The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-17

OK carts. with their straw tanks like great cups
mounted upon them, into which beribboned
girls and laughing lads crowded with Jest and
Infinite daughters.
As | proceeded l saw that there was a great
stir in tho direction OF the cathedral. Women
stood chatterlng about the doors. beggnrs were
edging and clbowing for places nearest TO the
entrance, vcrRe!s were striking at them with
their Official slaves, as often as the unlicensed
encroached on the sacred pnvemented space OF
the porch. II was evidently n great ceremonial,
and. though mostly | am OF the soldiers re-
liRion. which, they say. Ia that OF the girl no is
counting, | bad not lost my interest in the noble
and impressive pomps with which Mother
Church keeps her hold upon the children Of the
south lovers OF color and tlnsel every one.
Doflng my soldiers hat, I went in. Tho
evening sun streamed through rich and ancient
l%ozengos. Colored marble OF dellcatest inlaid
work g%littcrod with gold and silver. Lapis la
zuli and velned p~orphyry overlaid the travcrtino
OF the pillars like Jewels on n brides neck.
A great procession was sweeping up the aisle
toward the sltar-the Cardinal Carrara. prince
Of tho Church, nephew OF the Pope. bowling his
keen. ~ascetlc. churchman's face over his prince
ly scarlet. Foster son OF tho hereto waldense
valleys as I was, Gallo In any religion as tho
red shirts OF Sicily had made me, | soon found
think more OF religion and Its utilities now than
] did in the sixties. Religion comes to most
irst touch OF lumbNeo in tho back
leaned against n pillar and watched. A the
great Western WINDOW. The b broad ea5'u gTold iee
stream put out the candles, so that II was only
In the ohapels that one could see them dot the
gloom with their pale silver fakes. The organ
pealed out. The young. voices In the choir
mounted higher and higher. each as IL were
they seemed to break n way through the seven
heavens up to the throne OF very God. Then
chanted the Mserer,, and a wind, scented with
incense, passed over the bowed heads OF the
worshippers. All, these ponps passed mo by,
ike n tale heard VIXEN one IA half asleep. till my
eyes rcsted on a man who stood by the next pill
Ter to that against which ! leaned.
Accustomed to command as I " as, I knew as
soon us my eyes Iettcd upon the man that here
before mo stood a man accustomed from his
peasant he seemed tall. swarthy, with strongly
arched. well-based; rather thick Roman nose OF
s ons, pr9 ,ra% S. dSrs eyes s that fisshed danger,
almost Joined In the midst, strong hands which
Sraspcd the pillar as though; Ike samson, to
ears. He was dressed in dark corduroy. and in
the hand nearest 10 me he held IA plumed hat
When once | had permitted my eyes 10 rest
upon the man | could look at nothing else, so
But as / continued To- gaze / saw that tho
strong. rugged face outlined against the pillar
was oonvul,ed. Ho was not watching the
priests as they moved to and fro before the
altar. Tho red. robed priest OF Holy Church sat
throned above him, and he never glanced his
way. But the mans eyes are on the great hang
Ing cross and on the agonized figure of the
CIqcined on the altar.
sively. His plumed hat dropped unnoticed on
tho fooS. Clearer and clearer rang the voices
The Duomo darkened. The night was settling
II Rloomily with cloud and wind from the gulf.
Ihe splashed purple and scarlet from the west
observation-disclosures to brown. A hundred wax
lights shono upon the reredos. There was yet
and tho white and golden priests were shrlned
In "A mellow glow. which shone out also softly
uown the aisle aud lay upon tho heads OF the
All the while never did I Tor a moment lift
my eyes from the man by the pillar. I could
his brow. His hands worked .convulsi,ely.
What could tho man be- Was he a peasant,
OF u great Duomo-a conscienoe-stricken pen.
itGnt perhaps, though he looked little like one.
what was that they are singing I who know
so little OF either music or churehcraft, could
fur the singing brought the tears to nv eyes.
Some one was telling, so II seemed. OF pity for
me sinner pardon perhaps for the %contrite.
sonorous bass. "Misercrc. r]isersre," came SIGH.
ing back from the folk in tho aisle.
confession. lie is faithful and Just to forgive
N the duck, rising up through the low, chanted
msssre,ss IKE a dove soaring on strong wing.
suddenly saw that the place by the pillar
strobe toward the high altar. The ineclIns
crowd lifted their heads and looked at him.
would XIII the PRINCE OF Holy Church as he sat
In his high seatr Would he commit sacrileee
IN H IL: .t ysTlI l Rlas C S S6 PsnyG a. the foo. o, the altar
steps. The clear voice ceased. The choristers
"i snsd i0TS9t to continue Their chorus; ..,
oyer AL the Duomo. 1t was that OF the man by
~ confess" he cried. ~ am a murderer.
Hear me, holy fathers! Hear me. o people OF
AtTanil am Leo PerIone and q ,murd erer. ].
And he threw himself down, groyelling with
his face on the altar steps.
th rne ssir neS w wnlsp on d. n Tss close os,:,, The mn people
one 20 the other as they moved to and fro. The
Cardinal summoned one To- his side and con-
move: There he lay. face downward. on the
marble stairs, when the procession swept past
people dispersed. The Syndlo had slipped out
quietly and sent Tor tho onlcers. Tho verrers
Presently. as | stood and watched. the man
raised his face. white and tense with agony OF
muscles had lost their power and moved only by
q strong effort OF will. He went slowly and pain
fully down tho aisle. the few townsfolI who re-
In the matter OF Giovanni Lupo, had not his
wife been condemned. he cleared Why. then.
Why, even II the thing were true. could he not
quietly confess to some easy. father. and work
W. Uuy ulbshes LOT the soul OF tine dead soldier,
who doubtless deserved tho knife thrust he got
Leo Perrone walked to tho great door OF the
Duomo, leather padded, swinging on noIseless
hinges, He CROPPED his hands a little before
him, like one whose eyes are dim, whose nerves
have received q shock. He opened the door.
went out into tho darkness.
Half a dozen bare blades wero at his breast
before no could move. The man lifted his
hands and held them toward the gendarmes
with a gesture, which said clearly:
VIII 60 with you whittier YOU Will"
MarCn.' cried n voice frpm tlp atraAt
Halt said another-my own-out OF the
dusk OF the porch.
With the. instinct Of obedience tho mon
matted. Their officer cRmo threateninRly toward
me, with anger in his eye. SO soon, however, as
he saw my uniform OF General, his sword rose
and dropped again In the salute.
Pardon, EScellencS2, | failed to recognize
man who has accused himself OF murder Z"
Send him to my lodging, and bring his wife,
Maria Perrone, directly from tho prison.
would confront them the one with the other!"
The officer again saluted with infinite respect.
Was he not m oficer OF police and ], Inspector
q prisons and q General-scarce lcss than a
hing TO HIN
| strolltd TO my rooms In n strangely cxpectant
frame OF mind. was about 10 witness a curl
GUS sight-two self-accusers for ono murder.
One lied 1t was my business to discover which,