The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1895-04-01
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free to move"
Then Tommasino went to the lady and
spoke to her softly, telling her that Anto-
MO desired to speak with her, and she gave
Tommasno her hand. and he led her to
Antonio who stood within the pOrtic@
screened from the sight of the people. And
they were left alone.
But meanwhile the whole body of the
townsmen and the apprentices had gath
cred before. the palace, and their one cry
was for Antonio For the fear of the duke
being no longer upon them and the piAemen
not knowing whom to obey, and being,
therefore, disordered, the people became
very bold and they had stOrmed the pal
ace had not one come to Antonio and inn
plored him to show himself that the people
might know that he was safe Therefore.
he came forward with the Lady Lucia, who
was now no more bewildered nor petrified
with fear or establishment. but was weep
ing with her eyes and smiling with her lips.
and Clinging to AntOniO's arm. And when
the people saw them thus. they sent up a
great shout that was heard far beyond the
city walls and the apprenticed lads turned
and ran in a body across the square and
swarmed on to the scanoId. And then and
there they plucked down the gibbet and
worked so fiercely that in the space of half
an hour there was none of it left
And now the archbishop with the lords
came forth from the council chamber and
the little duke with them. And they caused
the servants to remove the body of the dead
duke and they set his son on a high seat
and the archbishop offered up a prayer be-
fore the people: and having done this he
turned to Antonio and said:
MY Lord Antonio, most anXiously have
his highness and we of his council consider
ed this matter; and it has seemed to US all
my own, in truth. was the sole reluctant
voice, and now ] also am brought TO the
same mind-that whereas the virtuous
purposes of princes are meet to be renem-
bcred and made perpetual by faithful full
hlment after their death, yet the errors OF
which they, being mortal, are guilty, should
not OutliVe them nor be suffered to endure
when they have passed away. And though
we are not blind to your offenses. yet We
judge that in the beginning the fault was
not yours Therefore his highness DEGREES
your pardon for all Offenses against his civil
state and power. And ! myself who hold
authority higher than any earthly might.
seeing in what this Gay has witnessed the
finger of God himself. do not fight against
it. but VIII pray YOU, as soon as you may
fit yourself thereunto by prayer and medita-
ton, to come in an humble mind and seek
again the blessings of the church. For in
what YOU did right, and in what you out
stepped right, God himself must one day
judge. and. viii seek to judge of it no
more"
My lord" said Antonio. Il have done
much wrong. Yet I will own no wrong in
the matter of the abbot nor in that of the
sacred bones"
But the lord archbishop smiled AT An
tonic. and Antonio bent and kissed the ring
that was on.his finger, and the old man laid
his hand for moment on Antonio's head,
saying: cit may be that God works some
times in ways that I may not see
Thus il was that the Count Antonio was
restored to his place and came again to
Forniola. Having been relieved Of the SEN
tence Of accommodation that had oeen
laid upon him, ne was welded IN the ca
thedral to the Lady Lucia so soon as the
days of mourning for the duke had passed.
And great was the JOY in the city at their
wedding for every maid and every man
saw in the triumph of AntoniO's love a
sign of the favor of heaven TO those VINO
love with Il pure and abiding passion. 50
they made great feasts and were marvel
ously merry, and Bena let not the day 90
by without plighting his troth TO comely
damse saying, with q twinkle IN ms eye,
that the Count Antonio would have need
of his sons. whose services he had prom
ised to him as they rode togther across.
the plain on the morning wnen Antonio
had supposed that he was to die. Nor
would Bena give any other reason what
soever for the marriage. Nevertheless. II
is likely that there were others. but
whether Bena fulfilled mis- promise / know
not for, as / have said, so little IS known
concerning him that his true name does not
survive, and it has proved an impossible
thing to discover whether any Of his de-
scendauts yet live in Forniola- IT IL chance
that they 90. l trust that they h=ht as wen
and serve as Loyalty and pray better than
he But Alartolo has left those that bear
mis- name and q great-grandson Of his IS az
this very time huntsman TO the monastery
of st. Prsian, where have seen and talked
with him many times
The task which / laid upon myself thus
ffr,.T- 4f- For
to tell of the after deeds Of Count Antonio
of Monte Neluto, nor how, in the space OF
a few months, he was chosen by al the
lords to be ruler and protector Of the state
during the infancy OF the duke, I'm winch
high office he Gid many notable deeds. both
of war and peace, and raised the duchy
to a great height of power and conferred
many favOrs on the townsmcn OF Forniola'
whom he loved and cherished because they
had not forsaken him nor ceased to love
him during all the years that he dwelt an
outlaw in the hills. And he built again his
house on the hill which Duke Valentine had
burnt, and dwelt there with Lucia and with
Tommasino also until TOmmasino took 10
wife that same lady for whose sake he had
fingered and thus fallen into the hands Of
the Lord Lorenzo, and went and dWeIt at
Rilano. where those Of his house still dwell.
Eut when the young duke came of age
tn reign the Count Antonio delivered his
charge INFO his hand, yet continued 10
counsel him and WAS very high in author
itv And neighboring princes also sought
his aid and his counsel and he was greatly
honored Of all men. Thus If there was
aught in his youth that merits censure. Il
may be held that he biOtted out the shame
of il by his after life, for his latter days
were filed with honorable service to his
prince and to his country. Yet the heart OF
man is vain thing; for when ], who am
known to have learned all that can be re-
covered from the mists OF past times con-
corning Count Antonio, asked-and whether
il be by men or women. by boys or girls,
ave or by toddling iufanJs-to tell them
tale OF the great Count Antonio, when he
was an outlaw. banned by his prince ana
bv the church. living by the light OF ms
own heart and by the strength of his own
hand secured only by the love and duty
of the lawless men who followed, and risk
ing his life every day and every hour Tor
The sake of the bright eyes of that lady
who waited for him in the city. and |, when
thinking to check this perversity, bid them
look rather on his more worthy and sober
DAYS they answer with a laugh; but.
why father do you not write the story OF
those more worthy days?' Nor will they
believe when I say that il IS but because
the deeds Of those days are elsewhere re-
corded In good truth. l believe that in
our hearts we love a iawless man. Here,
then We perverse children are the storiesi
they are all that You shall have from me.
BEAD them; may they teach you to be true