The Washington times., 1895-02-17
CHAPTER ".
ANTONIO AND THE SACRED BONES.


OF Monte Nsiluto. wnen he dwelt IA outlaw
in the hills which men tell with fear and
doubt. marveiing at the audacity OF his act.
and sometimes asking themselves whether he
would ID very truth have performed what he
swore on the faith Of his honor he would do
if he did not attain what he demanded of the
duke Tor the thing lie threatened was such
as no man Of FornIola dare think on without
a shudder. for we OF Forniola prize and rever-
ence the bones OF our saint, the holy martyr.
Prisian. above, aud far beyond every other
relic, and they are 10 us, as it were, the sign
ana testimony OF Gods enduring favor to
our country. But much viii man do for
love OF a woman. an Antonlo's temper
br0oked no obstacle; so thai none know all
the truth Of the matter.
may not doud That he would have done
even as be said. Drawing the wrath OF beayen
and making Daucht OF the terror and con-
sternaton that had fallen on the city and the
parts round about it. Whether that thought
OF his heart was one that would gain pardon.
] know not; had the thing been done l could
Scarce hope. even in heaven s Infinite mercy
Yet this story also / must tell. lest l be
charged with covering MP what shanes An
tonic, Tor with the opinions OF careless and
faithless men col whom are too many IN TINS
later age have no communion. and / tell
the tale mol to move laughter or loose lests,
but rather TO show 10 what extremity a man
by nature good. may be driven 10y barshness
and the uumerited dslavor of his prince.
In the third year, then. o. Count Antonio's
outIawry. his highness the duke looked upon
the Lady Lucia and found that she was of
full age for marriage. Therefore, be re-
solved that she should be wed. and since
Robert de Beauregard, to whom he bad pur-
posed TO give her. was dead, he chose from
among his lords a certain gentleman OF
great estate. by name Lorenzo, aud sent word
10 Lucia that she had spent 100 much OF her
youth pining for what could not be hers, and
must forthwith receive Lorenzo for her hus-
band. But Lucia. being now woman and
no more a timid girl, returned TO his highness
q message shat she would look 10 no other
man Than Antonio; on this the duke. greatly
incensed. sent and took her and set her IN a
convent within the city walls, and made her
known that there she should abide I'LL her
life S end. until she should obey his command;
and he charged the abhess to treat her
harshiy and 10 break down her pride: aud he
swore that she would wed Lorenzo, or. II She
were Obstinate then she should take the
vows Of a nun in the convent. Many weeks
the Lady Lucia abode IN the convent, resist
ing ali that was urged upon her.
But at last finding no help from Antonio,
being sore beset and allowed no rest. she
broke one day into passionate ami pitilul
weeping and bade the abbess tell his hiEh-
ness that, since happiness was not for her in
this world, she would seek TO find it in
heaven, and would take she VOWS, rendering
ali her estate into the dukes hand. that he
might have II and give il TO Lorenzo. or 10
whom lie would. Which message being told
10 Duke Valentine, weary Of contending with
her. aud perchance, secretly fearing that An
tonic would STAY Lorenzo as he had slain
Hssarf Ea her fpr obstinate
wench. and bade her take ;he vows, and set
day for her 10 take them. but her estate he
assumed into his Own hand. and made gift
OF great value 10 Lorenzo. And Lorenzo,
they say. was WI content thus to be quit of
the matter. For said he ''while that
devil is loose in the hills. no peace would
there have been for the lady's husband"
But when il came 10 the ears of Count An
tonic that the Lady Lucia was TO take the
veil on the morrow OF The feast OF ST. Prlsian
his rage and affection knew no bounds.
"1 need be. +" be cried, Il viii attack the
city with all my men before l will suffer it"
Your men would all be killed. and she
would take the veil none the less. said Tom
masinO. For Antonio had but fifty men. and
although hey were stout fellows, and impOs-
siJle 10 subdue so long as they staid in the
hills, vet their strength would have been
nothing against a fortress and the dukes ar
ray.
4udus stAlA ABkSAAOs 4 A4i4 ~ dtOAS anu
die alone"
AS he spoke he perceived Martolo coming
to him. and calling him he asked him what
be would. Now Martolo was devout man,
and had been much grieyed when Antonio fell
under the sentence OF communication: yet
be abode with him. And now he bowed and
answered:
MY lord, in three DAYS it is the feast Of st.
Prisian, and the sacred bones will then be
on rriad from a q chriua in IA pbTroh n ha
saint at Bilano to the city" For 1t was at
Riiano that Prisian had suffered. and IA rich
church had been built on the spot.
II remember that il is wont to be so, Mar
tolO' answered the count.
''Nhen / dwelt with my father" said Mar
tolo, Il was accustomed TO 80 forth with all
people of my village and meet the sacred
bones and. kneeing, receive the benediction
from the lord archbishop as he passed, bear
ing the bones in their golden casket. And
the like would l do this year, my lord
But are you not accommodated in CON-
pany with Count Antonio and me?" asked
Tommasino, lightly smiling.
II pray not. I was not named in the SEN
tence, said Martolo. signing the cross.
go in peace, Martolo. but see that you are
not taken by the dukes men, said Count
Antonio.
But few OF them go with the archbishop,
my lord. For who would lay hands on the
tdfEtQ RCucSf uS RudLu Is euidlt, anu SuAll
easily elude themP' and Martolo departed.
aud told the man they called Bena what had
passed, but Bena was a graceless fellow, and
would not 20 with him.
Now when Martolo was gone Count Antonio
SAT down on great stone, and for long
while he said nothing TO Tommasino. But
certain words out OF those which Martolo had
spoken were echoing through his brain, and
be could not put them aside. for they came
again and again and again. and at last. look
Ing up at Iommasino, who stood by him, he
said:
'Tommasino, who would lay hands on the
sacred bones?"
Tommasino looked down into his eyes.
then ne laid hand on his shoulder, and An
tonic still looked up and repeated: "Who
would lay hands on the sacred bones7"
Tommasino's eyes grew round in wonder;
he smiled, but his smile was uneasy, and he
shifted his feet.
''Is it that you think Of, Antonio?" he asked
in a low voice. BESIDE 1t. it would be a
light thing to kill the duke in his own
palace"
Then Antonio cried, striking his fist on the
palm of his hand: Are dead bones more sa-
cred than that living soul on which the duke
LAYS bands 10 force il 10 his will?''
THE people reverence the bones as God
Himself" said Tommasino, troubled
Il also reverence them,' said Antonio. and
fell again into thought. But presently he
rose aud took Tommasino's arm. and for n
long while they walked to and fro. Then
they went and sought out certain chosen men
OF The band, for the greater part they dared
not trust in such a matter. but turned only to
them that were boldest and recked least Of
sacred things. And 10 ten of such Antonio
opened bis counsel, and by great rewards he
prevailed on them 10 come into the plan. al
though they were, for all their boldness, very
GfrefN lasf lox-s Got