The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1895-03-04

floor by the wall of the vault, behind two
! of the collins which the efforts of the
| dukes men had disiodged, and there he lay
| In. saw no man. for the corner where the
hermit crouched was dark but the voice
Of the mailman came. saying; welcome!
Do you bring me another of the PeSchel-
/ Il? lie is welcomed"
Then the dukes men, having pushed
! aside all the collins save one, came tumb-
ling and scrambling over into the vault,
| where they found Lepardo and his follow
! ers and hot on their heels came Bena and
! his five. so that the vault was full OF men,
hidden. so that Lepardo, when he rushed
And now from outside also came the clat-
| ter OF hoofs and hoarse cries, and the
! clash OF steel. for Tommasino had come
4 ana had fallen with great fury on those
of Lepardo's men who were outside and on
the syndic's levies that watched from afar
! or And fierce was the battle outside. yet
/ ii was hercer inside, where men fought
| i'm a half light, scarcely knowing with whom
they fought. and tripping hither and thith-
| err over the collins of the Peschelt that
were strewn about the floor.
Then the Count Antonio arose from
where he lay and cried aloud, ITO me, TO
me, To me. Antonio OF Monte Vellnto!
and he rushed TO the entrance OF the vault.
Bena. hearing his voice, and cutting down
one who barred the way, ran TO ANTONIO
in great joy TO find him alive and whole;
And Antonio came to Lepardo, who stood
his onset braVely, although greatly be-
wildered TO find Il party of Antonlo's men
where he had looked for Antonio alone;
And he cried TO his men to rally rouno
them. and, keeping his face anu ms piaue
toward the count began to ran BACK to-
ward the mouth Of the vault, IN order 10
reioin his men outside, for there also ne
perceived that there was an enemy ihuS
iepardo fell back and Antonio pressed on.
But unnoticed by any, the mad hermit
now sprang forth from the corner Where
he had been, and as Antonio was apout
to thrust at I.epardo the hermit caughI
him by the arm ana with the stre.sth OF
frenzy drew him back ana thrust hlihScIl
forward. running even on the point OF LIE
pardo's sword that was ready Tor COUNT
Ant. m
through the breast of the hermit or the
vault ana protruded behind his hack De-
tween the shoulders, and he fell prone on
the floor of the vault, crying eXuitantly:
'Deathi Thanks he TO God, DEAN! ANA
then and there he died of the thrust that
I.epardo gave him. But Antonio, WIN re
ma and three more-ror two % Bena's five
were slain-drove Lepardo and his men
back before them, and thus won their way
"a the gate Of the vault, where, u then
low they found that Tommasino more than
hold his own for he had scattered Lcpar-
dos men. and the syndics were IN full
flight, save eight or ten of the old soldiers;
who had served I'm free companies ana
these STOOD in n group, their swords in
their right hands and daggers IN the left
determined 20 die dearly, and the grizzly
haired fellow who had killed Antonio's
horse had assumed command Of them.
Here are some fellows worth fighting,
my lord" said Bena, loyfuly, TO Tomma-
sino. let beat them, my lord man
for man, an equal number of us For,
although Bena had killed man and
reason for staying his hand.
Ave Bena," laughed Tommasino. These
fellows deserve - die at the hands OF men
But while they prepared to attack. An
tonic cried suddenly; Let them be! There
are enough men dead over this matter OF
Cesars's treasure" And he compelled Tom
rlasino and Bena to come with him, al
though they were very reluctant; ana they
seized horses that had belonged 10 Lepar-
dos men. and one of Tonmasino's men also
being dead. Bona took his horse Then
Antonio said to the men OF free companies:
what is your quarrel with me? do hut
take what is mine. Go in peace. This syn
die Is no matter OF yours" But the men
wondered and stood their ground. Then
Antonio turned and rode 10 the entrance
of the vault. where his band was now be-
sieging Lepsrdo. and he cried to Lepardo:
Confer with me sir. You can come forth
safely" And Lepardo came out from the
vault, having lost no less than five men
there and having others wounded. and ne
was himself wounded i'm his right arm,
and >ould not hold his sword. Then the
count said 10 him: Sir, ii is no shame
for a man To yield when fortune is against
him And / trust that | am one 10 whom
a gentleman may yield without shame.
See the syndic'P men are fled and yours
are scattered. and these men, who stand
me-" And Lopardo answered sadly-for he
was very sorry that ne had failed to take
Antonio:
Indeed. ms lord. we are worsIed. FOR
Re did not come out ten men against one,
think he should VINO seeks TO overcome
To this Antonio bowed most courteously.
saying. may. it is rather fortune, sir" and
Leparlo said:
yet we can lie in case you put unseem-
ly conditions on us. my lord"
There Is no condition, save that you
fight no more against me today" said An
$50 let II be. my lord" SAID Lepardo and
to this the men Of the free companies
agreed and they mingled with Antonios
band. and two Of them joined themselves to
Antonio that day and were with him hence
forward, one being slain on Mt Agnino
and the other y-CserVing his life through
all the perils that beset the counts COM
pany.
Cesare and brought forth the body OF Ce-
sa-e, and, having come TO the vault, ne
caused those who had been slain to be car
ried out and set the collins again in decent
order and laid Cesare, The last oil the mouse,
there But when the corpse of the hermit
was brought out all marveled very greatly,
and had much compassion for him when
they heard from the lips of Count Antonio
his pitiful story: and Antonio bestowed
out Of the moneys that he had from Cesare
a large sum that masses might be said
for the soul of the hermit. For OF n
surety" said the count ''lt was heavens
viii that through his misfortune and the
strange madness that came upon him my
life should be saved"
These things done. Antonio gathered his
hand and having taken farewell Of Tepar-
do and commended him for the valor OF
his struggle. prepared TO ride back to the
hills. Aud MS face was grave, Tor ne was
the hr1d~e1 men who lay watching for him
IN the plains. But while he considered
Tor,u.asino came to him and said: "All
Rara-esta is ours. cousin. Cannot we get
change of coat. and thus ride with less
notice from the dukes campo And An
tonic laughed also. and they sent ana
caught twenty men OF Baratesta, grave
merchants and petty traders. and among
them Bene laid hold OF the syGdic ana
brought him in his chair 70 Antonio Ana
the count said to the syndic: 1t Is ~ MOO
ding with the affairs OF better men, Master
Svndic. on with that gown OF yours"
And they stripped the syndic OF his gown,
and Antonio nut on the gown. Thus tho
syndic had need very speedily or the new
gown which he had contracted to purchase
OF the lame tailor as the price of the tailor
information. And all Antonio's men clothed
themselves like merchants and traders, An