Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-12-24
MASTER MANOLA.

Prince NcagOo BaSSarab was q
God fearing man who was ever sock
ing a way to display his pioty. He
had built the churches of st. George
and tho Metropolitan in Tergovisoh-
tn and tho wondrously beautiful
CloistCrs Of COSTA and Tismana, the
latter upon u rocky TX from which
n cataract fell, and yet he deemed
that ho had not done enough He
lOngCd to erect ut Curtea de Argisch
n church like no other in the world.
Ho sont far and near for architects
noted for thoir skill and originality
to undertake tho work.
Among them was n man named
Manola. Some say that he came
from Macedonia, others that he was
Spaniard. He promised the prince
to delight his eyes with n structure
that in its harmonious union of By
Zantino, Arabic and Persian archi-
lecture should be of unsurpassed
lovclinCss. He chose the laborers
that seemed to him most skillful
and began his work with infinite
JOY and Zcst, for he felt that his
power was ripe and that he was
master of his art. But it was as if
some evil spirit opposed him. No
matter how deep the foundations
were laid streams of water would
In lnnSD1, 4 l.,
place tho stones. Daily they found
the sand but recently removed had
drifted back, and daily the walls had
to be torn down and built anew.
And when Manola, after working
and thinking all day, left the place
at evening with moist forehead and
puckered brows, he knew in what
condition he should find it on the
morrow.
The laborers began to murmur and
were loath to work, saying that the
spot was accursed and that a church
would never be erected there. Ma
nola had as much trouble with the
grumbling men as with the refrac-
tory ground. Many a long night
would he toss to and fro upon his
bed in painful thought, then spring
up and shed bitter tears. His sweet
young wife, Anna, would also arise
and gaze at him anxiously with her
large doelike eyes.
Tell me your thoughts, beloved
1t makes me sad when you suffer
and say nothing to me-"
Manola drew her to his side,
stroked her little hands and bent his
glance upon the ground, while she
sought to read his sorrow from his
countenance.
Il have been too arrogant. !, an
alien and an unknown man, have
boosted that l shall produce an archi-
teotural wonder, and the first stones
put together will not hold. The
workmen have lost faith in me, and
they are right. Even the earth op-
poses tho stranger. The prince is
wasting his money, and it's said
that he has angrily intimated as
much. From every side enemies and
envious people spring up who re-
proach tho prince for having trusted
me. have won only shame where
1 hoped for fame. / know that it is
childish, Anna, but sometimes am
infected with the belief of the peo-
pie that the spot is bewitched."
Heavy signs escaped his bosom,
and he stared before him like one
whose brain is in torment.
"Oh, what can do? What can
suggest" cried the young wife.
"You!' said Manola bitterly.
What can you, frail child, do where
we men with wisdom and strong
arms arc helpless?"
He sprang up and strobe restless
ly up and down the small room like
a Gagged lion the whole night. And
80 for many nights. Anna burned
many taper before the Virgin to
win her aid, but in vain. The work
did not advance. Manola became
gloomier every day until the labor.
ers began to fear him. AT last one
of them mustered the courage tc
say:
Master, there is an old supersti.
ton in our country that has often
been proved true. If building will
not stand, a living person must be
placed at the foundation; then will
1t last for eternity.
The workmen surrounded Manola,
eagerly awaiting his reply to this
daring speech. He stared at them,
and the veins upon his temples
swelled.
And whom would you place
there?" he finally asked.
The men glanced at one another.
1T must be one who knows moth
ing of it, they answered.
But who?"
Master, at noon our wives, sis
ters and daughters como to bring us
food. Let it DO one of them"
And who will offer his?" asked
Manola looking at them with the
flaming eyes that they had learned
to fear.