The Washington times., 1895-03-24

Antonio caught his arm, saying:
My sword is not drawn, Bena."
My lord, what does it mean?" criet
Bena, in a loud voice, so that Lorenzo
heard and stayed his steps and looked a
Bena.
Does he not know" he asked OF Antonio
''He does not know yet," said Antonio
And to Bena he sad: II have need Of youl
| sword, Bena. Give it me-"
MY sword, my lord?"
Eyes, your swo ord 4"
Bena looked at him with wondering,
| frightened eyes, but he slowly urbuckied
! his sword from his belt and gave 20 An
| tonic. And Antonio unbuckled his own
sword also ana gave them roth 20 the
| Lieutenant OF the guard, saying: 'Sir,
] / pray you to restore Benas to han IN the
evening, and mine to me when go forth
to RiIano."
But Bena clutched at Antonio's arm, cry
! ing again:
what does it mean. my lord?"
Then Antonio took him by the hand and
said:
"Are we to be afraid now of what v;e have
| OTTER faced together with light hearts,
Bena?"
'Are we to die?" asked Bena.
lyon are to live and beget those brave
boys, Bena. But it is otherwise with nIe, -
said Antonio.
Then the Lord Lorenzo, who had looked
| at Bena's eyes, signed to four plkemen TO
| come near, and they came and STOOD near
Bena, for Lorenzo feared that he would not
| suffer Antonio 10 die without seeking 10
save him, or to die with him.
NAY; let him alone" said Antonio.
You viii obey me OF your free viii,
Bena?'
Yes, my lord" said Bena, md ne looked
up at the gibbet, and then caught ntGnio's
hand and kissed il a score Of times, and he
began to sob as a child sobs And the
guard, among whom were some who Lad
felt his arms, marvelled to see him thus
moved
Let us go on" said Antonio. 1T is
hard on noon, and ] must keep my tryst
with his Highness.
His Highness awaits my lord at the
fish pond in the garden" said Lorenzo,
and he led Antonio to the palace and brought
him through the great hail and SO TO the
! fishpond; and by it the Duke lay propped
on pillows, yet very richly arrayed, and
his little son stood by him. Now Lorenzo
stood aloof, but Antonio came, and. kneel
ing, kissed the Dukes hand, and then rose
and stood before the Duke. But the boy
cried: why, il is my Lord Antonioi
Have you come back to live in the city, my
Lord Antonio? All, / am glad Of itl''
Nay, / have not come To live in the
city, my little lord" said Antonio.
whittier do you go on?'' asked the boy.
His Highness sends me on journey" !"
said Antonio.
lis it far?"
"Yes, it is far" said Antonio, with a
| smile.
II would he would send another and
let you stay. Then we could play at
robbers again in the great hail." said
the little Duke. Father, can you find
no other lord to go in Antouio's placer"
The Duke turned his face, pale and
wasted with sickness, and his eyes, that
seemed larger and deeper than they had
been before, upon his son.
Il can send none but Antonio," said
he. And calling to Lorenzo he bade him
take the boy. But the boy went reluc-
tantly, telling Antonio that he must re-
turn speedily. For you promised, :"
said he. Ito teach me TO use my sword. Z"
And the Duke signed to Lorenzo, who
lifted the boy and carried him away,
leaving Antonio alone with the Duke.
Il have set my seal to the pardons as
I swore," said the Duke. and all that he
and the rest have done against me shall
Tommasino shall be free this evening, and
be forgotten from this hour. Have you
any cause of complaint against me?"
None, my lord said Count Antonio.
''Is there anything that you ask of me?"
Nothing my lord. Yet if it be your
Highness' pleasure that ! should have
speech with the Lady Lucia. and with my
NphHlbs silbulu bC well pi6dstd
You will see them yonder in the square,"
said the Duke. but otherwise you shall
not see them"
Then Lorenzo returned, and he led An
tonic to chamber and gave him 10 eat and
wine, and while Antonio ate. the Lord
Archbishop, Laving heard that he was
come, came in great haste. and the yeDer-
able man was very urgent with Antonio
that he should make his peace with heaven,
that. having confessed his sins and sought
absolution, he might be relieved OF the
sentence of accommodation under which
he lay, and be comfoTted with the rites of
the church before he died.
For there are many wild and wicked
deeds on your conscience" said the Arch
bishop, and above all the things that YOU
did touching the abbot of st. Prisian,
and yet more impiously touching the sacred
bones"
Indeed. have many sins to confess"
said Antonio, but my lord Archbishop,
concerning the Abbol and concerning the
sacred bones / have nothing to confess.
For even now, when stand on the thresh-
old of death. / can perceive nothing that
did save what / could not leave undone."
Then the Archbishop besouht him very
earnestly, and even with tears, but Anto-
MO would own no sin in these matters, and
therefore the Archbishop could not relieve
him from his sentence nor give him the
to his own house in great distress of spirit
The Lord Lorenzo TOW came again TO
Antonio and said to him: My lord, il wants
but a few moments to noon.' Therefore
Antonio arose and went with him; nd they
came through the great hail. and, strong
escort being about them, took their stand
at the foot of the palace steps. Then the
Duke was borne out Oh his couch. high the
shoulders of his lackeys, and was set down
on the topmost step: and silence having
been proclaimed the Duke spoke to Antonio;
but so weak was his voice that none heard
save those who were very near.
Antonio of Monte Velluto," said he, "it
may be that in Gods purposes l have not
myself long to live. Yet it is long enough
for me TO uphold and vindicate that princely
power which the same God has committedto
my hands. That power you have outraged;
many of my faithful friends you have
slain; against both me and the church you
have lifted your hand. Go, then, to your
death, that men may know the Fate or
traitors and Of rebels
Antonio bowed low to his hghness. but
not being invited by the Duke 10 speak he
said naught, but suffered Lorenzo 10 lead
him across the square, and as he went he
passed where four pikemen stood by Bena,
ready to lay hold of him il he moved, and
Bena fell on his knees and again kissed An
tono's hands And Antonio passing on,
saw two young lords, followers ofLorenZo's.
And between them stood Tommasino; their
arms were through Tommasino's arm, and
they held him, though lovingly, yet firmly,
and he had nosword.
MAY / speak with Tommasino?" asked
Antonio.
His highness has forbidden it, said
Lorenzo; but Antonio paused for a moment