The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-10-12
THE KISS OF DEATH.

shat year IN which the EJernaI Clty lay
bleeding under the pixies Of brutal for
eign soldiery, the pope sat imprisoned in
the castle of SAINT Angelo, and the plague
moved down countless victims through
out the whole OF Italy. The people of
Florence alone retained a CLEAN of nope,
for without splitting drop OF blood they
had set the two nephews Of the pope with
out their gates and again established their
independence At the pious thanksgiving
feast, however, which was to celebrate
their bloodles victory, the slumbering
enemy, the plague, raised its head afresh,
and feeding on the crowds gathered to at
tend the celebration, took hold again with
the force Of a conlagration raging through
dry wood.
The well-to-do portion of the community
fed TO the country or the peighboring
villas; those who were forced TO remain in
the city through poverty or business Of
state locked themselves in their houses and
saw neither friends nor relatives. Others
sought oblivion in drunken orgies The
most thickly settled streets and squares
were deserted, the neglected palaces be-
came the dens of thieves. bands of danger
Gus characters roamed the streets during
the night and plundered the unguarded
houses, while the authorities, unable to
prevent this robbery, preferred TO lend
hand and share the booty.
1t was neer the beginning Of August
that the plague reached its worst stage,
and the daily number Of victims within
the walls was as high 500 No one left
his house before evening, and then COM
pletely muffied, holding in his hand ball
Of spices or a sponge soaked in strong
essences, which he held pressed TO his face,
Ito strengthen the BRAIN" as the people
had called it since BoccacciO's time, but in
reality to prevent drawing the pestilent air
into the lungs. When a friend met friend
or a brother a brother they would pass
quickly on, as far apart as possible, or
hurry by with a short nod Of the head
Most of the shops were closed; only the
fruit and food dealers, the bakers and the
butchers, carried on business, and they
had surrounded their shops with iron
ratings, 50 that the buyers were forced TO
receive their goods in the street. So great
was the fear Of infection that they feared
10 handle money, and the merchant would
pass out TO his customers small wooden
or iron shovel, on which the coins were
placed and then throWnintoay essel Ofwater
instead Of into the money box. There were
soon but few houses which did not have a
white cloth at the door, notifying the peo-
pie that some one l2yplague stricken with
in. Notarics, with their clerks, could be
seen on the streets before the houses, or on
the roof making out wills, while priests
received confessions in the public squares,
so eager was each citizen. of whatever age
or condition, 10 prepare for death.
On sultry August evening, while the
heated earth was still sueaming from
short and therefore not refreshing rain,
young man saunterod slowly from the
Arco de Pecori across the Piazza san Clio
vanni. He was Of medium size and his
face, his careless department and his ef-
Terminate though supple form showed him
to be a man of the world His light hair
was not combed smoothly over the fore
head in the Florentine style, but waved
short and free about lis temples. Dressed
in costly Spanish clothing he strolled
along as coolly as If the scenes Of misery
and destruction at every corner had not
the slightest interest for him. lie carried
neither spices nor essences in his hand,
only a large white gardenia, which he
pressed to bis lips from time to time with
an absent smile, rs if he carried the flower,
not for protection, but because its Odor
conjured up pleasant pictures before him
Those whom he passed gazed wonderingly
at him, but rank and riches had not yet
so completely lost their charm that one
could pass by the only son Of the rich Mar
co Vettori without greeting him with,
Good evening, Ser Tilippo."
AS he was about to turn the corner Of
l,.,T ltg4.I Ce ,-,rpNnrI
the Misericordia carrying an empty coffin
met him; he moved aside, but instead of
saluting them by lifting his hat as was
the custom, be turned from them with re-
pugnance. While passing on, bis face
turned away, he came in contact with an
other person dressed in a dark travelling
cloak, who was hurrieGly turning the cor
ner; they struck violently together, and
each sprang back, startled.
you here, ElcssaI1.o," cried the first,
after looking into the others brOnzed face,
which was half covered by his travelling
hat; what brings YOU 10 Florence. Well, !
no matter, You come at a good time"
eyes" answered he in the travelling
cloak, as he Crasped his friend heartily by
the hand, lin times Ike these every man
belongs in his native town. So you Sec !
here ! am, ready Co olor my services to !
the Signorio. But, 7 may well ask, how
comes an epicurean like you in this city OF
sorrow2 / thought you had long since fed /
to the Mugeilo 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 | have worked at
the art Of living now I wish u die. if /
artistically and with enjoyment /
/ have ordered the plague to leave and /
shall see whether IL viii give way first or
J. But tell me. is it true that you think OF
one Of the sisters Of the Strozzis2' /
Madonna Clarice Is already my wife" |
answered Alessandro, land I believe this /
vii. aid me to reach the highest /
Offices"
Il beg Of you not 10 talk politics to me-" /
interrupted the Other quickly; 'It is not /
worthy of the ambition Of such a brilliant /
fellow, let alone q drop Of your heart /
blood. Whether the pope or the emperor |
sticks us in his pocket Is all one, he VIII /
find TN empty city, for the grave digger is I
now king in Florence"
TOO true, E:Gppo,' said kIessandro: Il /
no longer recognize my home; in the streets. /
all Is silent and dead; TO gaping or noisy 4
crowds, no young people showing off their 4
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 I
vehicle coming toward me, two black I
horses were haruessel ia front thought I
il was the litter OF some mRtr0n. Il was a 4
horrid sort of carnival which represented |
he -arrf r~lgn ~ ro "a --sp. g-y-s 70
q gcers in fancy costumes danced alongside /
the cart. cllnking their god ana crying. /
Long live the plagued ! went through the 4