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

came from them save a gasp; and with
a thud he fell back on his pillows, and,
having rolled once on his side, turned
again on his back and lay still. And
a great hush fell on every man in the
square, and they looked on one an
others faces, but found no answer
For Valentine, Duke and Lord of
Forniola. was dead of his sickness at
the moment when he sought to send
! Antonio to death. Thus marvelously
| did heaven in its high purposes deal
with him.
His highness is dead said the
physician, and the master of the house
hold, as his duty was, came to the
| front of the dukes couch, and, stand
ing there before all the people, broke
| the wand of his Office, and let the
broken fragments fall upon the marble
steps, and he cried aloud;
Hear all of you! 1t hath pleased
Almighty God to take unto himself the
soul of the noble and illustrious Prince
Valentine, Duke and Lord of Forniola
May his soul find peace"
But there came from the people no
answering cry of amen" as, accord
ing to the custom of the duchy 1t
should have come. For they were
amazed at the manner of this death,
and many crossed themselves in fear,
and women sobbed. And Lorenzo,
standing on the scaffold by Antonio,
was struck with wonder and fear, and
clutched Antonio's arm, crying, can
it be that the duke is dead"' And An
tonic bowed his head, answering, May
Christ receive his soul"
Then the master of the household
came forward again and cried:
Hear all of you! According TO the
appointment of Almighty God, the
Second of that name, is from this hour
duke and lord of Forniola, whom
obey, serve and honor, all of you.
May his rule be prosperous"
And this time there came a low muir
muir of amen from the people. But
before more could pass there was a
sudden commotion in the square be-
fore the scaffold. For Bena, seeing
what was done, and knowing that the
duke was dead, had glanced at the
pikemen who stood near, and when he
saw that they looked not at him, but
toward where the master of The house
hold stood, he sprang forward and
ran like a deer to the scaffold, and he
leaped up to the scaffold before any
could hinder him and he cried in
mighty loud voice, saying:
by what warrant do you hold. my
lord a prisoner
And the apprentices raised a great
cheer, and with one accord pressed
upon the pikemen, who, amazed by all
that had passed, gave way before
them, and the apprentices broke their
bounds and surged like a wave of
water up TO the foot of the scaf6old,
shouting Antonios name, and the
young lord who held Tommasino came
with him and broke through and
reached the scaffold, for they feared
for Lorenzo and yet would not let
Tomna sino go, and Lorenzo was sore
at a loss, but he drew his sword and
cried that he would slay any man that
touched Antonio until the right of the
matter should be known
sIndeed, if you will but give me
sword. I will slay him myself said
Antonio. 'For 1 stand here by my
own will and according to the promise
gave to the duke, and if there be
lawful authority to hang me, hang
me: but if not, dispose of me as the
laws of the ouchy bid
81 have no authority" said Lorenzo.
For the duke gave none, and now he
is dead
Then the Count Antonio fastened his
shirt again about his neck and put on
his doublet and he signed TO Bena 10
stand on one side of him, and he babe
the young lords loosen Tommassino.
And he said to Lorenzo, Let us go
together to the palace" And now he
was smiling. Then they came down
from the scaffold and passed across the
square, a great multitude following
them. And when they came to the
steps of the palace, the dukes body
was covered with rich brocaded
cloth that some hand had brought from
his cabinet, and the little duke stood
there with his hand in the master of
the households hand, and the child |
was weaning bitterly, fer he was very !
fr;rnter aud over against him stood |
the Lady Lucia, motionless, as though |
she rad been turned to stone, for the |
strange thing that had come about |
through her approaching Of the duke |
had bewildered her brain. But when |
the boy saw Antonio he let gothe hand |
hs held and ran to Antonio and Leaned