The Washington times., 1895-02-17
HE SAW THE FACE OF Lucia

end take Antonio, yet he could not come at
him before the time that Antonio had said.
And this the townsmen knew well also, and
they gathered themselves in groups in tie
great square saying. before the duke comes
at him, the sacred homes will he burned. and
what will then befali the duchy?"
And those who were friendly 10 Antonio,
foremost among them being the apprenticed
lads, spread themselves here and there among
the people, asking cunningly whether it con-
cerned the people OF FornIola more that the
blessing OF ST. Prisian should abide with them
or that a reluctant maiden should be forced
to take the veil; and some grew bold TO whis-
per under their breath that the business was
a foul one, and that heaven did not send
beauty and love that priests should bury
them in convent walls. And the girls OF the
city, ever most bold by reason of their help
Iessness, stirred up the young men who
courted them, leading them on and saying,
He is a true lover who risks his soul for his
love-" or II would | had one who would
steal the bones Of st. Prisian for my sake, but
none such have ], with other stirring and
infiaming taunts. recklessly flung from pout-
ing lips and from under eyes that challenged.
And all the while Duke Valentine sat alone
In his cabinet, listening to the tumuit that
sounded with muffied din through the walls
of the palace
Now, there was in the city certain furrier
named Peter, turbulent fellow, who had
been put out of his craft guild because he
would not abide by the laws of the craft, and
lived now as best he could, being maintained
in large measure by those who listened to his
empty and seditious conversation. This man,
loving naught that there was worthy of love
in Count Antonio, yet loved him because he
delied the duke, and about midnight, having
drunk much wine, he came into the square
and gathered together the apprentices. say
ing, II have matter to say 10 you-aId 10
you-and to you, till there were many scores
of them round him. Then he harangued
them, and more came round; and when at
last Peter cried. "Give us back the sacred
bones," thousand voices answered him,
AYE, give us back the bohes!' And when
the pikemen would have seized him men and
women also made ring aroand him so that
he could not be taken. And sober men, also,
OF age and substance. hearkened to him, say
ing:
HE s knave, but he speaks truth now."
So that very great tbrong assembled. every
man having a staff and many also knives:
and to those that had not knives, the women
and girls brought them, thrusting them into
their hands; nay, sundry priests also were
among the people, moaning and wringing
their hands. and saying that the favor of st.
Prisian would be lost forever TO the CITY, And
the square was thronged, SO that man could
not move unless all moved. nor raise his
hand to his head, save by the favor of his
neghbor. Yet presently the whole mass be-
gan to move, like great wave of water, to-
ward the palace of the duke, where the pike
men stood in ranks, ready now to go against
Antonio. Suddenly arose a cry, The arch
bishop comes,' and the venerable man was
seen. led through the crowd by Peter and
some more, who brought him and set him in
the front ranks OF the people; and Peter
cried, boldly, 'Where is the duke?''
But the captain of the guard came forward,
sword in hand. and bade Peter be still, curs--
ing him for inshlence, and shouted that the
people should disperse on pain of his high
ness displeasure "Where is the duke? Let
him come out to us!'' cried Peter, and the
captain, despising him, struck him lightly
with the fiat of his sword. But Peter, with a
cry of rage. struck the captain a great blow
with his staff. and the captain staggered back,
blood flowing from his head. Such was the
beginning of the fray, for in an instant the
pikemen and the people had joined battle;
men cried in anger and women in fright;
blood flowed, and many on both sides fell and
rose no more, and the archbishop came near
TO being trodden under foot till his friends
and the priests gathered rolnd him, and when
he saw that men were being slain he wept.
Then the Lord Lorenzo hastened to the
cabinet of the duke, whom he found pacing
up and down, gnawing his finger nails, and
told him of what was done outside.
Il care not" said the duke. .'She shall
take the VOWS? Let the pikemen scatter
them.'
Lorenzo then besought him, telling him
that all the city was in arms, aud that the
conflict would be great. But the duke said
still: "She shall take the vows!" Neverthe-
less he went with Lorenzo and came forth on
to the topmost step of the portico. And when
the people saw him they ceased for moment