The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-03-31

the old man laid his hand for q mo-
ment on Antonio's head. saying: TT
may be that God works sometimes in
ways that 1 may not see"
Thus it was that the Count Antonio
was restored to his place, and came
again to Forniola. Having been re-
heved of the sentence of excommunica-
ton that had been laid upon him. he
was welded in the cathedral to the
Lady Lucia, so soon as the DAYS of
mourning for the duke had passed.
ana great was the joy in the city at
their wedding. for every maid and
every man saw in the triumph of
AIltonlo's love, a sign of the favor OF
heaven TO those who love with a r11ra
and abiding passion. So tbev made
great 1eaSts and were marveIouslv
merry, and Bena let not the day go
by without plighting his troth TO 2
coneiy damsel. saying, with a twinkle
IN ms eye, that the Count Antonio
would nave need of his sons, whose
services he had promised to him as
tney rode together across the plain. on
the morning when Antonio had sup
posed he was to die. Nor would Rena.
give any other reason whatsoever for
the marriage. Nevertheless, it is likely
that there were~ others. But whether
6eha fulflled his promise [ know not,
Tor, as l have said. 50 little is knOWn
concerning him. that his true name
does not survive, and it has proved an
impossible thing to discover Whethet.
any of his descendants vet live -
tornlola. If it chance that they ddeSf
trust they will fight as well and as
Loyalty. and pray better than he Rut
Martolo has left those that bear his
name, and a great grandson Of his is
at this very time huntsman to the
monastery of st. Prisian, where I have
seen and talked with him many times.
The task which laid upon myself
thus finds its end. For there is no
need for me to tell of the after deeds
or Count Antonio. of Monte Velluto,
nor how, in the space of a few months.
ne was chosen by all the lords to be
ruler and protector of the state during
the infancy of the duke. in whfc
nigh office he did many notable deeds;,-
ooth or war and peace. and raised the
duchy to a high height of power and
conferred many favOrs on the towns
men of ForniOla, whom he loved and
cherished because they had not for
Saken him nor ceased to love during
all the years that he dWelt an outlaw
in the hills. And he built again his
house on the hill, which Duke VaIen-
tine had burnt, and dwelt there with
Lucia and with Tommasino also until
TommaSinO took to wife that same
lady for whose sake he had fingered
and thus fallen into the hands of the
Lord Lorenzo, and went and dWelt at
Rilano. where those of his house still
dwell. But when the young duke came
of age to reign, the Count Antonio de-
livered his charge into his hand, vet
continued to counsel him and was very
high in authority. And neighbOring
princes also sought his aid and his
counsel. and he was greatly hOnored
of all men. Thus if there was aught
in his youth that merits cenSure it
I1a HaTI hot 10 III +nsI
shame of it by his after life. for Il &
latter days were filled with hOnOrahfe
service to his prince and to his couil-
try. Yet the heart of man is a vain
thing: for when /, who am known to
have learned all that can be recovered
from the mists of past times concern
ing Count Antonio. aSSed-and Whe-
Their j. by men or women. by boys
or girl, aye, or by toddling infants
to tell them a tale of the great Count
Antonio, when he was an outlaw.
banned oy his prince and by the
church, living by the light Of his own
heart and by the strength of his own
hand. secured only by the love aud
duty of the lawless men who followed,
and risking his life every day ar
every hour for the sake of the bright
eyes Of that lady who waited for him
in the city. and I, when thinking to
check this perversity, bid them look
TdllGr on MS more WORTHY anu oODCE
days, they answer with a laugh: But
why, father, do you not write the
story of those more worthy and sober
days?" Nor will they believe when 1
say that it is but because the deeds
of those days are elsewhere recorded.
In good truth, l believe that In our
hearts we love a lawlesS man. Here,
then. We perverse children, are the
stories: they are all that you shall
have. from me. Read them; may they
teach YOU to be true comrades, faith
full lovers of one maid. and, since strife
must needs come until Gods pleasure
brings peace to reign on earth, able.
when occasion calls. to give and take
good blows. Aye, never laugh I he
said it. A churchman is a man
THE END.