The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1895-04-01
CHRONICLES
" - count Antonio.
-


oh Antoniol / had forgotten Antonio.
Does he still Iive?
Your highness has not given the signal
for his DEATH
Have L not? Then here"
He had raised his hand. but with a great
cry the Lady Lucia sprang Forward and
seized his hand before he could move it,
kneeling and crying: "No, no, my lord,
no, no, nor And the duke had no strength
to fling her off, but he gasped:
Free me from ner!'
And the master of the household terri
fed lest in her passion she should DO VIC
lence to his highness, roughly tore her
hands from the dukes hand. and the duke,
released, sat up on his couch, and he said
in hard, strange voice that was heard OF
ALL even to the scaffold, and yet seemed
not the voice that they knew as his:
Let Antonio" But then he stopped;
he choked in his throat and catching at
his shirt, tore it loose from him. Let
Antonio" he cried again; ''let Antonio
And he sat there for an instant, and his
eyes drew him. the intelligence departing
from them. once again he opened his lips,
and with thud he fell back upon his pill
lows, and having rolled once on his side,
turned again his back and lay still.
but nothing came from them save a gasp;
And n 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
purpose deal with him.
Ills hishness is dead" said the physi-
clan. and the master of the household,
his duty was, came to the front of the
dukes couch, and, standing there before
all the people, broke the wand Of his Of
fee and let the broken fragments fall
upon the marble steps, and he cried aloud:
Hear all OF youi 1t hath pleased Al
mighty God to take unto Himself the soul
Of the noble and ilustrious Prince Valen-
tine, duke and lord of Forniola May his
soul find peacc!'
But there came from the people no an
swering cry of Amen" as according to
the custom of the duchy, it should have
come. For they were amazed at the man
ner of this death, and many crossed them
selves in fear, and women sobbed. And
Lorenzo standing on the scaflold by An
tonic, was struck with wonder and fear,
and clutched Antonio's arm, crying, "Can
. it be that the duke is dead?' And Antonio
bowed his head, answering May Christ
receive his souI!
Then the master of the household come
forward again and cried:
Hear all of you! According TO the high
pleasure and the appointment of Almighty
God, the noble ana illustrious prince, Val
entine, 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 murmur
of amen" from the people. But before
more could pass there was sudden COM
motion in the square before the scaftold.
For Bena, seeing what was done, and know
ing that the duke was dead, had glanced at
the piNemen who stood near, and when he
saw that they looked not at him, but to-
ward where the master of the household
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 pike
men, 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 scailold,
shouting Antonio's name and the young
lord who held TommasinO came with him
and broke through and reached the ScafIOId,
for they feared for Lorenzo and yet would
not let Tommasino so, and Lorenzo was
sore at a loss, but he drew his sword and
cried that he would STAY any man that
touched Antonio until the right of the mat
ter should be known.
Indeed. if you will but give me sword
/ will Stay him myself" said Antonio 81 or
1 shall stand here by my own viii and ac-
cording to the promise 1 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 duchy bid"
Il have no authority" said Lorenzo. For
the duke gave none. and now he is dead.
Then the Count Antonio fastened ms
shirt again about his neck and put on his
doublet and he signed to Bena to stand
on one side of him, and he babe the young
! lords to loosen TOmmasino. And he SAID 10
Lorenzo, Let US 80 together to the pal
ace" And now he was smiling. Then they
came down from the scaffoid and passed
across the square, q great multitude fol-
lowing them. And when they came to the
stems OF the palace. the dukes body was
covered with a rich brOcaded cloth that
some hand had brought from his cabinet.
and the little duke stood there VITA
his hand in the master OF the household
hand and the child was weeping bitterly,
for he was very frightened; and over
against him stood the Lady Lucia, notion
less as though she had been turned TO
stone for the strange thing that had come
about through her approaching the duke
bewildered her brain. But when the boy
saw Antonio he let go the hand he held and
ran to Antonio and leaped into his arms.
Then Antonio lifted him and showed him
to the people who hailed him for duke; and
Antonio set him down and knelt before him
and kissed his hand And the child cried:
Now, that my father is dead Antonio,
you must not go your journey, but you
mist stay with me. For If l am duke,
must learn to use my sword without delay,
and no man but you shall teach me-"
"Shau not go on my journey, my lordg'
asked Antonio.
you shall not go" said the little duke.
Then Antonio turned TO the lords who
stood round and said:
Behold. my lords. his highness pardons
me-"
But the lords doubted. And they said to
Antonio:
may but he does not know what he does
in pardoning you"
"IFe understands as well, l think" said
Antonio "as his father understood when he
sent me to death Indeed my lords, ii is
not children only who know not what they
do" And at this speech Tommasino smiled
and Bena laughed grufIly. But the lords,
bidding Antonio rest where he was till
thev returned retired with the little duke
into the palace and sent word hastily, to the