The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1895-03-04
tonic, in the syndic's gown, taking his

slowly, for the sun was very hot, and sew
eral times they paused to take sheiter I'M
der clumps of trees, so that the afternoon
waned before they came in sight OF the
| dukes encampment Soon then they were
seen, and a young officer of the guard
with three men came pric<ing toward them
TO learn their business; and Antonio hunch,
ed the syndics gown about his neck ana
pulled his cap down over his eye, ana thus
! received the officer. And the officer was
deluded and did not know him, but said;
| rs there news, syndlcY r,
| Yes, there is news, SAID Antonio ne
hermit of the vault of the Pescheiti Is
| dead at BarateSta"
81 know naught OF him." said the officer;
| BY this time Antonios men mao mi
crowded round the officer and his com
panions, hemming him in on every side:
| and those that watched from the duke
! camp saw the merchants and traders flock
| Ing round the officer, and said 10 then,,
selves, They are Offering ware to NM nm.
J never heard OF the hermit of the vault"
'T have not. syndic," said the officer.
| dwelt with the deal in a vault. and was
| 30 enamored Of death that he greeted II as
a man creEts a dear. friend who has tar
ny I'm ~ truth a strange moodr cried tho
officer. I think, this hermit was mad
| "I think SO also" said Antonio. -
az cannot doubt of it," cried the officer,
| "Then, sir you are not OF his mindE
asked Antonio smiling. You would not sleep
| this night with the dead nor hold out your
| hands TO death as to q dear friend ca.
| 'By st. Prisian, no." said the young OH,
| Ger with laugh. "For TINS Worll " Wfn
| enough. syndic, and I have sundry trliiins
sins that l would be quit of before race
| another" . , a.,
turn TO him who sent you and say that
4 the syndic of Baratesta rides here with
| company of friends and that his business
| is lawful and open to no suspicion" ana
| even as ArNonio spoke every man drew hiS
| dagger and there were three daSgers AT
| the heart of the officer and three ar tng
| heart of each Of the men with him.. 70 =
nv saving this continued the count, Fix,
ing his eyes on the officer, "and ny no-
| other means can you escape lmlneuia'e
Then the officer looked to right and left
being very much bewildered, put rom
masino touched him on the arm ana saia
| "You have fallen, sir, into the han9s or
! the Count Antonio. Take an oaln 10 90 rs
! he bids you and save your ire. ANA An
tonic took Off the syndics cap ana showed
his face and Rena rolled up the sleeve
| or his old mans gown ana sho"eu the
muscles Of his arm. -, ~.
"'rhe Count Antonion' cried the ciilcer
! and his men in great dismay.
Eyes. and we are four TO one, .saId ROM
masno. You have no choiGe SIR between
the oath and immediate death Atlu IL
seems to me that YOU are indeed, not OF
the mind of the hermit OF the vault.
Rut the officer cried: MY honor VIII not
suffer this oath. my lord" And hearing
this. Bena advanced his dagger, but An
tonic smiled again and said:
Then | will not force II on you, sir.
But this much / must force on you-to
swear 10 abide here for half an hour ana
during that time to send no Woru anu
make no sign TO your camp
To this the officer. havin" no choice be-
tween 1t and death. agreed, ana Antonio
leaving him rode forwa rd softly, and, riding
softly ne passed within a mile of the
dukes encampment. But at this moment
the officer, seeing Antonio far away, broke
his oath and shouted loudly: 1T Is Antonio
OF Monte Vellutor and set spurs to his
horse. Then Antonio's brow grew DARK
and he said: IN
and leave me here
MY Iord!' said Tommasino, beseeching
hide on" said Antonio. sternly. "Ride at
q gallop. You VIII draw them off from
me-"
And they dared not disobey him, but all
rode on. And now there was stir IN the
dukes camp, men running for their arms
and their horses. But Antonio's band now
put themselves to a gallop making straight
for the hills and the commander of the
dukes guard did not know what to make
of the matter for he had heard the officer
cry Antonio" but did not understa .
what he meant, therefore there wa
short delay before the pursuit after the
band was BfoCt and the band thus gained
an advantage and Antonio turned away
safe to the hills"
spurs to his horse and ne rode toward
where the young officer was. And at FIRST
the officer came boldly to meet him; then
ne wavered and his cheek went pale and
he said 10 the men who rode with him:
1--WE are four TO one" But one OF them
answered.:
/ -Four to two sir"
What do you Inean?' cried the officer.
81 see none coming toward out count
rs not God also against oath-breakers"
said the fellow, and he looked at his COM
rddes. And they nodded their heads to
him. for they were afraid TO fight by the
side of a man who had broken ms oath.
Moreover the figure OF the count was very
terrible; and the three turned aside ana
left the young officer alone.
Now by this time the whole Of the
dukes encampment was astir but they fol-
lowed moi after Antonio, but after Iotnma-
sino and the rest OF the band, for they diS
not know Antonio in the Syndlc'S bOWil.
Thus the Young officer was left alone to
meet Antonio, and when he saw this his
heart failed him and his courage sank,
and he dared not await Antonio, but he
turned and set spurs to his horse and fled
from Antonio away across the plalh. Ahc
Antonio pursued after him. and was now
very near upon him; so that the officer
saw that he would soon be overtaken, and
the reins fell from his hand, and he sat
on his horse like a man smitten with the
palsy. shaking and trembling; and MS
went and the officer tcil off from II, and
he lay very still on the ground. Then
Count Antonio came Up 10 him and sat on
his horse holding his drawn sword IN his
hand; and in an instant the officer began
to rouse himself, and looking up he saw
Antonio with his sword drawn. And An
Shall men without honor live?'
Then the officer gazed into the eyes OF
the Count Antonio and the sweat burst
forth on his forehead. sudden strange,
choking cry came from him; he dropped
his sword from his hand, and with both
hands he suddenly clasped his heart, ut
tering now a great cry of pain and having
his face wrung with agony. Thus he stood
for an instant, clutching his heart with
both hands, his mouth twisted fcartully,
and then he dropped onto the ground and
lay still. And the Count Antonio sheathed
his sword and barred his head, saying. 1t
is not my sword, but Gods"
And he turned and put his horse TO
gallop and rode away, not seeking to pass
the dukes encampment, but directing his
way toward the village of Rlano; and
there he found shelter in the house OF q
friend for some hours, and when light fell
made his way safely back 10 the hills,
and found that the dukes men had aban-
doned the pursuit Of his band, and that all
of them were alive and safe.
But when they came to take up the
young officer who had been false to his
oath he was dead, whether from fright
at the aspect of Count Antonio and the
imminent doom with which he
threatened or by some immtuiat &c juds,
ment Of heaven, / know not. For very
various are The dealings of God with man.
For one crime He will STAY and tarry not,
and so peVchance, was it melted out to that
officer; but with another man His way is
different, and He suffers him to live long
days, mindful of his sin, in self-hatred
and self-scorn, and viii not send him the
relief Of death, how muchsOeVer the wretch
may pray for 1t. Thus it wCs that God