The Washington times., 1895-03-31
81 am Lucia, and Come to Ask Antonio's Life"

ola. was dead of his sickness at the moment
when he sought to send Antonio TO death.
4 Thus maryelausly q heaven in its high
4 purposes deal with him.
His highness is dead" said the physi-
clan, and the master of the household. as
his duty was, came TO the front Of the
Dukes couch, and, standing there, before
all the peope, broke the wand of his Of
flee, and let the broken fragments fall upon
the marble steps. and he cried aloud:
Hear all Of you! 1t hath pleased AL
mighty God to take unto Himself the soul
Of the noble and iilustrious Prince Valen-
tine, Duke and Lord of Forniola Nav
his soul find peace!"
But there came from the people no
answering cry of Amen" as, according
/ 10 the custom of the duchy, it should have
, come. For they were amazed at the
manner of his death, and many crossed them
| selves in fear, and women sobbed A nd
| Lorenzo. standing on the scarfold by An
] tonic, was struck with wonder and fear,
and clutched zAntonio's arm, crying. Can
il be that tire Duke is tiead?" And An
tonic bowed his head, answering, MAY
! Christ receive mis- souli'
Then the master of the household came
forward again and cried:
Hear ali OF you! According to the high
pleasure and the appointment Of Almighty
God, the noble and iIlastrious prince Valen-
~
hour Duke and Lord Of Fornola, whom
obey, serve, and honor, all OF yod May his
rule be prosperous"
And this time there came a low murmur
OF Amen from the people. But before
more cOald pass there was a sudden commo-
toni the square before the scaff0ld. For
Bena. seeing what was done, and knowing
that theduke was dead had glanced at the
pi1cnlen who stood near, and when he saw
that they looked not at him, but toward
where the master of the hou1es1old stood
he Eprang forward and ran like a deer
TO the scaffold before any could hinder
him and he cried in q mighty loud voice
saving:
''By what warrantdo yon hold my lord a
prisoner?'
And the apprentices raised a great cheer
and with one accord pressed upon the
plkenen, who, amazed by oil that passed,
gave way before them, and the apprentices
broke their bounds and surged like a
wave of water up TO the foot of tie sscaf-
fold, shouting AntOnio's name, and the
young lords who held Tonimasino came
with him ana broke through and reached
the scaftold, for they feared for Lorenzo
ahd vet would not let Tommasno go,
ana Lorenzo was sore at asloss but he drew
MS sword and cried that he would .slay
any man that touched Antonio until the
right of the matter shonld be known.
IAdeeh, III tOl VIII Dut give me a sword,
] sTiil slay him myself said Antonio.
For i stand here by my own will and
according 10 the promise i gave TO the
duke, and if there be lawful authority to
hang ne, hang me; biIt if not, dispose of
me as the laws Of the duehy bid.''
II have no authority" said Lorenzo.
For the duke gave none, and now he is
dead"
Then the Count Antonio fastened his
shirt again about his neck and put on his
douset, ana he signed TO Bena 10 stand on
one side of him. and he bade the young
lords Loosen Tommasino. And he said
to Lorenzo, Let us go together TO the
palace" Ard now he was smiling
Then they came down from the scaffold
and passed across the square, a great mul-
tittfde following them. And when they
came to.the steps of the palace, the dukes
body was covered with a rich brocaded cloth
that some hand had brought from his cab