Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-11-22
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Continued from Thursday.

promised to come to church this even
ing. The lord bishop will be there,
you know. The church is beautifully
dressed. The clergy and choir-boys
will wear their finest Vestments. Oh,
your eXcellency must see it, 1t will be
fine And after the service, when the
people are gone and the church is dark
1 think-I think she'll not refuse. And
if she should be so foolish, the lord
bishop will have serious word to say
about it,"
The countess could not help laugh
ing and the old gentleman laughed
heartily with her The count also
laughed, but rather sheepishly and
said:
80 it seems that this unfortunate
kiss is to be solemnized as a sacred
ceremony IN the presence of the clergy.
l beg your pardon, reverend father,
but this arrangement does not alto
gether meet my views"
"Oh. excuse me-" said the padre, po-
litcly. 'Your eXcellencies will make
what arrangements you please. That
Is, If your offer was made in sober
earnest"
The count glanced at his wife. How
gladly would he have withdrawn his
offer if she had only raised her eyes
to his in loving reproof.
But she was not looking at him. Tie
same ironical smile was still on her
lips. SO he FASTENED to reiterate that
he was quite in earnest in the foolish
affair. The padre bowed deferen-
TALLY and begged for written assur-
ance that the Counts offer was made
in good faith.
- ~
shoulders, Il myself do not doubt your
sincerity, but Signora Elena might
fancy that somebody was trying to
play a bad joke upon her, and the lord
bishop also might"
Certainly, certainly" interrupted
the count, impatiently. Just as you
please. VIII you be kind enough to
dictate what you wish me to write?
My Italian is not quite equal to the
occasion.
Ten minutes later Padre Sebastiano
bowed himself out with the valuable
document in his pocket and calling
down heavens choicest blessings on
the heretical heads of the count and
countess.
When evening came, the bells an
nounced with joyful clamor the ap-
proaeh of st. Elena's fiesta. The days
heat had been succeeded by copl, re-
freshing sea-breeze, and the coant
weary with climbing about the rocky
streets. sat smoking in the balcony.
The countess came out and said,
still with the same ironical smile:
''Well, don't you hear the bells call
ing you? st Elena is waiting for her
deliverer"
Count Dietrich tossed his read an
grily and tugged at his mustache But
after a moments reflection, he an
swered quite meekly, YES, 1 am
ready. Are you going with me?"
II? oh no indeed 1 would not be
so indscreet as to interfere with your
amusements."
The count sprang to his feet and his
eyes flashed. He took two steps to-
ward his wife.
do you know Lore, /" He had
almost humbled himself to make the
suicidal confessions; do you know
Lore, have made an awful fool of my
self" But just in time he noticed her
calm. superior smile, and his words re-
manned unspoken. He seized his hat
and with a stiff little military bow, he
left the fast darkening room.
With grim determination in his look,
like a noble criminal determined to
carry out his sentence, he walked
down the street to the church The
whole population seemed collected in
front of the cathedral. Tall poles
wound with red, white and green, and
the scaffolding for the fireworks, were
already erected in the piazza. Count
Dietrich pushed his way through the
crowd. The flat-roofed rotunda was
crowded and on the grand altar was
the richly gilded shrine of ST. Elena,
still with closed doors. The bishop and
numerous assemblage of priests all
in gold-embroidered vestments stood
about the altar, bowed, knelt, chanted
and prayed in monotonous unison.
At the close of the ceremonies the
clergy formed a procession and made
short visit to each of the saints IN
the little side chapels. The count
stood leaning against one of the slen-
der Moorish pillars which supported
the low gallery which ran round the
rotunda.
The gay procession passed; every
body bowed deeply, some women fell
on their knees and tried to kiss the
bishops hand outstretched in blessing
Just behind the bishop walked Padre
Sebastiano, his kindly old face full OF
anxious lines. His eyes were search
ing here and there over the heads of
the crowd. All, now he catches sight
or the eccentric German gentleman.
He touches his arm in passing and
whispers: II am in despair, my dear
sir; she viii not do it, the God-for-
saken creature! She is in such fear
of her tyrant's anger, that even the
promise of all manner of heavenly
blessings cannot move her"
He kept hold of the counts sleeve
and drew him gently along. Suddenly
he grasped him tightly by the arm. so
that the count could hardly suppress
an exclamation of pain.
"Eccolaw Ghere she is)-whispereo
the padre hastily, and nodded toward
a little woman, kneeling near by. She
had just caught the bishops hand and
seen the benignant prelate's face.
The count broke from the PADRES
grasp and stood as If rooted to the
spot. Yes, 1t was she! and she was
far, far prettier close at hand than at
a distance. He had never seen such
fabulously innocent, childish eyes in
Woman's face, and it seemed far less
idiotic and reprehensible to have Of
fered one thousand lire for a kiss from