The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-10-16


heads were pressed close together
gazing at the creature; there was
stretch of calm water beyond, and
low range of green hills sloped gently
from the farther bank. The abbot
uttered an exclamation of delighted
surprise.
Glow we'll | remember that even
ingW he cried. ut was you who
discovered the nest and brought me
to look at it on our way home"
"And you who saved me from slip
ping into the water in my needless
ness," said the scribe; "yours was
ever the guiding hand"
II remember too," continued the
abbot, show your good father child
us for staying out so late, and meant
to chastise us; but the miller's
Andreas came running in with the
news that the fever had left his little
sister, and the good man put up the
rod, saying there should be no tears
shed on the day on which God had
restored a neighbours child to life.
Many long year has passed, Brother
Anthony, since then, since thou and
l looked at that nest by the stream"
Five and forty years." sighed the
other, land all are gone now, save
you and l, who have been friends
and brothers through ALL"
Friends till death" said the abbot,
and the two old men joined hands
and sat in silence for while.
"The world was brighter then than
it has ever been since," he said pres
emily, as if thinking aloud.
"But not SO bright as it will be"
said Anthony. gazing through the
western window. The gables and
walls of the old town were dark, and
a dim veil was creeping up the slopes
and hollows on the hillsides; but the
rocky peaks of the Dobratsch stood
out sharp and clear against the sky,
flushed with the sunset glory which
melted softly away through shades
of paling gold till it met the gray
shadowy twilight.
at shall come to pass that at
evening time it shall be light" said
the abbot.
Just then the bell rang in the re-
fectory, and hand in hand the two
old men went down the stairs.
"The pottage methinks has bitter
taste this evening"" said the abbot,
pushing away his unfinished meal,
and leaning back YEARLY in his
chair.
No one else seemed to find fault
with the fare, but the ever watchful
sub prior motioned to one of the
novices to remove the dish in front of
the superior. and whispered to him
to place it carefully in his cell.
Later, it was remembered that the
abbot sat, absorbed and careworn,
resting his head on his hand, and
that at evening his voice faltered
strangely, and his face was deathly
pale. But all knew that he was sad
at heart on account of the scandal in
the monastery, and none gave heed
to these symptoms, till at dead of
night the whole community was
aroused by the tidipgs that their
superior had been seized with mortal
pain, and every moment threatened
to be his last. Dark suspicious were
limited against the culprit, who BIZ d
been allowed TO complete his labors
in the kitchen that night before berg
removed to the cell where he was TO
await patiently the morrow's trial.
The corridors were thronged by
agitated groups listening for fresh
reports from the siek-room. To
wards morning suspicion swelled to
certainty; dog which had eaten the
remainder of the abbot's supper lay
dead in his kennel with unmistakable
signs of mortal poison; the lay-broth-
er who stood sentinel at the door Of
Brother Johns cell had noticed
CLEAN of unchristian joy on his evil
countenance when he heard of the
abbot's sickness. Another day found
the sufferer weak and sorely spent,
yet seeming likely to struggle back
to life. The meeting of the chapter,
delayed by this untoward event, now
assumed larger dimensions. The
bishop of Villach and the heads of
all neighboring monasteries were
summoned to attend the solemn GER
emory. 1t was no longer a question
of convent discipline, but matter of
life and death.
The trial was a short one; many
an evil deed and word were remem-
bered against the accused and not