The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-01-17

AGAIN AND AGAIN SHE NJ
derer. Hear me. holy father Hear
me, Q people of Atrani. l am Leo Per
rome and a murderer. I, and not my
wife. killed the soldier Giovanni LupO!"
And he threw himself down. groveling
with his face on the altar steps.
The service went on TO its close The
people thronged and whispered. The
priests muttered one TO the other as
they moved to and fro. The cardinal
summoned one to his side and con
| ferred with him. But still the man
did not move. There he lay, face down
ward, on the marble stairs, when the
procession swept past him on its way
TO the sacristry. Slowly the people
dispersed. The syndic had slipped out
quietly and sent for the officers. The
vergers began TO go nither and thither
putting out the lights.
Presently, as 1 stood and watched,
the man raised his face, white and
tense With agony of soul. He heaved
himself TO his feet, as if his muscles
had lost their power and moved only
by a strong effort of viii. He went
slowly and painfully down the aisle,
the few townfolk who remained shrink
ing from him as from mailman. In
the matter OF Giovanni Lupo, had not
Why, then, should he thus accuse him
self at the high altar? Why, even if
the thing were true, could he not quiet
ly confess to some easy father and
work to buy masses for the soul of the
dead soldier. who doubtless richly de-
served the knife thrust he got.
Leo Parrone walked stifliy to the
great door OF the duomo. leather pad
ded, swinging on noiseless hinges. He
! i- - L
like one whose eyes are dim, whose
nerves have received a shock He
opened the door.
In the kings namet" cried a voice
as he went cut into the darkness.
Half a dozen bare blades were at his
breast before ne could move. The man
Eftcd his hands and held them toward
the Gendarmes with Il gesture, which
said clearly:
Il Will so with you whittier you will"
March cried d voice from the street
Halt, said another-Iny own-ouI Of
the dusk OF the porch
"A TN the instinct OF obedience the men
halted. Their officer came threateningly
tcws--d me, with anger in his eye So
soon, however, as he saw my uniform OF
General. his sword rose and droDped
again in the salute.
Pardon. ExceIency? l failed to re-
coSnize You ii the darkness. What Shall
l DO with Ibis man who has accused him
sell of murder
send him 10 my lodging. and bring his
wife. Maria Perrone. directly from the
prison. / would confront them the one
with the Otheri'
1-e officer gain saIuted with infinite
respect. Was ne not an officer Of police
ana /, inspector OF prisons ana General
scarce less IMAM Il KING 10 him?
l Stroiled 70 my rooms IN 4 strangely
ex-lect2nt frame of mind. / was about
10 fitness 4 curious sight-tW0 Seii-ac-
cusers for one murder. one ncd-It was
my business TO discover which
The two Dragons OF my escort who
we're on duty saiuted as | entered. At
the top OF the stair l found SteDhano,
my orderly. IN state of wild consteTna-
ton There was talk OF brigands in the
town. he SAID, ana had not seen seen
since o clock. But l cOmicrted him with
Il cheerful word, ana told him that be
lore supper there were certain prisoners
to be examined lie must therefore,
make SUcn preparations as might seem
most impressive and official SO | went
T. my bedroom ana threw myself down
on the couch TO think the matter over.
Presently some one came and tapped
gently at my door.
y no Is tnere? l cried.
1t is l, Stephano. sand the orderly.
All, StephaEo, enter!
Then the faithful one told me quickly
that all was ready-the man waiting. the
Syndic himself present, and the feet OF
the guard who brought the woman al
ready on the stair.
and threw the siiken Generals sash over
my shoulder. Then he drey his own
sword, opened the door, and announced
me formally.
His Most Hlustrious EXceilency the
General
For StcDhano magnifed his own Office
and, incidentally, mine also.
l. was 4 curious scene which I wit
messed when / entered the great room of
the old palace, which in the troubles of
the great Napoleon had become the chief
inn OF the sadly reduced city OF Atrani.
Ny escort. all save the sentries at the
outer door were disposed in full uniform
on either side of the gloomy apartment.
\ lon& table stood in the midst with
candles and papers upon ii, the latter for
show merely, being mostly regimental
ports of my own. The Syndic had seated
himself at the side of the table, but at
the brusGue announcement OF SteDhano
he had risen and stood with bowed. head
while I walked to the red-and-gold chair
of state reserved for me al the upper end
OF the room.
Then, as they We're bringing forward
the prisoners, SteDhano came again to
honor which the king had given me- he
laid it with infinite dignity on the table
= front of me
''We are in an i'll town, and among an
folk. at once turbulent
and handkerchief" he whispered as |
moved my hand im1atiently. 1T is we'll
TO let the cattle know it when a Great
man deigns TO come among them
For Stephano was also of the north and
des1ised the canaille of the southeastern
sea.
l looked up and saw Leo Perrone stand
ing at the end of the table furthest from
me. His hands were bound behind him.
He looked on the floor. but his face was
10 longer as I had seen it, shaken with
emotion. 1t was gray and stern rather.
but very quiet withal
There came the tramp of soldiers on the
stone stairs and 4 file OF carabineri en-
tered with a woman. 1t was Maria
Perrone. the dark woman with the hand
some eyes whom / had seen in the morn
nS: They brought her to the table end
aud set her beside her husband
She glanced up and her eyes fell upon
aim.
."Leo." she cried, ferceiy, Leo. A