-whO
knows? The Ricci, with whom l had the
heritage suit, are dead, even to the last
member of the family, and have left me
not only what was mine, but their own as
well. Perhaps the plague has smoothed
over many an old quarrel in that way. My
=. 81 L., :r,,1
colOsa is dead Alas, Filippo, have come
to a city of death. AS go about feel of
myself and ask myself if also am living"
Even the handsome Cecco had to die;
he, the giant, who looked as if he would
live to be hundred" said FilippO. But
why do we stand here and wall like old
women? That one is dead and this one is
dying; let the dead bury their dead, and
let us keep our last drop of blood for pleas
ure Well for him who need not reproach
himself with single wasted hour. Do
you know how sweet kisses are when sea-
soncd by death, How the primmest lips
thirst for single drop from the cup which
soon will be drained? No more need for
signing and yearning, no parading before
the window of your inamorata, one word
opens all doors: Madonna, it is perhaps
the last night that we shall live This
magic formula drives into your arms the
nun from the altar, the widow from the
corpse of the husband. Not to exist to-
morrow. 1t is a drop in the chalice
of enjoyment without which, hereafter,
every drauEht will be fat and insipid.
! believed myself master in the art
of living, and find that l have enjoyed
nothing until now. Come, Alessandro,
we will found a society which will be the
talk of Florence a hundred years hence
My descendants will say: when pleasure
was driven out of the world, she found Il
refuge in the house of FilippO Vettori.' /
will place on my doorstep a statue of Pes
thence leading blind Cupid by the hand,
and it shall be executed by the greatest
artist in Florence. Then we will 60 about,
another and a cleverer MisericOrdia, and
pick our comrades for the feast. Whose
ever is young, handsome, and spirited,
if only one spark of life glOws in his
veins, will be welcomed by us. | will
season my board with the finest wines,
the choicest music shall fatter our ears,
and we will hold such converse as Socrates
and AlCibiades might envy us. Should
fate Overtake one of US, let no one ask after
him; let US have no talk of funerals,
Should the most beautiful woman in our
circle die, tomorrow we will embrace one
still more beautiful Euthanasia shall lie
the name of our society, and our greeting
shall be, A merry deathr Are you with Us,
Alessandro, or does the Madonna Clariee
hold you too fast?"
The other made a motion with his hand
as if shaking a wisp of straw from his
sleeve. "As for the nights am yours, but
the days l must have free. Tomorrow,
early, l shall present myself before the
hnnd Of tho nnrr,nrntin,, Nnrn l-r,nrr- my