The Washington times., 1895-02-03
CHAPTER II.


more home TO the hearts OF men, howsoever
they chose to look upon it. than that which
he performed on the high hill that faces the
wicked gate in the west side of the city. and
is called now the hill OF Duke Paul. Indeed.
il was the act OF a man, whose own conscience
was his sole guide. and who made the law
which his own hand was to carry out. That
il had been a crime in most men, who "ah
DOUBT? That il WIS a crime in him, all gov
ernments must hold; and the same 1 lake It,
must be the teaching of the church. Yet all
men held II nog a crime, although they had
not vengured II themselves, 9th from the
greatness OF the person whom the deed con-
cerned. and also for the burden that it put on
the conscience Of him that did 1t. Here,
then. j. The story of it. rs il is yet told 10th
in the houses Of the noble and in peasants
cottages.
Mh.Ie Count Antonio still dwelt at the court
and had not yet fled from the wrath aroused
In the duke by the counts attempt TO carry
Of the Lady Lucia. the dukes ward. the nnp-
tials OF his highness had been celebrated with
great magnihcence and universal rejoicing,
and the feasiing and eXultation had been
most happily renewed at the blrth OF an in
fant prince year later. Yet heavy was the
price paid for this gut of heaven. for her
highness. the duchess, a lady Of rare grace
and kindliness. survived the birth of her son
only three months aad then died amidst the
passionate mourning of the people. leaving
the duke 4 prey TO bitter sorrow. Many say
that she hal turned his heart to good, had
she but lived. and that if was the loss of her
that sOured him and twisted his nature. ii It
be so, pray that he has received pardon for
all his sins. for his grief was great. and
hardly TO be assuaged even by the love be
had for the little prince. from whom he would
never be parted for an hour. If he could con-
trive to have the boy with him, and in whom
he saw, with prIde, the heir of his throne.
Now, in the Joy OF the wedding and the grief
al the duchess death none bad more ostenta-
tious sign of sharing than his highness'
brother, Duke Paul. Yet hollow alike were
his Joy and his sorrow. save that he found
true cause for sorrow Ia that the duchess
LETT TO her husband dear memorial of their
brief union. Paul riyaled the duke in his
caresses and his affected love for the boy. but
he had lived long in the hope that his nigh
ness would not marry and that be himself
should succeed him in his plare. and this
hope he could not put out of his heart. Nay,
as time passed and the baby grew TO a healthy
boy. Pauls thought took a still deeper hue of
guilt. 1t was no longer for him 10 hope for
his nephew death. nor even TO mediate how
he should bring ii about.
One wicked imagining led on as it is wont
in our sinful nature to another. and satin
whispered in Pauls ear that the duke himself
was short Of forty BY year; that TO wait for
power till youth were gone was not a bold
mans part and that to cOntriye the child's
death, leaving his father alive. was but to
double the risk without having the guilt.
Thus was Paul induced 10 dwell on the death
of both father and son and TO say TO himself
that if the father went first the son would
easily follow, and that with one cunning and
courageous stroke the path 10 the thrcne
might be cleared,
In the beginning of the second year OF
Count Antonio's outlawry his highuess Was
most nightly incensed against him, not
merely because he had so won the affection
Of the country folk that none woald betray
his hiding place either for threats or rewards,
bat most chiefly 10y reason Of a certain act
which was. in truth. more OF Tommasino's
doing than of Antonios. For Tommasino,
meeting one of the dukes farmers of taxes,
had lghtened him Of his fat bag Of money,
saving that be would himself assume the
honor of handing what was fairly due to his
highness. and had upon that scattered three
fourihs OF the spoil among the poor and sent
the beggarly remnant privily by night TO the
gate of the city, with a writing: There Is
honor among thieves; who. then, may call
princes thieves?" And this writing had been
read by many. and the report OF il spreading
through the city had made men laugh.
Therefore the duke had sworn that by no
means should Antonio gain pardon save by
delivering that insolent young robber TO the
lords OF justice. Thus he was highly pleased
when his brother sought him in the garden
for he sat in his wonted place under the wall
by the fish pond) and bade him listen to a
plan whereby the outlaws should be brought
TO punishment The duke took his little son
upon his knees and prayed his brother to tell
his device
'You could not bring me a sweeter gift
than the head of Tommasino." said he.
siroking the child's curls; and the child
snrank closer into ms arms, for the child did
not love Paul tut feared him.
''AntOnlo knows that / love your high
ness said Paul, seating himself on the seat
by the duke, "but he knows also that / am
his friend and a friend to the Lady Lucia.
and a man of tender heart Would it seem
10 him deep treachery if I should go prlvily
10 him and tell him how that on a certain
day you would 20 forth with your guard to
camp in the spurs OF Mt. Agnino, leaving the
city desolate, and that in the night OF that
day could contriye that Lucia should come
secretly TO the gate and that it should be
opened for her. so that by sudden descent
she might be seized and carried safe to his
hiding place before aid could come from your
highness.'
but what should the truth be?' asked
Valentine.
The truth should be that while part OF
the guard went to the spurs Of the mount the
rest should lie In ambush close inside the
city gates and dash out on Antonio and his
company.
1T is welli be viii believe"
Then Paul laid his finger on his brothers
arm.
"As the clock in the tower of the cathedral
strikes in the morning of the 18th of the
month, do you. dear brother, be in your
summer house at the corner of the garden
yonder and / will come thither and tell you
il be has believed and if he has come. For by
then / shall have learnt from him his mind,
and We two will straightwaY go rouse the
guards and lead the men 10 their appointed
station, and when he approaches the gate we
can lay hands on him. "
show car, you come TO him, for we know
not where he Is hid?"
Alas there is not a rogue of q peasant
that cannot take letter to him.
''Yet when ] question them, ay. though
beat them, they know nothing cried Naien-
tine. in chagrin. Truly, the sooner we lay
hlm 10y the heels the better for our security
''Shall il be, then, as / say. sir?''
$50 let il be-" said the duke. 81 will
await you IN the summer house"
Paul, perceiving that his brother had no
suspicious of him and would await him in the
summer house conceived his task to be al
ready half done. For his plan was that he
and Antonio should come together TO the
summer house but that Antonio should lie
hid till Paul had spoken TO the duke; then
Paul should go out on pretext of bidding the
guard make ready for the ambush and leave
the duke alone with Antonio.
Antonio then. suddenly springing forth,
should slay tne duke. while Paul-and when
be thought on this he smiled to himself
would so eontrive that a body Of men should
bar Antonio's escape and straightWay kill
him. Thus should he be quit both of his
-