The Washington times., 1895-02-03
ay," said he, and there was pity in his

away said he, and there was pity in his
voice. ~
Peace. Tommasinoto oMhat priest has he
provided for his brother2e ]
And Tommasino said no more but he
turned his eyes away from the face OF Duke
Paul; yet when he was an old man, one being
IN his company heard him say he dreamed yet
OF it. AS tor Martolo, heibent his head and
crossed himself
Then Paul threw himself on his knees be-
fore Antonio and prayed him to let him go,
but Antonio seemed not to hear him. and
stood silent with folded arms. Yet presently
he said: tef
Take your sword then. my lord. If fall
these shall not touch you. Thus much Igive.
though it is more than l have right to give.
Bul Paul would not lake his sword, but
knelt still, beseeching Antonio with tears, and
mingling prayers and curses in a flow OF
agonized words. TH,'
AT last Antonio plucked him from the ground
and sternly bade him mount the hill. and,
iinding no help. he set out his knees shaking
beneath him, while Antonio followed close
upon him. And thus Tonfmasino and Martolo
watched them go till the winding of the path
hid them from view, when Martolo fettupon
his knees and Tommasino drew breath as
though load had rested On his chest.
II was but a,short Way TO the summit, but
the path was steep. aud the two went slowly,
so that as they came forth on the top the first
And the city lay gray and drab below them,
| and the lonely tree that stands to this day
upon the hill. S@ayed in the wind with MOURN
| fu! murmurings. Aud Paul stumbled an
sank in heap upon the ground. And An
tonic said to him If you will. prav, )" and
went and leant against the bare trunk of the
tree, n little way M art. But Paul, thinking
on mans mercy, not on Gods. crawied on
his knees across the space tween and laid
hold OF Antonio's legs. And he said notn NJ,
but gazed up ar Antonio. And at the silent
appeal Antonio shiyered ior an instant, but
he did not lily the gaze of Paul eyes, but
looked down on him and answered.
You must die Yet there is your sword.
| and there a free read to the city,
| Then Paul let go his legs and rose, aud
| drew his sword. But his hand was trembling
aud he could scarce Blant. Then Antonio
gave TO him flask that he carried, holding
! strong waters, aud the wretch, drinking
| greedily, found some courage and came sud-
! denly at Antonio before An.enio looked for
! his attack. But the count eluded bin. and
drawing his blade awaited the attack and
| Paul seized again the flask that he bad fiung
| on the ground and drained it, and nal now
! with the fnmes. rushed at Antonio sbrieking
| curses and blasphemies. And the sun rose
! on the moment that heir blades crossed, and
| before its rays had shone a minute Antonio
hat driven his sword through the howling
wretch's lung AMI Duke Paul lay dying on
| the grassy hill.
Then Count Antonio stripped off his
doublet and made pillow of it for Paul's
| head. and sat down by him. and wiped his
! brow and disposed of his body with such care
! as seemed possible. Yet he took no pains 10
| stanch the blood or to minister TO the wound
| Tor his intent was tina. Paul should die and
! not live. And Paul lay some moments on his
back, then twisted on his siie; once he flung
his legs wide and gathered them again under
| his body aud shivered, turning on his back
a,uin: ana his jaw fell, and he died there on
| the top OF the hill. And the count closed his
eyes and sat by him in silence for many min
utes, and once he buriel bis face n his hands,
and II single sob shook him.
| But now it was growing TO day and he
rose, and took from the dukes waist the
| broad silken band that he wore, wrought
| with golden embroidery on ground OF
| royal llae. Then he took laul in his arms and
| set him upright agdlnstthe trunk O: the tree,
! and, encireling the tree and body with the
! rich scarf, he bound the o use there; and he
| took the ivory tablet Jrorn his Gc.t and tied
| the ribbon that hung through a hole in il
! to the rihand of the order OF ST Prisiau that
was round Paul's meek, and he wrote on the
! tablet, Witness my hand di Monte
! Nellnto!' And he wined the blade OF his
sword hong and carefully on the grass lilI it
| shone pure. clean, and bright again. Then
| he gaZed awhile at the city, that grsw now
warm and rich in the Increasing lightof the
sun, and turned on his heel and went down
| the hill by the way that he had come.
At the foot Tommasino and Martolo awaited
/ him; and whom he came down atone Mar
! toio again signed the cross; bat Tommasino
/ glanced one question, and. finding answer ia
/ Antonio s nod, struck his open palm. On the,
quarters of Duke Paul's horse and set ii free
! to go where it would, and the horse. being
! free, stated at a canter along the road to the
] city. And Antonio mounted and set his face
again toward the hills. For awhile he rode
| alone IN front, but when an hour was gone
he called 10 Tommasino, and on the lad Join
| ing him. talked with him not gayIy indeed
! tthat could not bel, yet with calmness and
! cheerfuness on the matters that concerned
! the band. But Paul's name did not cross his
4 lips, and the manner in which he had dealt
with Paul On the hill rested unknown till a
/ later time. when Count Antonio formally de-
/ ciared it and wrote with his own hand how
| Duke Paul had died. Thus then Count An
| tonic rode back to the hills, having executed
( in the body of Paul that which seemed 10 him
/ right and just.
Long had Duke Valentine waited for his
| brother in the summer-house, and greatly
wondered that he came not. Aud as the
morning grew and yet Paul came not the
! duke feared in some manner Antonio had de-
/ tected the snare and that he held Paul a
! prisoner, for it did not enter the dukes mind
that Antonio would dare to kill his brother
| And when it was O'Clock the duke, heavy
eyed for want OF sleep. left the summer-house
and, having traversed the garden, entered his
| cabinet and flung himself on couch there,
and. notwithstanding his uneasiness for his
! brother, being now very drowsy, he fell
asleep. But before he had slept long he was
| reused by two of his pages. who ran in CRYING
that Duke Paufs horse had come rfderless 10