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

And he and his men went and laid down
their swords by the feet of Antonio. where
he lay on the ground his head on rom,
masino's lap. So that the whole pand
were now round Antonio and Lorenzo had
but four with him.
'.He asks warp growled Bena to Tom
masino. Shall he not have war; my
iord?
And Tommasino laughed, answering:
Here is a drunkard OF blood"
But Count Antonio, raising himself, Sdiu'
lis the archbishop here? -
Them Lorenzo went and brought the
archbishop, who coming, stood before an.
tonic, and rehearsed to him the oalh tnat
Duke Valentine had taken, and told htm
how the Lady Lucia was already free ana
In her own house, and made him aware
also of the great tumult that had happened
in the city. And Antonio listened To ms
tale in silence. Then the archbishop raised
hand toward heaven and spoke IN
solemn and sad voice:
Behold! there are ten of the dukes guard
dead in the city, and there are twelve OF
the townsmen dead, and here in the opening
of the neck there lie dead tive men of those
who followed you, my lord. Twenty and
seven men are there that have died over
THIS business. L pray more have not died IN
the city since i set forth. And for what
has this been done, my lord? And more
than The death of all these is there. For
these sacred bones have been foully and
irTeligiously stolen ard carried away. used
with vile irreVerence, and brought into inn
minent hazard OF utter destruction, and
had they been destroyed and their ashes
scattered to the four winds according 10
your blasphemous oath, l know not what
would have befallen the country where such
an act was done. And for what has this
been done, my lord? 1t has been done that
proud and violent man may have his VIII,
Heavy, indeed, is the burden on your soul.
my lord; yet, on your soul is the weight
of sacrilege and Of much blood
The archbishop ceased and his hand drop
ped to his side The flames on the lille
were burning low and a stiffness fell on all
the company. But at last Count Antonio
II oh
on Tcmmasino's shoulder, leaning on Tom
masino. His face was weary and sad
and he was very pale, save where in one
spot the flame had scorchcd his cheek to
an angry red And looking round on the
archbishop, and on the Lord Lorenzo, and
on them all, he answered sadly.
I'm truth. my Lord Archbishop. my bur
den is heavy; for l am an outlaw ana ex-
communicated. Twenty-Seven men have
died through my act, and / have used
the sacred bones foully and brought them
into imminent peril of total destruction
according to my oath. All this is true, my
lord. And yet | know not. Tor Aimishly
God, whom all we, whether honest men or
robbers. men of law or lawless, hunbly
worship. Almighty God has His own scales,
my lord. And 1 know not which thing be
in those sca-es the heayier-that twenty
and seven men should die and that the
bones OF the blessed st. Prisian should be
brought in peril, aye, or should be utterly
destroyed; or again that one weak girl,
who has no protection save in the justice
and pity Of man should be denied lHs-
should hearken to her weeping. say, nay
lord, for it is yours 10 teach aud mine
to learn. which Of these things should God
count the greater sin? And for myself l
have asked nothing. and for friends here.
whom l love-9ye. even those / have killed
for my oath'S sake Il loved have dared
to ask nothing But 1 ask only that JUS
tice should be done and mercy regarded
Where, my lord. is the greater sin|'
But the archbishop answered not word
to the Count Antonio, but he and the Lord
Lorenzo came and lifted the golden casket
and no man of Antonio's company seek
ing to hinder them, they went back with
II ia the city and showed 1t to the people:
and after that the people had rejoicad
greatly that the sacred bones which they
had thought TO be destroyed were safe,
the archbishop carried the golden caSket
back 10 the shrine in the village of Rilano.
where 1t rests till this day. But Count An
tonic buried the five men of his band whom
he and Bena had slain, and with the rest
ne abode still in the hills, while the Lady
Lucia dwelt in her own house III the city,
and the duke honoring the oath when he
had sworn before all the people, dld not
seek to constrain her to wed any man,
and restored to her the estate that ne had
taken from her Yet the duke hated Count
Antonio the more for what he had done,
and sought the more how he might lay
hands on him ana pat him to death.
(To be Continued)