The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-10-16
Selected Story.
A CARINTHIAN TRAGEDY.
BY THE BARONESS Won elisa.

DROTHER JOHNl' said the alb
ID bot, 81 am grieved, sorely
grieved, to hear this of thee. l hoped
nv oft.repeated admonitions would
have borne better fruit"
The person to whom he spoke was
man of foroidding aspect, whose
cunning eyes, peering from under
their shaggy brows, glanced restleSsly
from face to face of those around
him, seeking some escape from con-
viction, but manifesting no sign OF
penitence.
81 would fain admonish thee once
more in private, my son." pursued
the abbot gently, "and bid thee by
daily prayer and penance to wrestle
with the evil spirit that leadeth thee
astray-but alas! thou hast trans
crossed so oftenl"
st is a grievous fault, father" put
in the sub prior, an energetic young
monk with stern, compressed lips,
who stood scanning with keen eyes
the face of the culprit; moreover,
the transgression hath been an open
one, and cannot be atoned by private
penance; it is known to many of the
community, and there are young
brethren among u.s.
True" said the abbot, sadly. 81
must think of my duty to others, and
the matter is clear, beyond all doubt;
and yet it grieves me sorely. We
must lay it before the chapter to-
morrow"
The culprit was led out in sullen
silence, the sup prior bringing up the
rear, after receiving the directions of
his superior for the formal trial ON
the following day.
"a severe punishment and public
rebuke may lead him back into the
right path at last" murmured the
abbot to himself, as he paced slowly
up and down. Il would it were
possible to cure sin by gentle means.
Woe is me that l must WELD the stern
arm of justice"
The cloud was still heavy on the
old mans brow as he climbed long
stone staircase which led to large
bright room, the scriptorium of the
monastery. 1t was usually filed with
busy transcribers, for the library had
been celebrated for generations; now,
however, it had but one occupant; an
elderly man, clad in the brown robe
of the order, sat at table drawn
close to one of the windows; his
head was bent over the vellum on
which, with slow and careful hand,
he was transcribing precious manu-
script, and so absorbed was he in his
task that he never noticed the abbot's
entrance till the latter sat down be-
side him.
81 have been sorely troubled,
Brother Anthony" said the superior.
"John the cook has been found at his
old practices, seen by several of the
brethren, and brought to me for pub
lie censuTe."
The scribe looked up at the sad
face beside him.
"That man mistook his vocation
when he joined us; there will be
neither peace nor order among us
while he remains. 1t is we'll perhaps
that he has broken the rule openly,
and must be judged by the chapter"
perhaps" rejoined the other,
thoughtfully; "we must not question
the leadings of Providence. Yet |
would it had not fallen to me to pro-
nounce sentence on an erring broth
erW
MY work is done for to-day" said
the scribe, after short pause. Wip-
ing and replacing his pen with
solemn care, he turned back page
or two till he came to his last initial
letter, and laid it before his friend as
if to divert his thoughts to a more
pleasant subject. 1t was a gem of
missal-psinting, and represented in
it's small compass bird sitting on