Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1896-01-25
OTHER PUNISHMENT.
fGHT was FALLING on the yal.

L Y peaks. The mountain tops,
however, were still bathed In the splen.
ala rosy light with which the Alps are
ooiored by the rays Of the setting sun.
These brilliant peaks made the ehad-
owA which crowded over the little
town timidly hanging over the rocks,
appear blacker and more silent.
The angelus bell rang from the tower
Of the old abbey. Within the slow chant
Of vespers rose from the choir benches
Of biackened holm oak, over which the
sanctuary lamp cast it, nickering light.
Away down the broad nave. quite
dark and deserted, Q woman was pray.
IND. Was she praying, or was she
merely lost In the intense melancholy
Of the hour and placer Kneellng on the
stone, she had fallen, her arms lower.
"a. her hands crossed, In an inert ana
wearied attitude.
The darkness Of the place and The
black veil that covered her head con-
eealed the expression Of her face. How.
ever, whether she was praying OF
whether she was wrapped IN revsris.
che was % absorbed that she did not
perceive that the evening song Wa
over. nor did she hear the soft steps OF
the monks who were leaving.
Suddenly the stiffness was broken ~
the tinkling Of . bunch Of keys which
echoed through the church. while .
voice cried out:
I'VE closer
Hearing this the lady rose hastily
and withdrew, gathering about her
waist % she went the long black cloak
which covered her tall and slender
Agure. She left the church, and - shs
passed along the narrow streets OF inc
village the few passers-by turned TO
took ct her with certain curiosity, pus
yst without actual wonder.
Every day at the same hour for eish.
teen years had that lady been seen pass
ing by, wrapped n her black cloak. hor
face covered by her thick, black veil.
For eighteen years her mysterious pres
-ence In that far-oR valley had furnish.
ed q subject to the imagination ana COS
Clip Of the Inhabitants. And yet, little
by little, before that impenetrabie mys.
terry, imaginations had ceased to work
and tongues were now reduced to d.
lence.
Accompanied BY her husband. she
had arrived one evening. - already
stated, shout eighteen years previous
20 the time We are describing. They
had come alone. without servants and
with but little baggage. They had
,Alighted at the hotel. where they lived
for several months while the house
they had bought on the outsklrts Of the
town was being repaired. It was 9
,pretty cottage, surrounded By . full
garden Of roses.
From the day they had settled In that
vsry modest abode they had led . quiet
life. They were known - Signor and
Signora Nicolini, but On their silver
0late there was . monogram bearing
Q crown.
what could be their motive for con-
eeaiing their namef How had they
como to that remote corner Of the
wcrldf Why did they not wish to eee
anyone, either relatives or friendsl
why ala they live alone, - II they
had come from some other planet
They were. indeed. kind to oil and
charitable 10 the poor. But their kind
nsss kept people at distance. and
when they opened their purse It wa
apparently without feeling.
The husband. q tall. strong man
with an almost athletic physique, ap
psared, at the time OF their arrival. 4
DO about 30 years Of age. his wife no
more than %.
They were never seen together. n,
went hunting. or took long walks. al
ways alous. She wandered among thu
roses OF her garder. and every day
morning and evening. she went to tn
abbey and came back. walking Will
the Same slow and mechanical step
They received papers. masasines
books, but never q letter.
Both seemed sad. Of . gloomy ant
Aesolats sort Of sadness. which thos'
who approached them felt themselves
Many . servant, indeed, had gone ava!
unable to endure that icy atmosphere
It 70 certain that they neither wraugle'
nor spoke harshly; on the contrary
there was always between them . dea'
yilencs. interrupted only By those shor
phrases which daily contact made nee
sssary.
Reaching the garden gate. % II dsht
ing an Inward repugnance. the lad
Stopped and passed by. Then Oh
turned back and again passed the gate
At last she entered.
In the hall she found servant. VIII
on the mute question Of her look an
Owered:
"stll in the same condition, signora.
She put her cloak and bonnet on
chair and went upstairs. There Oh
stopped, hesitating again, before on
Of the doors on the first door. Openin
e rudely, she entered q large. disma
room. Here on an iron bed, . bed bt
atting Q soldier. lay her husband.
Noiselessly she drew near, listened
the sick mans heavy and painft
breathing. and, bending over him, Oh
tried to Gee his face.
Little by little. her eyes growing q
customed to the darkness, she coul
perceive his convulsed and livid fes
lures, his cheeks furrowed with 70
veins. His heavy eyellds were hal
closed, bis nose. drawn and emaciatet
stood out above bis blue. half'opene
lipG, from which came . short Will
cling breath. He was dying!
A woman who had been watching
the bedside had left the room 90 500