The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1895-02-25

up and down, gnawing his finger nails, and
told him of what was done outside
II care not" said the duke. "She shall
take the vows! Let the pikemen scatter
them"
Lorenzo then besought him, telling him
that all the city was in arms. and that
the conflict would be great But the duke
said still: ''She shall take the vows!'
Nevertheless, he went with Lorenzo, and
came forth on to the topmost step of the
portico. And when the people saw him
they ceased for a moment to assail the
pilemen. and cried out Give us back the
sacred bones!"
Scatter those felIowv' said the duke TO
the captain of the guard.
MY lord, they are too many. And IL
We scatter them now, yet when we have
gone against Count Antonio they may do
what they will to the city
The duke stood STILL pale and again
gnawing his nails and the pikemen, finding
the fight hard, gave back before the peo-
pie. and the people pressed on.
Then Peter, the furrier, came forward,
ana the hottest with him, and Knocked the
pikemen; and one of the pikemen suddenly
thrust Peter through with his pike, and
the fellow fell dead, on which a great cry
of rage from all the people, and they
rushed on the pikemen again and slew and
were slain; and the fight rolled up the
steps, even to the very feet of the duke
himself. anu at last, dple no lohoSA
to contend with all the city, he cried:
Hold! / win restore the sacred bones!"
But the people would not trust him, and
one cried: Bring out the lady here before
us and set her free or we Will bufn the
palace" And the archbishop came sudden
ly and threw himself on his knees before
the duke. beseeching him thag no more
blood might be shed, but that the Lady
Lucia should be set free. And the duke,
now greatly afraid. sent hastily to the lieu
tenant OF the guard and ten men who came
TO the convent where Lucia was and, brook
ing no delay carried her with them in her
bedgown and brought and set her beside
the duke in the portco of the palace. And
the duke raised his hand to- heaven, and be-
fore all the people he said: Behold! she
is free! Let her go to her own house. and
her estate shall be hers again. And by my
princely word and these same holy bones,
l swear that she shall not take the VOWS,
neither viii l constrain her to wed any
man." And when he had said this he turn
ed sharply around on his heel, and looking
neither to the right nor the lett, Went
through the great han to his cabinet and
shut the door. For his heart was very
sore that he must yield to Antonio's de-
mand, and, for himself, he had rather
thousand times that the bones OF st. Prls-
ian had been burned.
Now, when the duke was gone, the people
driving cut the steward whom the duke
had sent there. and this done, they came
to the archbishop and would suffer him no
rest nor to delay one hour before he set
forth to carry the dukes promise to An
tonic. This the archbishop was ready to
do for all that he was weary. But first
he sent Lorenzo 10 ask the dukes pleasure,
and Lorenzo. coming from the duke prayed
aim to send 200 pixies with the archbishop.
For" said he. your highness has sworn
nothing concerning what shall befall An
tonic, and 50 soon as he has delivered up
the bones / will set upon him and bring
him alive or dead to your highness." But
the duke did not hcarken.
1.-THE fellows name is like stale lees Of
wine in my mouth" said he. Ten Of my
pikemen lie dead in The square and more
OF my citizens. 1 viii lose no more men
over it."
yet how great thing IL We could
take mimi
y viii take him at my own time and in
my own way" said the duke. IN God
name leave me now"
Lorenzo, therefore, got from the duke
leave for but ten men 20 go with thf
archbishop and To 70 himself II he would
And thus they set out eXhorted by tae
people, who followed them beyond the
bounds of the cisy. to make all speed. And
when they were gone the people came back
ana took up the bodies OF the dead, while
the pikemcn also took up the bodies ot
such OF their comrades as We're slain.
Yet had Duke Valentine known what
passed on the hills while the city was in
tumuit, it may not De doubted, Tor all his
yexauon that he would have sent the 200
whom Lorenzo asked; never had ne q Lairer
chance 20 take Antonio. For when the
count and those who went with HIM 80
Rilano were asleep, Antonio's head rest
ing on the golden casket, a shepherd Came
to the rest Of the band ana told them
what had been zone aHd now an iae
country was in an uproar. Then debate
arose among the band, for, though lneE
were lawlesS men, yet they feared God
and thought with great dread on what An
tonic had sworn SO that presently they
came all together and reused up Antonio
and said 10 hIm:
and il may be that we have done some
what for you. But we viii not suffer the
sacred bones TO be burned and scattered
Except the duke yields have sworn it
as Coo lives" answered Antonio.
we care not. 1t shall not be-no-not
though you and we die said they.
1T is well; hear" said Antonio. bowling
his head.
the bones, II you viii not yourself, and
send them back"
Again | hear" said Antonio, bowling his
head. and the gang went back to the fire
round which they had been sitting, all
save Martolo. who came and put his
hand in Antonio's hand
"What you VIII, / will, my lord" said
Nartolo, for though he trembled when he
thought of the bones of st. Prisan, yet
ne chung always 10 Antonio. AS for BCna
aud the others OF the ten who had gone to
Rilano they had burned not tue bones
only, but the blessed saint himself, mad An
tonic hidden them. Hard men, IN t"uIh,
were they and reckless.
Now the rest OF the band being gone back
to their fire and the night being very dark
in great silence aud caution AntouiO, rom
masino, Martolo and their followers, be-
ing thirteen in all, rose from TIER places
and. taking naught with them hut their
ewordS-save than Antonio carried the
GOLDEN casket-they stole forth from the
camp and set their faces to climb yet
higher into the heights Of the hills r!one
spoke; one following another, they clint ed
the steep path that led up the mountain
side, and when they had been going for the
space OF an hour they heard a shot from
far below them.
Our flight i5 known," said Tommasino.
shall we stand and meet them, nay lord?"
asked Bena.
NAY. not yet" said Antonio, and the
thirteen went forward again ut the best
speed they could.
Now they We're in deep gorge between
lofty cliffs, ana the gorge still tended up
ward: and at length they came TO the place
which is now named "Autonio's Neck"
utterly barring the path: yet there il Il way
that one man. or, at most, two, may pass
through ut one time Along this narrow
Z a..