The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-04-17
THE MASON.

y-sS~s7
rnsre was once upon time poor ma
son, or brickiayer, in Granada, who kept
all the saints days and holidays and Saint
Monday into the bargain, and yet, with
all his devotion, he grew poorer and poor.
or and could scarcely earn bread enough
for his numerous family, One night he
was reused from his first sleep by knock.
Ing at his door. He opened 1t and beheld
before BIN tai, meager, cadaycrous look
"Hark ye, honest friend, said the stran.
ger. II have observed that you are good
Christian and one to be trusted VIII you
undertake job this very night"
with all my heart, Senior Padre, on
condition that I am paid accordingly"
THAT you shall be, but you must suffer
yourself to bo blindfolded" To this the
mason made no objection. So, being hood.
winked, he was led by the priest through
various rough lanes and winding passages,
until they stopped before the portal Of Q
house. The priest then applied a key, turn
cd creaking lock and opened what sound
ed like a pondsrous door. They entered, the
door was closed and bottled, and the mason
was conducted through an echoing CORR.
dor and spacious hall to an interior part
of the building. Here tho bandago was re-
moved from his eyes, and he found him
self in patio, or court, dimly lighted by
o single lamp In the center was the dry
basin of an old Moorish fountain, under
which the priest requested him to form Q
small vault, bricks and mortar being al
hand for the purpose. He accordingly
worked all night, but without finishing the
job. just before daybreak tho priest put
a piece of gold into his hand, and having
again blindfolded him conducted hin
back to his dwelling
Are you willing" said he, ITO return
and complete your work."
GLADLY, Senior Padre, provided am sc
well paid"
"Wcll, then, tomorrow at midnight
will call again"
He did SO, and the vault was completed
Now" said tho priest, "you must hell
me to bring forth tho bodies that are to b.
buried in this vault"
The poor mason's hair rose on his hcat
at these words. He followed the priest will
trembling steps into retired chamber o.
tho mansion, expecting to behold some
CHASTITY spectacle of death, but was reliev
ed on perceiving three OF four portly jar,
standing in one corner. They wero evi
IDENTIFY full Of money, as 1t was with grea
labor that he and tho priest carried then
forth and consigned them to their tomb
The vault was then closed, the pavement
rel laced, and all traces of the work wer,
obliterated. The mason was again hood
Iwinked and led forth by route differen
from that by which he had come. ATTIC
they had wandered for II long time through
a perplexed maze Of lanes and alleys the,
halted. The priest then put two pieces o
gold into his hand. wait here, " said he
i'until ycu hear the cathedral bell toll 70
Mathis If you presume to uncover you
eyes before that time, evil will bcfnll you
So saying, he departed. The mason wait
ed faithfully, amusing himself by weigh
ing the goldpieces In his hand und clinlz
ing them against each other.
| He continued to work little and pray
good deal and keep saints Gays and holi
days, from year to year, while his famil.
grew up us gaunt and ragged as crew o
gypsies. As no was seated one evening n
the door Of mis- hovcl no was accosted by
rich old curmudgeon who was noted 70
owning many houses and being gripinl
landlord. Tho man of money eyed hin
for a moment from beneath pair of anx
ious, shaggcd eyebrows.
II am told. friend, that you arc yer,
poor
There is no denying the fact, senor-i
speaks for itself "
II presume, then, that you will DO gla,
Of job and will work chsap."
"As cheap, my muster, as any mason Ii
Granada.
"That's what I want. have an oil,
house fallen into decay, which costs m
moro money than II Is worth to keep 1t il
repair, for nobody will live in It, SO l mus
contrive to patch 1t up and keep it togeth
er ut rs small expense as possible"
Tho mason was accordingly conducte,
! to large deserted house that seemed 20
| ing to ruin. Passing through several emp
! ty halls and chambers, he entered an inne
court, where his eye was caught by an oil,
Moorish fountain. He paused for mo
mcnt, for dreaming recollection Of tn
\ place camo over him.
"Pray," said he, "wiIo occupied thi
house formerly"
"a pest upon hint" cried the landlord
j ut was an old misery priest who oaret
for nobody but himself He was said b
be Immensely rich, and having no relative
1t was thought he would leave all his treas
urcs to the church. He died suddenly, ant
tho priests and friars thronged to take pos
session OF his wealth, but nothing coult
they find but few ducats in Leather
purse. The worst luck has fallen on me
for since his death tho old fellow contin
ucs to occupy my house without paying
rent, ard there is no taking the law o; {
dead nan. The people pretend to hear thu
blinking of gold all night in the chamber
where tho old priest slept, as if he wer'
counting over his money, and sometimes
grooming and moaning about the court
! Whether true or false, these stories hav,
brought bad name OIL the house, and I
tenant will not remain in 1t"
! Enough" said the mason sturdily
Let mo 1.-Two In your house rent free unit
some better tenant present, and l will en-
gage to put it in repair and to quiet tho trou
4 bled spirit that disturbs it. / am u goot
Christian md a poor man and nm not t,
be dauntcd by the devil himself, ever
though he should come in the shape of
big bag of money!"
J The offcr of the honest mason was glad
I ly accepted. He moved with his family in
to the house and fulfilled all his engage
ments. BY little and little he restored il
to its former state; the clinking of golt
was no more to DO heard mt night in th'
chamber of the defunct priest, but begun
} to be heard by day in the pocket of th'
living mason, In word, he increased
rapidly In wealth, to the admiration of al
his neighbors, and became one Of the rich
est men in Granada, He gave large SUM
to the church, by way, no doubt, of salts
flying his conscience and he never reveal
ell the secret of the vault until on his death
bed to his son and Observation-Disclosures Try
ing In Tho Alhambra. "