Wichita eagle., 1890-03-09

~o~ ~ sAAS S3AeoeSA4AAS oAA 6Ao"Cd, III
carnadined, as if dyed with the blood of
the martyrs that had drenched its soil.
There were salvos of artillery, bursts of
military music and few vivas from the
multitude. A brilliant spectacle. but the
tender beauty of moonlight harmonizes
better with the solemnity of ruins.
Rapt in the memories that the scene
awakened, paid little attention to the
monologue of my Italian friend, when
/ was suddenly reused by the question
did you ever see prettier couple::"
Who asked absentIy.
There he reioined, pointing to the
count and Miss st. Clair, who preceded
us.
"He is too young" replied, but the
question was asked SO significantly that
it disturbed me little, and / resolved
to be more cautious than heretofore
The next morning Piero appeared with
his carriage TO take US to tine Baths of
Caracalla- He hoped madame did not
lose the illumination He was wretched
to disappoint madame; he begged a
thousand pardons. His little boy was
taken violently i'll; he was forced TO go
for the doctor: madame was SO good.
The truth flashed upon me: ''Piero,
how much did the count give you to stay
away last nightT'
4 gleam of humor twinkled in his
black eyes, but it was speedily quenched:
Il do not understand what madame
wishes TO say"
Ithappened that a friend and country
woman at our hotel was taken Ill with
typhoid fever. and amid the anxieties Of
her sick room the incipient love affair
was almost forgotten. no longer spent
the evenings in the parlor. One day
Miss St. Clair showed me tiny satin
bag beautifully embroidered, with soft
silken chain to pass around the neck.
What can it be forY' she asked.
why. Helen, it is an amulet. Where
did you get it:'
The count gave it to me. He had
the loveliest set of Byzantine mosiacs and
pearls which he wished to give me; and
when l would not accept them he seemed
SO hurt that did not like to refuse this
trifie. What do you suppose is in it"
"A relic of some saint, without doubt
He thinks it will protect you from fever,
perhaps
Like most Americans, we were desi-
rous of seeing the pope, and Count Al
vala obtained for US the necessary per-
mission. We were to be received on a
Saturday at H. We went in the pre-
scribed costume, black silk, with the
picturesque Roman veil thrown over the
head From the foot of the scala regia
(royal staircase) one of the papal guard,
in motley suit which seemed one glare
of black and ye.i-,>v. escorted us to the
door of long corridor. known as the
Loggia of Raphael, where we were re-
ceived By higher official in rich array
of crimson velvet. About seventy per-
sons were seated in rows, facing each
other, along this gallery, nearly ali laden
with rosaries TO be blessed by the Holy
Father. We waited till my neck ached
with looking up at the exquisite frescoes,
fresh and tender in coloring as if new
from the hand of the master. when the
popt dttCLdt-u w tt
on each hand. We fell on our knees
instantly. but not till had seen an old
mans face so sweet ana venerable as to
make this act of etiquette a spontaneous
homage. He passed slowly down the
line. saying word or two to each, and
extending his hand. white and soft like
a womans, to be kissed
Pausing by the young count. who was
kneeling beside me. he said impressively,
Courage and faith have always been
attributes of the house of Aivala. Your
fathers were good children of the church.
and you. my son, will not be wanting in
any Of the qualities OF your race.
When he had passed Us we rose from
our knees, and | could observe him more
closely He wore a close fitting white
cap on his finely shaped head: a long
robe of white woolen cloth buttoned up
in front, with a small cape of the same
a white sash, gold embroidered
at the end; long gold chain around his
neck, to which was attached large
golden cross; seal ring on the third
finger of his right hand; and red slip
pers. Soft snowy locks fell from under
the white skull cap over a noble fore
head, which years ana trials had left un-
wrinkled. Black eyebrows and the soft
dark eyes made pleasant contrast to the
whitenesS of hair and brow: and his
smile was so sweet and winning that |
wondered to see two Catholic
ladies' PROSTATE themselves and kiss his
feet and the hem of his white garment
with a rapture of devotion from which
MS attendants with difficulty rescued
him. Ee fingered longest by pretty
boy or 5 years old, and there was a
pathos in the caressing. clinging touch of
his hand as it rested on the childs head
that called to mind an old love story of
The handsome Count Mastai Ferretti
wnen he wore the uniform of an officer
of the guards, and had not yet thought
of priestly robe or papal crown. | won
Ter if he remembered the fair English
girl now?
Having completed the sound. he made
/ brief address, the purport of which was
hat he was about TO give US his blessing,
md he wished that it might be diffused
20 all our families and friends, and be
Tot for the present moment only, but ex-
end through our whole lives and abide
With US in the hour of death; ''but re-
said he with a kind of pater-
lal benignity, THAT the gates Of para
iise open rarely to any who are without
he communion of the holy Catholic
,hurch. Sometimes perhaps-sometimes
but with great difficulty" eextend-
d his hands We dropped on our knees
md received the blessing of this benign