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

ure. Well for him who need not reproach
himself with a single wasted hour. Dc
you know how sweet kisses are when sea
soned by deaths How the primmest lips
thirst for single drop from the cup which
soon will be drained? No more need fol
signing and yearning no parading before
the window of your inamorata, ono word
opens all doors: Madonna, it is perhaps
the last night that we shall hve' This
magic formula drives into your arms the
nun from the altar, the widow from the
corpse of the husband Dot to exist to
morrow! 1t is drop in the chalice
Of enjoyment without which, hereafter
every draught Will he fiat and insipid
| | believed myself q 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 a
refuge in the house of FiIippo Vettori.'
viii place on my doors-ep statue of Pes
| thence leading blind Cupid by the hand
and it shall be executed by the greatest
artist in Florence. Then We viii 90 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 lie glows in his
/ veins, will be welcomed by US. | will
season my board with the finest wines,
the choicest music shall flatter 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 funeralsl
Should the most beautiful woman in our
circle die, tomorrow we will embrace one
still more beautiful Euthanasia shall be
the name Of our society, and our greeting
! shall be, "A merry deathp Are you with us,
! Alessandro, or does the Madonna Clarice
hold you too FAST"
The other made 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
head of the corporation. You know my
life belongs to the state'-
Good; giyeyou the whole day in which
TO save your country" cried Filippo,
merrily, 'but tonight you must be mine.
You viii always find pair of friends at
my house. So may old Florence 90 to her
last moment, with the noise of our feast
LIS anu AAO nav = Va N4AD
| Tomorrow is late; better come today.
Ny heart tells me that you should come to-
day." lie tried to drag his friend along,
but the latter kept him OF and promised
faithfully to be with him on the morrow
Finally Filippo gave it up, and turning to
60, cried out to his friend, "Be sure and
come; good night; merry DEATH
Il will surely come; goodnight" was
the answer.
Alessandro di Francesca della Stufa be-
longed to an ancient and honorable Floren-
tine family. lie was young, handsome and
rich, and stood below none of his contem-
poraries in cultivation. The earliest hu-
manists of Italy had been his teachers, and
he had learned political wisdom in the
school of Francesca Guicciardini. He had
passed the last few years on foreign mis-
sions and had only paid short visit to
his native city. He knew the courts of
Rome and Paris; had been honorably re-
ceived in Venice by the Serenissima; had
lived everywhere in the society of the
greatest politicians learned men and dis
tinguished artists, and had been involved
with some Of the most beautiful and most
celebrated women of his time He had
lately married in Lucea a countrywoman
of his, the proud Clarice degii Strozzi
Once before, in Florence, he had promised
his heart and hand 10 another, but that
was long ago
After tilippo left him he passed thought
fully through the entrance of San Giovanni,
where, twenty-six years ago, he had re-
ceived the sacrament of baptism. At the
door he dipped his finger into the vessel of
consecrated water, for although follower
of the Platonic doctrine, he had always re-
manned a son of tho church in all his habits.
A blind beggar, in ragged clothes was
knoeling at the entrance. y pair of candles
burned dimly at the main altar; the rest of
the church was in gloom. The crowd of
believers, who usually filed the temple in
the evening, had disappeared. Alessandro
advanced a few steps through the resound-
ing space then turned back toward the
main altar, where he noticed a kneeling
form which he had at fest overlooked, so
near was she to the door by which he had
entered. OF her face, which was turned
toward the high altar, he saw nothing but
a pale, oval shape, while her form was
hidden in long, black mourning gown;
still something whispered to him that this
lonely Gevotee was young and beautiful.
As the young man became aware of this
feeling, the earnest look left his face; he
assumed a more jaunty air and threw back
his cloak so rs to show the Spanish doublet
underneath, while his steps sounded louder
through the empty church, and his sword
jingled lightly along the mosaic pavement.
The lady shrank back startled, and turned
toward him beautiful face, but pale as
marble and 70 which the uncertain light
from the altar lent a peculiar charm.
Alessandro stepped up 10 her and said
modestly: Madonna. see that you are
alone; the church viii soon be closed, and
the streets swarm with suspicious charac-
tiers. VIII you allow me TO protect you and
escort you to your homer"
The lady trembled 50 at his words that
she was forced to support herself with her
arm on the stone step near which she knelt.
She answered hesitatingiy and with bowed
head: Sir, have no longer any home.
The house of God is now my house"
The young man leaned down toward her
and with sympathy asked: Did l startle
you, madonna You seam to be suffering
from some heavy sorrow
She raised her head and said 10 him in
tender tone: Yes. was startled at hear
ing the voice which / thought never GO
hear again. Do you no longer know poor
Blanca, whom you once taught to believe
that she was the neGreS; 10 your hearty"
Blanca" stanmercd the Young man;
you. and alone At tG.s houri'
4 have been praying 70 Col to deliver
this poor people ana myself also
oh, lie has certainly heard-you viii
live" cried AieSs1nar. 10 longer knowing
what he scid and helping hcr 10 rise.
The 0,scl ewes ciowed feverishly in her
Tale face; sic cI&sged ais am tightly, and