The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-08-08
SUMTER S. c., WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 1894

delay the door was opened. and found
myself in q large walled garden planted
with orange trees Then the abbess spoke
to me.
''I have led you to cur house, f" she said.
'tIf you know where you arc and what its
name may be, for our own sake, pray you,
forget it when you leave these doors. y
made no answer, but looked round in
the dim and dewy garden.
Here it was doubtless that De Garcia
had met this unfortunate who must die
this night. "A walk of "a; hundred PAGES
brought us to another door in the wall of
a long, low building of Moorish style.
Here the knocking and the questioning
were repeated at more length. Then the
door was opened, and found myself in a
passage, IL lighted, long and narrow, in
the depths of which could see the figures
of nuns fitting to and fro like bats in
tomb. The abbess walked down the pas
sage till she came to door on the right,
which she opened. 1t led into cell, and
here she left me in the dark. For 10 min
utes or more I staid there, a prey to
thoughts that T had rather forget. At
length the door opened again, and she
came in, followed by tall priest whose
face I could not see, for he was dressed in
the white robe and hood Of the Dominicans,
that left nothing visible except his eyes.
Greeting, my son." he said when he
had scanned me for awhile 1.-THE mother
abbess has told me of your errand. You
are full young for such task. -
.'Were I old should not love it better,
father. You know the case am asked
to provide deadly drug for certain
mercifm purpose. I have provided that
drug, but must be there to see that it is
put to proper use. -
'sYou are very cautious, my son. The
church is no murderess. This woman
must die because her sin is fagrant, and
of late such wickedness has become COM
mon Therefore after much thought and
prayer and many searchings to find a
means Of mercy she is condemned to death
by those whose names are too high to be
spoken. I, alas, am here to see the SEN
tence carried out with certain mitigation
which has been allowed. by the mercy of
her chief judge tt seems that your pres
ence is needful to this act Of love; there
fore I suffer it. The mother abbess has
warned you that evil dogs the feet Of those
who reveal the secrets Of the church. For
your own sake, L1pny you to lay that
warningyo heart. 81
81 am no babbler, father, so the caution
is not needed. One word more. This visit
should be well feed; the medicine is cost
ly." 5l 1..s5y
Fear not, physician" the monk an
swered, with note of scorn in his voice.
Name your sum; it shall be paid to you. ;"
''I ask no money, father. Indeed I
would pay much to be far away tonight.
I ask only that may be allowed to speak
with this girl before she dies. %
t'What!'' he said, starting. "Surely you
are not that wicked man? If SO, you are
bold indeed to risk the sharing of her fate. "
mo, father, am not that man. new
er saw Isabella de Siguenza except once,
and have never spoken to her. am not
the man who tricked her, but I know
him. He is named Juan de Garcia.
'tAh, he said quickly, ''she would never
tell his real name, even under threat Of
torture. Poor erring soul, she could be
faithful in her unfaith. Of what would
you speak to her?''
tI wish to ask her whittier this man has
gone He is my enemy, and I would fol-
low him as have already followed him
far. He has done worse by me and mine
than by this poor girl even. Grant my re-
quest, father, that may be able to work
my vengeance on him, and with mine the
church's also."
''sVengcance is mine saith the Lord.
II will repay. 8 Yet it may be. son, that
the Lord will choose you as the instru-
ment of his wrath: An opportunity shall
he given you to speak with her. Now put
on this dress s''-and he handed me white
Dominican hood and robe-''and follow
me-
First, % said, "let me give this 1nedi-
cine to the abbess, for I will have no hand
in its administering Take it, mother, and
when the time comes pour the contents of
the vial into a cup of water. Then, hav-
ing touched the mouth and tongue of the
babe with the fluid, give it to the mother
to drink, and be sure that she does drink
it. Before the bricks are built up about
them both will sleep sound, never to wake
again. -
Iw1u do 1T, muHmured The ahbeSs.
Having absolution, I w1lTbe Bold and do
it for love and mercy's sake!" -sze
Your heart is 500 soft, sister. Justice
is mercy" said the monk, with a sigh.
''Alas, for the hailty Of the flesh that wars
against the spiritl,' .----'.ses; ~;
Then I clothed myself in tthe CHASTITY
looking dress, and they took lamps and
motioned to me to follow them
CHAPTER *
THE PASSING. Fs1sABELLA DE sIGUENzA.
Silentlywe went down the Ion passage,
and as we went saw the eyes of the dwell
ers in this living tomb watch US pass
through the gratings of their cell doors.
Little wonder that the woman about to die
had strivcn to escape from such home
back to the world of life and love! Yet for
that crime she must perish. Surely God
will remember the doings of such men as
these priests and the nation that fosters
them. And indeed he does remember, for
where Is the splendor of Spain today, and
where are the cruel rites she gloried in?
Here in England their fetters are broken
forever, and in striving to bind them fast
upon Us free Englishmen she is broken