The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-02-03

infamed Antonio's mind with a great
! rage against the duke, 50 that he fell
to counting the men he had and won
| dered whether there was force to go
| openly against the city But in sorrow
Paul answered that the pikemen were
:, too many.
But there is q way, and better"
said Paul, leaning his head near TO
Antonio's ear. "a way whereby You
may come to your own again, and re-
build your house that the duke has
! burned, and enjoy the love of Lucia,
and hold foremost place in the duchy. ;"
What way is that?" asked Antonio
in wondering eagerness. Indeed, am
willing to serve his highness in any
honorable service, if by that I may win
| his pardon and come to that [ long
! for"
His pardon! When did he pardon ?"
| SneeTed Paul
| To know honest men and leave them
! to their honesty is the last great gift
OF Villainy. But Paul had it not, and
now he unfolded to Antonio the plan
that he had made, saving Gas needs
not BE- said) that part of it whereby
! Antonio himself was TO meet his death.
| For preteXt, he alleged that the duke
! oppressed the city, and that he, Paul.
! was put out OF favor because he had
| sought to protect the people, and was
! fallen in great suspicion. Yet, judg-
| ing Antonio's heart by his own, he
| dWelt again and ionger on the charms
! of Lucia and Of the great things he
would give Antonio when he ruled the
| duchy for his nephew; for of the last
crime he msditated, the death Of the
| child, he said naught then protesting
to love the child. When the tale had
| hQpIIn a Cd ~
| tonic, and his face flushed: but he sat
! still and listened with unmoved face
! ms eyes gravely regarding Paul the
| While. No anger did he show, nor
wonder, nor scorn, nor now any eager
| ness; but he gaZed at the prince with
| calm, musing glance, as though he
! considered Of some great question put
| before him. And when Paul ended his
| tale, Antonio sat yet silent and mus
! ing. But Paul was trembling now, and
| he stretched out his hand and laid it
on Antonio's knee and asked, with a
! teIgned laugh that choked in the ut
| terance:
/ We'll, friend Antonio, is it a clever
plan, and will you ride with me?"
| Minute followed minute before An
tonic answered. At length the frown
! vanished from his brow and his face
grew calm and set, and he answered
Luke PauI saying:
! 1t Is such plan as you, my lord
alone of all men in the duchy, could
make, and [ will ride with you
| Then Paul in triumph caught him by
the hands and pressed his hands, call
! ing him man of fine spirit and a true
friend who should not lack reward
And all this Antonio suffered silently
and in silence, still he listened while
{ Paul told him that a path led secretly
from the bank of the river through the
wall TO the summer house, where the
duke was to be. OF this gate he alone,
save the duke, had the key; they had
but TO swim the river and enter by
TINS gate. Secreting Antonio, Paul
would talk with the duke; then he
| would go and carry off what remained
I of the guard over and above those
tnat had gone to the hills; and Anto-
mo, having done his deed, could re-
! turn by the same secret path. cross
the river again, and rejoin his friends.
And nm short space of time Paul
would recall him with honor to the CITY
! ana give MIN Lucia to wife.
And If there be a question as to
I tle hand that dealt the blow, there is
a rascal whom the duke logged but a.
lew days slnce-a steward in the nal
ace. lie deserves hanging, Antonio. for
thousand things Of which he is guilty
and 1t will trouble me little to hang
| MN Tor one whereof he chances TO be
innocent" And Duke Paul laughed
heartily.
I Will ride with you,' said Antonio
again.
Then, it being full midday, they sat
down TO dinner, Paul bandying MANY
merry sayings with Tommasino, Anto-
MO belng calm, but not uncheerful.
a no
drank to the good fortune of their ey-
| petition, and Antonio having drained
his glass, said: May God aftorove The
issue" and stairghtway babe 'Tommas-
mo ana Martolo prepare to ride with
him. Then. Paul being blfndfolded
they climbed down the mountain paths
| III they came where the horses were
ana thus, as the sun began to decline,
SET forward at fair pace. Duke
Faui and Antonio leading by some few
yards, while TommaSinO and Martolo.
! having drank We'll, and shifting sport
| IN front OF them, sang, tested. and
played pranks on each other as tlleV
passed along, but when night fell tney
became silent; even Tommasino grew
grave and checked his horse. and the
! space between them and the pam. VINO
led grew greater, SO that it seemed to
Duke Paul that he and Antonio rode
alone through the night under the
! shadows of the great hills. Once and
again he spoke to Antonio, first OF the
Scheme, then on some light matter, but
Antonio did no more than move his
mead IN assent. And Antonio's face
was very white and his lips were close
shut.
1t was midnight when they reached
the plain; the moon, till now hidden by
! the mountains, Shone on Them and SOP
ing Antonio's face more plainly, Paul
cried, half in jest, half in uneasiness:
Come, man, look not so glum about
it. IT'S but the life of a rogue"
Indeed it is no more" said Antonio
and he turned his eyes upon the Duke
Paul.
Paul laughed, but with poor merit
ment. Whence it came he knew not,
but a strange. sudden sense of peril
and of doom had fallen on him. The
massive, quiet figure of Antonio, riding
ever close to him, silent. stern, and
Watchful, oppressed mis- spirit.
Suddenly Antonio halted and called
| TO Martolo to bring him a lantern; one
hung from Martolo's saddle, and ne
brought it, and went back Then An
tonic lit the lantern and gave an ivory
tablet to Paul and said to him:
Write me your promise"
'FYou distrust me. then?" cried Paul,
! IN a great show of indignation.
L will not go until you have written
the promise
! Now Paul was somewhat loath to
write that promise, fearing that it
should be found on Antonios body be-
| fore he could contrive to remove il,
but without it Antonio declared he
would not so, SO Paul wrote, bethink-
Or 11n hol ca "a ia, IL;