Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-07-25

She thought d1rhile, then threaD off her
cloak.
hardly have won leave to come hithcr
upon an errand of mercy. Now, I cannot
20 back empty handed, SO I must trust
sou. But first swear by the blessed Mother
Of God that you will not betray mo. u
IT give you my word, answered. If
that Is not enough, let us end this talk"
''Do not be angry with me, F." she plead
ed. II have not left my convent walls tor
many years, and I am distraught with
grief. seek poison Of the deadliest I
will pay well for it.
''I am not the tool Of murlcrers, an
swered For what purpose do you wish
the poison9"
ooh, I must tell you-yet how can 1?
In our convent there dies tonight a woman
young and fair-almost girl Indeed
who has broken tho vows she took. She
dies tonight with her babe-thuS, 0 God,
thus!-by being built alive into the foun-
dations Of the house she has disgraced. 1t
Is the Judgment that has been passed upon
her-judgment without forgiveness or re-
prieye. ! am the abbess of this convent
ask not it's name or minc-and love this
sinner as though she were my daughter.
have obtained this much of mercy for her
because of my faithful services to the
church and by secret innuence-that when
give her the cup of water before the work
Is done may mix poison with it and touch
the lips of the babo with poison, so that
their end is swift. may do this and yet
have no sin upon my soul. have my par
don under seal. Help me, then, to be an
innocent murdercss and to save this sim
ner from her last agonics on earth.
cannot set down the feelings with
which listened to this tale Of horror for
words could not carry them. l stood aghast,
seeking an answer, and dreadful thought
entered my mind.
SIS this woman named Isabella do Sig
uenza2" asked.
sThat pame was hers in the world"
she answered, Though how you know 1t
I cannot guess.
1--WE know many things in this house,
mother. Say, now, can this Isabella BIO
saved by money or by INTEREST,""
lit is impossible. Her sentence has boon
confirmed by the tribunal Of mercy. She
not give me tho poison?'
II cannot give it unless know its pur-
pose, mother. This may be barren tale,
and the medicine might be used in such o
fashion that I should fall beneath the law.
At ono price only can I give it, and that
is that I am there to see it used. 2"
She thought awhile and answered: "1t
may be done, for as 1t chances tho word
ing of my absolution will cover it. But
you must como cowled as priest, that
those who carry out the sentence may
know nothing. Still others will know,
and I warn you that should you speak Of
tho matter you yourself will meet with
misfortune. The church avcngcs itself on
those who bctray Its secrets, scnor."
''As ono day its secrets will avcngo
themselves upon the church" answered
bitterly. "And now let INC seek n fitting
drug-onc that is swift, yet not too swift,
lest your hounds should see themselves
baf1led of their prey before all their devil
try Is done. Hero is something that will
do the work, " and I held up vial that
I drew from case Of such medicines.
"Comc, veil yourself mother, and let us
be gone upon this 'errand of mercy. 2"
She obeyed, and presently we left the
house and walked swiftly through the
crowded streets till we came to the ancient
part Of the city along the rivers edge
Here the woman led Inc to wharf where
O boat was in waiting for her. We enter
ed it and were rowcd for mile or more
I'D the stream till the boat halted Mt n
landing place beneath high wall. Leav-
ing 1t, we came to door in tho wall on
which my companion Knocked thrice.
Presently shutter in the woodwork was
drawn, and white facc pecpcd through
the grating and spoke. My companion
answered in low voice, and after somo
delay tho door was opened, and 1 found
myself in large walled garden planted
with orange trees. Then the abbess spoke
to me.
II have led you to our house, she said.
i'If you know where you are and what its
name may be, for our own sake, pray you,
forget it when you leave these doors. "
made no answer, but looked round In
the dim and dewy garden.
Here it was doubtless that Dc Garcia
had met this unfortunate who must die
this night. A walk of q hundred PAGES
brought us to another door in the wall of
q long low building of Moorish style.
Here the knocking and the questioning
were repeated ut moro length Then the
door was .cccncd. and i found myself in n