The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-03-24

Therefore Antonio arose and went
with him; and they came through the
great hall, and, strong escort being
about them, took their stand at the
foot of the palace steps. Then the
duke was borne out on his couch
high on the shoulders of his lackeys,
and was set down on the topmost
step; and silence having been pro-
claimed the duke spoke to Antonio
but so weak was his voice that none
heard save those who were very near
Antonio Of Monte Velluto,' said he,
1t may be that in Gods purposes /
nave not myself long to live. Yet it
is long enough TO uphold and vindicate
that princely power which the same
God has committed to my hands. That
power you have outraged; many of my
faithful friends you have slain; against
both me and the church you have
lifted your hand. Go, then, to your
death, that men may know the fate of
traitors and of rebels
Antonio bowed low to his highness,
but, not being invited by the duke to
speak, he said naught, but suffered
Lorenzo to lead him across the square,
and as he went he passed where four
plkemen stood by Bena, ready to lay
hold of him if ne moved, and Bena fell
on his knees and again kissed An
tonio's hands. And Antonio, passing
on. saw Two young lords, followers of
Lorenzo's. And between them stood
Tommasino; their arms were through
Tommasino's arms, and they held him,
though lovingly, yet firmly, and he had
no sword.
May 1 speak with Tommasino?'
asked Antonio
His highness has forbidden it, said
Lorenzo; but Antonio paused for mo-
ment before Tommasino; anr Tom
rn6 cd nit w
to him that he might die with him.
And Antonio kissed him and, with
shake of his head passed on. Thus,
then, he came to the gibbet, and
mounted with Lorenzo onto the SCAT
fold that was underneath the gibbet.
And when he was seen there a great
groan went up from the people, and
the apprenticed lads, who were all
gathered together on the left side of
the gibbet, murmured SO fiercely and
stirred so restlessly that the pikemen
faced round. turning their backs to-
ward the scaffold and laid their pixies
in rest.
Then the hour of noon struck from
the. clock in the tower of the cathedral;
and the master OF the dukes house
hold, who stood by the couch of his
master, turned his eyes to the dukes
face, seeking the signal Tor Antonio's
death, which, when he received it, he
would signal to the eXecutioner to set
the rope around the counts neck, for
the man stood by Antonio with the
rope in his hand, and Antonio was al
ready in his shirt. But. when the
master of the household looked at the
duke. the duke made him no signal;
yet the duke had not tainted from his
sickness. for he was propped on his ell
bow, his face was eager. and his gaze
was set intently across the square;
and his physician, who was near.
spoke to him softly. saying:
My lord, they await the signal"
But the duke waived him aside i'm
patiently and gazed still across the
square. And, seeing his highness thus
gazing intently, the master Of the
household and the physician and all
the rest who were about the dukes
person looked also, and they saw the
Lady Lucia coming forth from her
house. clad all in white. Antonio saw
her also from where he stood on the
scaffold, for the people made a way for
her. and the pikemen let her pass
their ranks, so that she
walked along across the middle Of the
great square, and the eyes of all, leav-
ing Antonio, were fixed upon her. Her
face was very pale, and her hair fell
on her shoulders, but she walked firmly
and swiftly, and she turned neither to
right nor left. but made straight for
the spot where the duke lay. And he.
seeing her coming, moaned once and
passed his hand thrice across his eyes,
and raised himself yet higher on his
arm, leaning toward her over the side
of the bed. Again he passed his hand
across his brow, and the physician re-
garded him very intently, yet dared
not again seek to rouse his attention,
and imposed silence on the master of
the household, who had asked him in
low tones, What ais his highness 90
CTo be continued)