Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1892-07-30
HIS REPENTANCE.

LAAI N44A@AIehA Vi L AOEuEGA was k1lG
cerror OF the Breton people, The
country folk made the sign of the
Gro 5 as they passed by. and murmured
There is the aecnrsed ones CASTER
About the walls that sur
rounded the grounds was a brier
hedge which no one dared to cross.
The servants passed each other by
like shadows afraid to speak above
a whisper No one dared to address
the master. Only the young Count
Robert found favor in the eyes Of the
lord Of the manor the sold Duke de
Kerberzorf his uncle
At the time when this story begins
Robert was seated at the old mans
feet He was seated in the great
ducal chair: mis- chair; his face was
lvid. ais eyes cleaning and his coun-
tenance distorted with fear. He was
listening iutently, one would have
said that he was the ghost OF terror.
Beside him on a poryhyry column
burned small golden lamp set with
precious stones. Behind it stood a
tail negro who as each minute passed.
let fall single drop OF oil upon the
fame Close to tho old mans with
cred hand lay an AK. and the negro
would have atoned with his life for a
single forgetfulness of duty.
The duke was even paler than
usual; MS long white hair was matted
upon his temples and from his ter
ror-stricken eyes great tears rolled
down into his silver beard.
ssMv 6aap Lord = ,-o,,,,
worse?n asked Robert gently.
The duke shuddered; he was still
listening intently.
Then the old duke rose up like a
specter.
Listen Robert" he said. List
en-. The old man had not spoken
for twenty years. His sepulchral
voice echoed through the great hall,
snd the ancient armor hanging on the
walls gave forth a metallic sound.
The young count was pesrifel with
fright.
Twenty years ago had son; he
was handsome. brave and generous
lie loved young peasant girl and
wished TO marry her but refused my
consent could not countenance such
an outrage. My son pleaded with me,
Dat was inaexible; my escutcheon
would have been eternally disgraced.
l was wrong my boy. | was wrong!
Never give way to pridei tits NOR
TAI sin Sobs choked the old man 5
utterance. but he continued
The maiden was beautiful and
z'ir;uous | offered her money; she
refused It. Then l had her carried
-'off and imprisoned in the tower of
the castle, Several months passed;
my son was faithful to his word / to
my PRIDE. decided to kill the
maiden. so / sent word to her secretly
TO escape at the first opportunity. A
siiken ladder was given her, and she
was carefully instructed as to its use
and how to fasten it to the window.
She prepared for flight. Then I
arranged az infamous trap for her
Lis en- Robert! listen! | had the
stones Of the window sill loosened. so
that it would give way beneath her
weight carrying the unfortunate girl
with it as it fell and she would be
dashed to pieces upon the marble
floor Of the courtyard below.
Ihat night fell asleep in the fear
of God. Then | was transported to
an immensely of clouds Innumer-
able arches followed each other in
never ending succession. Beneath
lhese arches small golden lamps were
swinging gently TO and fro. so numer-
Gus that it would have taken years to
count them, Some burst suddenly
into fame others were as suddenly
eXtinguished. Some burned with a
fierce light others fickered for a long
time before they died out completely.
Each one of these lamps was
guarded by an angel All the new
lamps were tended by fair. white an
gels with faces Of unspeakable beauty;
b. others stood black angels. ugly and
evil looking. and these seemed to
await with impatience the moment
when the flames should be finally ex-
stnguished.
WHAT is all thls?' asked my
guide
These lamps are the souls OF
men he replied. The ones which
start suddenly into flame are the souls
OF newborn infants and spotless an
gels guard them. Here are the souls
OF those who have reached the time OF
life when they can think for them
selves and the Spirit OF Evil and the
Spirit OF Good dispute their posses
sion, Those lamps which are Kicker
ing and fading out are the souls OF the
dying. eea he cried. pointing ont
several flames which wereo the point
OF extinct on seei at the supreme
moment the soul almost always turns
Ia til Spirit O. Good
Ilen asked him TO show me INV
own lamp.
Come sa;d the strange being
sRhc conducted ne