The sun., 1895-03-03

In the open, and before the men re
The vault close c'fS and sank on his knees in
Hidc, painting, and holding his sword in readi
sud his company came and called on him &
surrender. And Antonio cried. Come and TAX
open tho door but Antonio held IL with on,
hand against them both. Yet ~ last they drew
II open little and Antnnio lHnged with n hi
| syndc in the leg. 90 that he stumbled backwnrt
with nm oath. And after that none was, ,wllinl
came up, and he. seeing the aperture, rushed a
It sword in hand fearing no man. not ever
tonic. and he also fell back with a sore cash IL
bis cheek and Ant?nio laughed saying "shsl
Now the syndic was very urgent in his desire
to take Antonio. hut his men shook their heads
and he himself could not stand because Of !h,
! sword thrust In his leg, and instead OF fighting
his company, began 70 tell OF the wonderful
deeds An,21io had done and thsy rI grey sS,d no
Knocked them, saying that he would go again q,
the. aperture II two more would attempt #
syndio "'r, ragged I and r"buksd them; hut h,
could not hurt them; being unable ,, =
and n ms fS, so 20. 'SPl one ssd pnpe
cOmmissnriea will b. here tomorrow with .
company Of the guard; Let the C2unt stay il, in
/ when he sees the guard he will surrender. IL is
likely, enough, that a grent lord like the Count
! syndic." Wherent the syndic was very IN
pleased, but Gll the rcst mighty we'll pleased,
IL.
DO means be persuaded to attack again ami
! they let Antonio draw the door cluse aYuin,
hSnE n truth glad 10 see tnE last OF hla sword.
! twenty 10 guard tho entrance of the raat2 'an'l
! prepared to depart But hr cried to AlHanlo;
| bidding him again to surrender. for theafahitl
would como tomorrow. aud then at ha@ lie
| could not hope to resist. 'fN"
Aye, but Tomorrow Is Tomorrow. Master
Syndic;" laughed Antonio. 90. get yomr leg
dressed. and leave tomorrow til it dawn"
So the syndic went home and the rest with
lea v o
day, II a man has more love for fighting han
skill in it,, folk call him asyndic Of Baratesta.,
Count Antonio, being thus left In the vault.
and perccivinY TINT he would not be further
moGstei that day, looked round, and though no
workmen had act n lamp there. and it still
burned. And around him were the cotilns of all
the air was heavy and stiiling., And he took
the lamp aud walked round the vault.
one conn Ftanr ppuh %rns
the wall Of the vault. though there
hid leen no room for i on the shelves
his head against the wal and soon slept; for
man whose conscience is easy and whose head
has sense in i may sleep as well in vault as in
pressed him and he slept but lightly and un-
gather gather round the p'S Counts t. name. have heard
many wonderful stories ofwhet happened to
m p the au h9W fE,y ne ,oG heh wS,t @
tain beautiful Indy. who had been dead 200
Jealous rage came forth from the coffin with
her hair all dishevclled and great wound yet
wild love song TO him as he lay. and would not
leave him, though he bade her soul rest in the
name OF Christ and the saints. But that any of
these things happened do not believe.
1t was late when the Count awnke and the
lamp had burned ont; SO that the vault was ut
man talked, and lis talk was not such as one
uses who speaks his own musings alond TO him
alone
live solitary. bat he seemed to question others
20 and s:Tfp s swss rEen and So forth
all in IA low. even voice. and now and again he
would sigh. and once he laughed bitterly; Then
there, And tho other voice answered.
Which of yon speaks The tones sa,rf are not not
are here" And Antonio answered. / am not
Of the Peschelti save by my mother; my name
cry came from the darkness of a man greatly
troubled and alarmed. and after that there was
silence. And Antonio said, - There is naught
other. But how do you. livint: man. come 10
be in this vault. and with whom do you speak,"
Then came the sound of steel striking on n
lighted and Antonio behed before him in tho
glow OF the torch the. figure Of man who
him: his hair was long and tangled. his beard
grew to his waist. and he was naked save for a
and wild as he gazed on Antonio in seeming
fright and bewlderment. Then the Count,
knowing that a man collects his thoughts while
smother speaks. told the man who, he was and
how he came there, and because the mans eyes
still wondered how that he WAS an outlaw these
three years and more because he would not how
TO the Dukes W Ill, and when he Ind told all he
ceased. Then the man came crawling closer to
his face. saying Surely he is alive" And
again he was silent but after while lie spoke,
have dwelt here among the dead; and to the
dead talk. and they are my friends and com
panions. For hear their voices and they move
nj mi vet mi thnva Ire al nd
still because you are here"
:" But how can you live here p" cried Antonio.
For you must starvc for lack of food and come
near TO sufrocation in the air of this vault"
The man set his hand to his brow and frowned.
Indeed. / have forgotten much. yet re-
member certain night when the devil came
wait by the the door OF Of the % room n where % my wife lie
was, and we had been welded but few months.
There was man who was my friend. and he
that was suspected OF treason to the prince:
yes; In al things he was my, friend. FOR when
sta bbed him as he came TO The door, and. rush
ing in, stabbed her also, she did not die till she
had told me all; and then she smiled sweetly ut
band. Tor you did not know; and forgive the
blow your love dealt me; kiss me and let me die
died Then laid her " on her % bed mn" and ANU vent snt
forth from my home. and wandered many days.
Then sought to KIN myself. but | could not,
tence is there in death Io! it is sweet. Paolo.
SO did not XIII myself; but ] took an oath 70
mercy send me death. And coming in my wan
derings TO the, river that runs by Baratesta, l
found n little hollow in the bank OF the river.
and lay down there; and none pursued me. for
the Duke of Forniola cared not for crime done
In Mantiveglia. And for year dwelt in my
little cave; then IL was noised about that l
dwelt there, and fools began TO call me. who
was the yilest sinner born, a holy hermit and
they came to me To ask prayers. so begged
from one n pick, and worked on the face OF the
rock and made a passage through II. And |
swOre no more To look upon the light Of the sun.
but abode In the recess that had followed out
And 90 no moro TO the mouth Of the cave. save
once day at nightfall, when drink OF the
they leave for mo-"
But how came you here?" cried Antonio.
- broke through one day by chance. as !
worked on the rock; and, seeing tho vault
made passage with much labor and having
done this, hid 1t with coffin, and now dwell
here with the dead, expecting the time when dn
Gods mercy also shall be allowed to die. diih
to-day fled back through the passage. for meA
came and opened the vault and let In the sum
shine, which might not see. Pray for me, sV;
| have need of prayer"
Now God comfort YOU" said Count Antonio
softly. "Of TRUTH sir, man who knows his
sin and ,greves for it in his heart hath in dosi's